Resveratrol, what are the Benefits?

Resveratrol is a natural product found in grapes and many plants and is the reason why many people say that red wine is good for you as it contains Resveratrol. Medicinally the Chinese herb Polygonum cuspidatum also known as Japanese Knotweed contains high levels of Resveratrol and is the source of most Resveratrol used in nutritional supplements.

A Pubmed search reveals more thatn 4,000 articles on Resveratrol and it demonstrates an amazing array of pharmacological activities including antioxidant, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, anticancer, antiviral, neuroprotective, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory and modulation of fat metabolism. So with all these amazing health benefits should we be drinking a glass or two of red wine every night as some people have suggested? Unfortunately to get a therapeutic dose of Resveratrol from red wine you would need to drink about 2 bottles a night so that the health risks would far outweigh the benefits so it’s best to get your Resveratrol from a once a day supplement.

Who would benefit the most from Resveratrol?

Resveratrol inhibits cancer development at all of the three known stages of chemical carcinogenesis, namely the initiation, promotion and progression stage. The development of chronic diseases might also be reduced by Resveratrol, based on the many lab studies. These diseases include cardiovascular, dementia, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and anti-aging. Anti-aging and cancer research. Most of the positive trials so far have been done in the lab on mice and while there are many promising human trials in progress the results of these will be known over several years as the anti-aging affect and the affect on chronic illness become apparent.

How much Resveratrol do you need?

The research indicates about 300mg’s a day as a therapeutic dose to get results and I generally recommend people take a supplement mixed with Grape Seed extract and Green tea  to achieve optimal benefits. The Grape Seed extract  is a potent natural source of proanthocyanidins and of pycnogenols a naturally powerful antioxidant and can help with antiaging so combined with Resveratrol it makes a poweful supplement. One of the best supplements containing these ingredients is Bio-Oxidate Defense

If you have any questions about Resveratrol contact me at michael@planetnaturopath.com

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