Resveratrol - The Anti-Aging Powerhouse
Of all the wonderful nutrients that Mother Nature provides us, there are quite a few that boost metabolism and help to minimize the effects of aging. Some of these are pantethine, carnosine, DHA, grape seed extracts, and R-alpha lipoic acid. That’s only a few of them! Most nutrients aid in cell function, with the beneficial side effect of making the cells live longer. Resveratrol is fast becoming one of the foremost of these anti-aging powerhouses….and it has a bonus- it’s also a very potent fat burner.
The drug companies are throwing good money after bad, using various modified forms of resveratrol and selling them as weight-loss supplements, anti-aging medications, and even formulations that claim to combat diabetes. Resveratrol works because it activates the SiRT1 gene, which controls the body’s metabolism of fat, and its aging process. In experiments, resveratrol prevented weight gain in mice that were placed on a high fat diet, and also improved the body’s insulin function. Resveratrol diet supplements do the same thing. The resveratrol formula SRT1720 is six times more effective in the activation of the SiRT1 gene than plain resveratrol. But, plain old resveratrol has its benefits too- one of the biggest being its effect on cardiovascular health.
You may be wondering- what exactly is resveratrol? It first gained interest when it was identified as a possible reason for the “French paradox”, which is the seemingly unique ability of the French people to eat a high fat diet and not end up with heart disease. Resveratrol helps the liver break down fat, and also helps to break down fatty deposits all over the body.
Resveratrol is a stilbenoid, a polyphenol produced in blueberries, grapes and some nuts. It protects the plant from infection by fungi and bacteria, and also protects from the sun’s radiation. Grapes grown in moldy or wet areas have more of this compound than any other food or drink. It’s obvious that resveratrol is a strong antioxidant and antifungal.
Resveratrol differs from flavonoids, which are also found in grapes. Flavonoids may also help with the “French paradox”. Blueberries also contain flavonoids, and a stilbenoid known as pterostilbene. USDA research shows that pterostilbene can help metabolize cholesterol, and slow the buildup of harmful triglycerides. Pterostilbene also helps slow the aging process..
A bottle of red wine can contain anywhere from 2mg to 14mg of resveratrol, with most wines containing a lower concentration. Diet supplements are derived from other sources of resveratrol, like the roots of a plant called Japanese knotweed. This source is more economical than grapes. A dose can range rom a few milligrams up to 100 mg or more.
One of the advantages of resveratrol is its quick absorption, reaching the bloodstream in less than 30 minutes, and it gets metabolized rapidly by the liver.. Take a little at a time rather than one large dose.
As of now, there isn’t much solid human research on resveratrol. What we know about it comes from anecdotal evidence, and some studies done on cells and small animals like mice. The research is very promising, showing a marked increase in life span.
Resveratrol, as we mentioned, activates the SiRT1 gene, which mimics the effects of a calorie restricted diet. When the body takes in less food than normal, SiRT1 activates to break down fat stores to use as fuel and boost energy. It’s basically a way for the body to survive a famine. Restricting calories can extend life span, help metabolize fat and cholesterol, and improve heart health and immune function.
The hormone leptin controls metabolism, and also helps the body survive during famine. When someone eats too much, the body’s fat stores release inflammatory chemicals that force the liver to make its own inflammatory, CRP. This leads to free radical damage throughout the body. As a person gets bigger, the level of inflammation goes up too. The liver gets inundated with the fat it can’t metabolize, which is “fried” by the inflammation running rampant. Arteries get clogged as well, which makes blood pressure go up and the level of “good” cholesterol go down.
Leptin resistance can develop, lowering levels of adiponectin (a fat-derived hormone). This can cause foul moods, and insulin resistance that may lead to type II diabetes. Leptin problems ruin the thyroid, and ramp up those food cravings. Many people suffer from this vicious cycle. They are poisoned by excess food, which makes them in turn want to eat more and more.
Overweight people invariably have high levels of leptin, and it’s not reaching their brains, making them think they are going through famine. Leptin resistance can be caused by overeating, snacking, and nighttime eating. People aren’t naturally equipped to deal with overeating, as historically it has never been a problem. Usually food has been too scarce, so the body comes with ways to deal with starvation- leptin levels drop as fat disappears and the liver activates SiRT1.
With all the interest in leptin and SiRT1, there isn’t much evidence linking the two. Research suggests that SiRT1 is active in parts of the brain that control energy and appetite. Those who lack leptin don’t activate SiRT1, and are usually overweight. If you start a diet, and lose that first amount of weight, you’ll remove leptin from your blood and cravings will decrease. For a while, you’ll burn calories at your metabolic set-point….then the dreade plateau hits. You can’t just eat less than you already are, because you’ll get sick and cranky. If you up your exercise, you have to eat more.
Because of all this stress, you’ll probably break down muscle. You’ll lose weight, but you’ll also get more inflammation from free radical damage, mess with your digestive tract, and a whole lot of other nasty side effects. Eat enough, and you’ll feel better…but too much will make your body store the calories as fat. Don’t yo-yo diet! Eat in step with your leptin levels. Resveratrol can help here, once you’ve lost those first ten or fifteen pounds. You’ll have energy, feel great, and you’ll lose weight.
Resveratrol helps to keep the body from going into an inflamed state, and it also helps break that plateau. It can also help those who aren’t dieting. The French are already taking in resveratrol from all that wine they drink, and they are relatively thin. However, the French don’t usually overeat, and they eat a lot of fresh and organic food. They aren’t big snackers, either. Resveratrol’s effects can be negated by overeating.
Having a large waist is linked to an early death, and that risk goes up as you get bigger. Resveratrol is safe and natural, and it helps burn fat, which will shrink your waistline, and therefore make you live longer. Losing weight will help your heart, and resveratrol will help too.
There is quite a bit of animal research that proves that resveratrol helps the heart and the cells. It prevents plaque buildup in arteries, boosts nitric oxide levels, keeps platelets from clotting, and reduces inflammation in the circulatory system. One of the few human studies shows that resveratrol improves heart function in diabetics who’ve had a heart attack.
Resveratrol protects the body due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can also improve eye and bone health, help coordination, protect joints, the liver, and cells throughout the body. Quite a resume for one nutrient! The amount of interest in resveratrol pretty much assures us that we’ll be hearing a lot about it in the future. Until more research is done, a safe dose is 150 mg-700 mg, which is the average in current resveratrol supplements.
Most Frequently Asked Resveratrol Question:
In the past, we've done our best to keep resveratrol products off of this site, but we kept receiving the same emails every day, asking us which resv supplement we recommended.
In light of the massive interest, we felt the need to pull some strings and get with one of the top product suppliers. Thankfully, we found one that was nice enough to offer our visitors a risk-free sample of their high-quality resveratrol product. Supplies are quite limited, and considering how popular resveratrol currently is, they will go fast!
