Are Resveratrol Supplements for You?
Resveratrol is produced by some plants to help them fight off infection when they are under bacterial or viral attack. It is found in red grapes and is present in red wine which may help to explain why the French, who eat a diet high in fats, remain quite healthy, the so called ‘French paradox’.
Some resveratrol experiments have shown anti-cancer, anti-fat and other really exciting properties such as the lowering of blood sugar and even anti aging properties. Other experiments with mice demonstrated that resveratrol actually negated the effects of a high fat diet, lowering insulin and blood sugar to near normal though it did not lower cholestrol in those mice. Resveratrol shows promise in the fight against some cancers like skin cancer.
The mechanism that helps increase lifespan and fight some cancers is still not fully understood. It is known that it interferes with all three stages of carcinogenesis, that is, initiation, promotion and progression at least in laboratory experiments but there is much to be done to progress these findings to more common use in medicine.
Not surprisingly, resveratrol has become a popular weight loss supplement given its known properties of negating fat intake. A 2006 study showed that mice that were fed a high fat diet, consuming about 30% more calories than others but also given resveratrol supplements were no more likely to die than those fed a standard diet. While the resveratrol did not lower cholestrol or free fatty acids in those mice, the beneficial effects and the results of a later study showing increased endurance in mice given resveratrol, have been enough to encourage the use of resveratrol as an aid to dieters. It appears resveratrol may enhance metabolism, even in small amounts. Many dieters using resveratrol have reported feeling more energetic which further enhances its appeal.
Resveratrol is often harvested from Japanese knotweed and is in the skins of several plants, particularly grapes. In grapes, its concentration varies with the type of grape and the region it is grown in. In wine the concentration varies with the time that the wine remains in contact with the grape skins during fermentation. It is also found in cranberries, peanuts and blueberries in varying amounts.
It is hardly surprising that resveratrol has enjoyed a bit of a craze but as always with nutritional supplements do exercise caution before buying. It’s also important to buy from a reputable supplier and make sure you follow all instructions carefully.
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by admin on February 4th, 2010 Tags: Resveratrol, Resveratrol Supplements, resveratrol weight loss
Posted in Diet Supplements, Fitness, Health, Healthy Foods, Nutrition, Weight Loss | No Comments »
