Explore the Beneficial Effects Of Resveratrol

Since 1992, when scientists first reported finding the compound in red wine researchers have been investigating the effects of resveratrol. Resveratrol has the potential to provide a variety of health benefits. For example it has implications for reducing coronary heart disease and inhibiting cancer growth, although more research studies are needed. The compound is found not only in wine, but also in grapes, juice from grapes and in peanuts. Of particular interest to scientists is resveratrol’s possible beneficial effects in combating Alzheimer’s disease, helping people lose weight and controlling swelling.


Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating illness typically diagnosed in people who are more than 65 years old, and it results in dementia and death. Although there is no cure, resveratrol may reduce the average person’s risk of contracting Alzheimer’s disease. Recent experiments have shown that resveratrol decreased the amount of plaque formed in the brains of animals. This leads some scientists to speculate that resveratrol could reduce the amount of plaque formed in the brains of humans, which could in turn decrease the affects of Alzheimer’s disease.

Weight Loss

Obesity is an epidemic in the United States. Whether it is caused by people not exercising as much as they used to in the past or because people are consuming larger amounts of increasingly fattening foods, it’s clear that we have to do something to stem the tide of obesity. Becoming overweight can lead to a variety of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and joint pain. Resveratrol has the potential to reduce the cravings people have, which makes it an excellent weight loss product for dieters to consider trying. They may be able to reduce their weight slowly and naturally with the help of this compound.


Anti-Inflammatory

Inflammation in a person’s body can result in such health concerns as type 2 diabetes, strokes and heart disease, leading scientists to search for compounds that can reduce inflammation. Inflammation can lead to insulin resistance and damage to the lining of arteries. Studies show that resveratrol has the potential to control swelling, thanks to its various anti-inflammatory properties. Scientists want to conduct more studies to investigate

If you are interested in exploring the possible health benefits of taking resveratrol, you may want to consider consuming it as an extract or in its natural form, such as by drinking grape juice or having a glass of wine at dinner. Always consult with a healthcare professional when making changes in your diet.

Resveratrol Antioxidant Properties Explained

Researchers believe resveratrol works as an antioxidant by reducing the amount of damage to the body’s DNA caused by toxins in the air, water, and food. It could have anti-cancer properties by blocking the formation and growth of tumors and boosting the immune system. One animal study showed resveratrol lowered the risk of prostate cancer in mice given a powdered form of the substance.

Resveratrol is an antioxidant found in a group of plant chemicals known as polyphenols. It occurs naturally in grapes, certain berries, and peanuts. Higher levels of the substance are found in red wine, but medical experts don’t recommend increasing the consumption of alcohol to obtain health benefits. In fact, the Mayo Clinic estimates a person would have to drink more than 60 liters of red wine a day to get sufficient amounts of resveratrol to improve health. Taking resveratrol in supplement form represents a more logical choice to reap the antioxidant benefits of the polyphenol.

Simply drinking wine won’t necessarily increase the amount of resveratrol consumed. Different wines contain lower levels of the antioxidant depending on where the grapes grow and the way they are processed. Filtering to remove bitterness from the beverage also depletes much of the resveratrol. When grape skins are removed to ferment white wine, it also removes the health benefits because the antioxidant is found in the skins. Most wines that are mass-produced contain very little of the substance because filtering is necessary when wine is not permitted to age naturally.

Since the discovery in the 1970s that free radicals cause disease, news about antioxidants became all the rage. It helps to understand how antioxidants work to protect the body from disease. Oxidation occurs naturally in the human body as it metabolizes food for energy. The immune system also produces oxidation when infection invades the body as a natural defense against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The body contains natural antioxidants to keep free radicals, defined as unstable molecules that attach to cells and damage DNA, in check.

Problems occur because people in today’s modern world consume diets consisting of fast foods, prepackaged food, and diets lacking in foods that are rich in natural antioxidants capable of neutralizing free radicals in the body. Free radicals also come from chemicals in cleaning products, cosmetics, cigarette smoke, and a wide range of products used daily. This exposure increases the number of unstable molecules entering the body, throwing off its ability to counteract the higher number of free radicals.

Resveratrol aids the body in fighting free radicals that are known to cause disease. It has shown effective in lowering the risk of infection, preventing cancer, and reducing the incidence of macular degeneration, an eye disease linked to aging. This antioxidant might also strengthen the immune system to enhance the ability to ward off infection. Studies reveal the antioxidant properties of resveratrol also reduce inflammation in the lining of blood vessels and prevent abnormal clots from forming, which represent two main factors in the risk for heart disease.