What is Resveratrol?
Resveratrol is a naturally occurring antibiotic (known as a phytoalexin) that is produced by several plants including grapes, cocoa, and peanuts as protection against the onslaught of pathogens such as bacteria and fungi. It is also classified as a polyphenol (antioxidants that are also produced by plants), and like other polyphenols, resveratrol has gained fame for its protection of blood vessels in the heart. There is a long list of resveratrol benefits that includes anti-aging supplements, antioxidants supplements, weight loss, neuro-plasticity, cancer prevention, metabolic balance, arthritis care, and much more. I hope this site is helpful in providing you with information on resveratrol and how to get resvertrol and use it to your greatest advantage. Resveratrol is the specific substance in red wine that causes red wine to make us live longer.
Resveratrol is often referenced these days in articles about the health benefits of red wine. That’s because resveratrol is commonly found in plants with dark skinned fruits such as grapes, pomegranates, blueberries, mulberries, rasberries, and cranberries. It is also found in other fruits and vegetables, including peanuts and Japanese knotweed, the latter of which is often used to produce resveratrol supplements. As far as wines go, Pinot Noir grapes are said to have the highest concentration of resveratrol.
Resveratrol has been praised by Dr. Oz on The Oprah Winfrey Show for having extremely powerful anti-aging properties. See what O, The Oprah Magazine said about resveratrol. One of the most talked about pieces of dietary news to arise in recent years is that red wine is good for your health. Dr. Oz says part of the reason is the alcohol and part is resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant that comes from the skins of grapes. Vintners add the grape skins back to make red wine, but they don’t do the same process for white wine—so white wine has no resveratrol benefit.
“Resveratrol does one other thing,” Dr. Oz says. “It turns on a system in your body that prevents your cells from aging. Now think about it. Where do they grow these grapes? On trees on hillsides, right? It’s not a very hospitable environment. So those grapes are sending a signal to us that life might not be so good, so why not turn on that cellular chemistry that you have that allows you to live longer and better? That’s why we think this has a benefit.”
If you don’t want the alcohol, Dr. Oz says you can get some resveratrol from Concord grape juice or other dark grape juices, but you won’t get as much benefit as you would from red wine. “Eighty percent of the benefit of the wine is actually the alcohol, and 20 percent is the resveratrol,” Dr. Oz says. “So it’s the combination that makes red wine so valuable.”
Since resveratrol is being called the ‘fountain of youth’ it’s no surprise that when you look at the scientific research findings that have been done so far resveratrol has shown to be a powerful antioxidant. This is one of the main reasons it’s said to provide such powerful heart-protective bennefits. With in the heart resveratrol protects against platelet aggregation, which can lead to the blood forming clots in narrow coronary arteries.
