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Resveratrol – Old Made New
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The old saying goes, “Everything old is new again.” When it comes to aging and your health, that’s not such a bad thing, is it? The Ancient Romans had a secret weapon in the fight to stay young and healthy. Twenty odd years ago, modern scientists discovered the so-called French Paradox, where despite diets significantly higher in fat and calories, the French had significantly lower rates of heart disease and cardiac arrest than the rest of Western culture. Now, thanks to research into resveratrol and the development of resveratrol supplements, that same secret is available to everyone.
The Secret of Resveratrol
What the French and Ancient Roman diets have in common is red wine. The Romans even had a saying – In Vino Sanitas – “In wine there is health.” That’s because red wine contains some of the highest naturally occurring amounts of resveratrol, a powerful anti-oxidant. Grapes, blueberries, cranberries, pomegranates and other fruit produce resveratrol as protection against sun damage and fungal diseases. It helps prolong the life and health of the fruit. Something in the fermentation involved in turning grapes into red wine intensifies the amounts of resveratrol released. This magic of nature provided all those Romans and Frenchmen with a veritable fountain of youth. You simply can’t consume enough red wine anymore, however, thanks to pesticides that prevent the grapes from producing large amounts of resveratrol. Naturally derived resveratrol can be found safely and effectively in dietary supplements, providing you with all the anti-aging health benefits of red wine without the hangover.
Resveratrol and Your Heart
Resveratrol will not keep you young and healthy forever. It has been proven, in various studies, that it is good for the heart and circulatory system. And that can help keep you feeling younger and healthier longer. It acts as an anti-coagulant, inhibiting the formation of dangerous heart attack and stroke inducing blood clots. It may even lower blood pressure. Resveratrol has also been proven to slow cardiac aging. It acts on the cells to prevent the damage caused by natural aging. Preventing the damage slows the aging process. Thus, resveratrol leaves your heart younger and healthier than it found it.
Resveratrol and Cancer
Studies have shown that resveratrol may be effective in the treatment of some cancers. Resveratrol targets the cancer cells and makes them more susceptible to the effects of chemotherapy. It may also injure the cells internally, decreasing their ability to function as they would like. Resveratrol has a detrimental effect on the internal energy source of cancer cells, slowing their growth.
Resveratrol and Diabetes
A study released in 2008 showed that resveratrol was significant in improving the overall health of diabetics. Resveratrol prevents damage to blood vessels caused by the high level of glucose in a diabetic’s blood supply. By preventing this damage, resveratrol can actually prevent heart and kidney disease, as well as possibly preventing diabetic glaucoma. Resveratrol was shown to not only prevent blood vessel damage in some patients, but to actually mend and reverse vessel damage, as well. Healing this blood vessel damage may end diabetic neuropathy in hands and feet. Early research shows resveratrol may also help lower blood glucose amounts, and further study into this effect/benefit is underway.
Resveratrol and Other Ailments
Resveratrol can act as an anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce the effects of arthritis. Some studies have shown that resveratrol may help prevent or at least aid in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Resveratrol seems to elicit the same effects on the body as a long-term reduced calorie diet – producing better cardiac and joint health, lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar, and lower blood pressure. Overall, resveratrol may just be one of the most powerful anti-aging anti-oxidants known to man. Most of today’s resveratrol supplements are derived from a Japanese plant, knotweed, shown to be almost as high in resveratrol as red wine. It is important when choosing a supplement to ensure that your source of resveratrol contains no “fillers” – sugars, gums, colors and the like – other than those ingredients needed to produce the pill or powder, as these added ingredients can have effects of their own, as well as decreasing the effectiveness of your supplement.
Resveratrol and Side Effects
No supplement, natural or otherwise, comes without some risks or dangers. While studies have shown that resveratrol carries few harmful side effects, a few precautions should be noted. Resveratrol’s anti-clotting properties make it vital that resveratrol not be taken with other medications or supplements that also serve as anti-coagulants. Since resveratrol is a plant-based phytoestrogen, women who are pregnant or nursing should not take resveratrol. Those on estrogen-based contraceptives, or hormone replacement therapies should not take resveratrol without first consulting with their obstetrician, as resveratrol may affect the way these other estrogen containing medications work. Likewise, women at risk for or survivors of breast cancer should not take resveratrol, either, as it has been shown to actually increase the risks of breast cancer. Taking high doses of resveratrol (greater than 500 mg daily) has been shown to cause joint stiffness and discomfort, especially in the hands and feet.
Resveratrol and You
Resveratrol, therefore, may not be for everyone. If you, like the Romans and French, want to experience the same anti-aging benefits of resveratrol, scientists recommend a daily dose between 300 and 500 mg. It may not be a fountain of youth, but resveratrol supplements may be the next best thing. And you can stay sober in the bargain.
Richard Williams
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/resveratrol-old-made-new-739282.html
Can Resveratrol Rebuild Body Cells?
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Can resveratrol “rebuild” the cells of the body? This article looks at the facts presented in the most recent studies. Some of the advertising claims that supplement manufacturers use are not exactly factual. There is no doubt that resveratrol consumption is good for you, depending on how you consume it, but it is not the only nutrient that you need to protect your body cells and extend your natural lifespan.
As an antioxidant, resveratrol protects the cells of the body from free radical damage, the primary, but not the only cause of aging. Other nutrients, such as carnosine are needed to protect the cells from glycation, which is worse than free radical damage, because it causes the formation of toxins, which has a detrimental cascading effect that includes further free radical damage.
To date, most of the studies have been conducted using cell lines in the laboratory or animal models. Some of the information that you will find on the internet is outdated. Recently, I read one overview stating that more animal studies were needed. That review was 10 years old and had not been updated or replaced or removed, which is not unusual.
Numerous animal studies have now been conducted, as well as the studies using human volunteers. One of the major pharmaceutical companies is developing a resveratrol-based drug to treat type II diabetes. In the future, there may be numerous drugs based on this antioxidant. For those of us that simply want to protect our long-term health, supplementation is the answer. The antioxidant occurs naturally in red wine, but drinking more red wine is not the answer, for numerous reasons, including the health of the liver.
What do the studies show? There are thousands of them. So, there’s no way to list all of the results here, but I’ll try to cover the basics.
Bone Cell Health—in animal studies, adding resveratrol to the diet increased the animals bone density—in cattle showing degeneration of the spinal discs, the antioxidant slowed the degeneration—reduces inflammation
Brain Cell and Nerve Cell Health—may prove useful in treating Alzheimer’s, as it protects the nerves from free radical damage—beneficial in treating multiple sclerosis in rodents—enhances balance and coordination
Heart Cell Health—improves the function of the heart and reduces cholesterol levels
Cancer Prevention—protects against head, neck, breast, lung and prostate cancer
DNA Damage
According to researchers at Harvard, DNA damage is the “universal” cause of aging in animals. The DNA within the cells contains numerous genes. Some of them signal that it is time for the cell to die. This is necessary when a cancer cell forms. Sirtuins are molecules within the cells of the body that insure that these genes do not signal the death of healthy cells. Resveratrol activates sirtuins, preventing the death of healthy cells.
Resveratrol Supports Body Cell Rebuilding
So, it does not actually “rebuild” cells, it supports your body’s ability to reproduce healthy cells and protects the DNA within the cells from damage. For supplementation, your best bet is a multi-nutritional supplement that contains resveratrol, carnosine and the basic nutrients that the cells of the body need to function “optimally”. For more information see my website on Healthy Body Supplements – Larry L. Taylor
Larry L. Taylor
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/can-resveratrol-rebuild-body-cells-737491.html
Resveratrol Content
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What is Resveratrol?
Resveratrol is a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi. Resveratrol has many anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, blood-sugar-lowering and other beneficial cardiovascular effects. Resveratrol is very well known in Western Europe as it can slow down the aging process. Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes and is a constituent of red wine. Resveratrol content sin the plamnts are produced in the plant as a defense against disease and fungus. Since fungal infections are more common in cooler climates, grapes produced in cooler climates tend to have a higher concentration of Resveratrol. Total amount of Resveratrol per serving of wine (a 5-ounce glass) for white wines is found to be between 0.01 to 0.27 mg.
Chemical Constituent of Resveratrol
The chemical constituent of the Resveratrol is something that makes it special. Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene) is a polyphenolic phytoalexin. It is a stilbenoid, a derivate of stilbene, and is produced in plants with the help of the enzyme stilbene synthase.
It exists as two geometric isomers: cis (Z) and trans (E), with cis-isomer shown in the top image. The trans form can undergo isomerisation to the cis form when exposed to ultraviolet irradiation. Resveratrol content also stayed stable in the skins of grapes and pomace taken after fermentation and stored for a long period. All that means is that That resveratrol can have two forms of existence according to the subject.
Chemical Action Plan of Resveratrol Content
The mechanisms of resveratrol’s apparent effects on life extension are not fully understood, but they appear to mimic several of the biochemical effects of calori restriction. A new report indicates that resveratrol activates Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and PGC-1? and improve functioning of the mitochondria. Other research calls into question the theory connecting resveratrol, SIRT1, and calorie restriction..
Resveratrol content interferes with all three stages of carcinogenesis— initiation, promotion and progression. Experiments in cell cultures of varied types and isolated subcellular systems in vitro imply many mechanisms in the pharmacological activity of resveratrol. These mechanisms include modulation of the transcription factor NF-kB inhibition of the cytochrome P450 isoenzyme CYP1A1. Resveratrol content was reported effective against neuronal cell dysfunction and cell death, and in theory could help against diseases such as Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Again, this has not yet been tested in humans for any disease.
Owing to all these advantages there are many companies which offer a free trial of this amazing natural supplement.
marryjones777
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/resveratrol-content-943484.html