Resveratrol as Anti-aging Antioxidant
by Paul Rodgers
Resveratrol supplements are the latest antiaging fad. Resveratrol nutritional supplements are either made from the powdered and ground skin and seeds of grapes or more likely they are made from Japanese knotweed which contains a fairly high amount of resveratrol. On a technicality, resveratrol has already been classified as a drug, though resveratrol supplements are widely sold as well.
Resveratrol
The primary health component of wine that researchers have uncovered is called resveratrol. Resveratrol is also found in a number of other foods and berries, such a peanuts and blueberries but grapes, particularly winemaking grapes such as Muscadine, are the clear winner. Resveratrol maintains cell viability and exerts an anti-oxidative action by enhancing the intracellular free-radical scavenger glutathione. Resveratrol is an active polyphenol found in red wine that has anti cancer effects. Resveratrol is known to fight cancer tumor growth. Resveratrol protects heart tissue from cancer chemotherapy drug. Resveratrol is known to be protective against oxidative cardiovascular disorders.
Resveratrol protects the circulation in the heart and other organs in several ways, including protection against ischemic-reperfusion injury, relaxation of blood vessels to improve circulation, protection and maintenance of intact endothelium, reduction of hardening of the arteries, inhibition of low-density lipoprotein oxidation, and suppression of platelet aggregation which improves blood flow and reduces blood clotting. Resveratrol helps lower cholesterol, and is as much as 10 to 20 times more potent than vitamin E in protecting against LDL oxidation, a process that has been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. Resveratrol in wine is known to prevent blood clots and widen (dilate) blood vessels, sometimes producing Viagra-like effects. Resveratrol pills should ideally be consumed with meals, since this is when insulin and blood sugar levels rise and when oxidation is high.
Red wine provides 10 times more trans resveratrol than white wine
Red wine contains tannins and resveratrol, substances which could explain the drink's anti-cancer properties. Consumption of red wine is associated with a slight but statistically significant reduction in the development of lung cancer, as reported in the journal Thorax. Red wine has been shown, in some experiments, to be more effective than other alcoholic beverages in decreasing some of the risk factors of coronary heart disease. Many believe that the proven benefits of red wine explain the "French Paradox" in which the French have lower rates of heart disease yet consume a high fat diet.
Aging is breakdown, but broken things can be fixed
Resveratrol- The Anti-Aging Breakthrough
Aging is characterized by a progressive deterioration of physiological functions and metabolic processes. The healthy reputation of dietary antioxidants just got more support, with one type turning in a spectacular anti-aging performance. Research studies continue to find more interesting benefits from this red wine compound, including potential anti-cancer and anti-aging activity. As to its antiaging potential, resveratrol activates a cell's survival defense enzyme, which prolongs the time cells have to repair their broken DNA.
Anti-aging Antioxidant
Newspapers, magazines and TV over the last few years have been filled with news of the anti-aging, antioxidant and seemingly miraculous properties of red wine. Wine lovers are probably already aware that red wine contains a powerful antioxidant: resveratrol. Resveratrol appears to work as a powerful antioxidant helping quench free radical damage in the body, but also has a unique mechanism of action that may prove to have significant life extension properties. Antioxidant resveratrol action is very important for the heart health because it can reduce the blood pressure by opening the arteries hence increasing the blood flow through them. Antioxidants slow down cell damage and the progression of degenerative diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and improve organ, eye, skin, teeth and gum health.
Paul Rodgers specializes in marketing natural health and beauty products.
