Health Benefits of Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring and powerful antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes. Resveratrol can also be found in other foods including grape seed extract, blueberries, cranberries, mulberries, bilberries, Japanese knotweed, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, grape juice and peanuts, but in significantly smaller amounts.

One of the most touted sources of resveratrol is red wine. This is because the levels of resveratrol in red wine are significantly higher than any other food source. The fermentation and wine making process directly affects the amount of resveratrol found in a bottle of red wine.

Health Benefits of Resveratrol

Resveratrol has been linked with a variety of beneficial health promoting properties including a reduced risk of heart disease, anti-clotting abilities, reduced risk of liver disease, improved energy levels, improved brain and kidney functioning, anti-inflammatory, protection against a variety of cancers and improved cellular regulation within the body.

Resveratrol is also an excellent source of disease-fighting antioxidants called polyphenols. Polyphenols support and protect the blood vessels of the heart preventing the onset of heart disease and stroke.

In addition to promoting a healthy body, resveratrol is believed to possess unique anti-aging properties as well. Resveratrol is believed to promote longevity and slow down the aging process. These anti-aging benefits are the result of resveratrol’s ability to activate the body’s sirtuin proteins. Sirtuins are protein compounds that promote cellular healing, reduce the effects of cellular decay and delay the occurrence of cellular death within the body.

Diet Supplementation with Resveratrol

There are several ways resveratrol can be incorporated into a healthy diet without having to consume wine. Most health food stores and grocery stores offer a wide variety of health supplements including resveratrol supplements. In addition to resveratrol capsules, there are also a line of resveratrol lozenges and protein bars. If capsules, lozenges and protein bars do not sound appealing then resveratrol can be incorporated into a diet by the consumption of fresh blueberries, cranberries, red grapes and grape juice.

Precautions When Taking Resveratrol

When taking resveratrol supplements, make sure to invest in pure resveratrol supplements or supplements that contain a high resveratrol content with minimal additives. The optimal dosage of resveratrol is between 100mg – 500mg per day. Anything over 1500 mg per day is considered to be an extremely high dosage that could cause potential side effects. Unpleasant and negative side effects of excessive resveratrol intake include feelings of anxiety, anemia and thinning of the blood.

Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant compound that has unique and beneficial health promoting properties. A small amount of added resveratrol to the diet can significantly improve one’s health and well being by promoting healthy cellular activity and preventing against the onset of various illnesses and diseases.

Sources:

• WHFoods.com Resveratrol: The Special Compound found in Grapes
• WebMD.com, Resveratrol