RESVERATROL

The Versatility of Resveratrol

Resveratrol research is one of the most exciting and active areas of Anti-Aging and Longevity Research. Resveratrol is a natural compound which comes from grapes, cocoa, and various other natural food products. The more that we learn about this amazing compound, the more medical opportunities reveal themselves. In this article, we will discuss a number of exciting potential benefits that scientists have been studying in recent years.

Resveratrol Acts as an Anti-Oxidant

There is evidence that suggests that Resveratrol may offer some benefits to the body as an Anti-Oxidant. Anti-Oxidants are molecules which have the capability to safeguard the body from free radicals. Free radicals are rogue electrons that result either from chemical reactions within the body, or from outside sources like sunlight. It is inevitable that the body will create these free radicals, as they are the result of the complex chemical reactions which keep us alive.

In comes Anti-Oxidants: Anti-Oxidants act as a protective shield, preventing these free radicals from causing more damage than the body can repair. Although other Anti-Oxidants such as Vitamin E and Vitamin C offer more Anti-Oxidant protection, Resveratrol has the potential to offer some assistance to the body in this capacity. Although it may be beneficial, don't skip out on your on your daily Vitamin C, because the Anti-Oxidant power of this and other vitamins and nutrients outweigh that of Resveratrol.

Resveratrol Both Stimulates and Slows Down Estrogen Production

Estrogen is one of a relatively large group of hormones known as Steroids. Estrogen is primarily considered a female hormone, although it is produced by males as well. Resveratrol seems to have the capacity to both inhibit and encourage the production of Estrogen in the human body, dependent upon the type of tissue in question. Further research is required to see exactly how Resveratrol may be used in order to treat estrogen-related issues such as Menopause and Breast Cancer.

Resveratrol is molecularly similar to a common Estrogen booster known as diethylstilbestrol. This similarity is what causes the hormone to encourage Estrogen Reception in certain parts of the body. The differences between the two structures is what makes Resveratrol function as an Estrogen Antagonist in certain circumstances.

Resveratrol as an Anti-Cancer Supplement

Resveratrol may be able to safeguard the body against cancer in a number of different ways. One way that seems particularly beneficial, is that there is strong evidence that Resveratrol has the ability to increase the rate at which the body expels carcinogens which increase the risk of cancer when they remain in the body for too long.

Also, Resveratrol seems to prevent certain types of carcinogenic cells within the body from ever activating. Many cancer-causing agents have to be exposed to certain forms of stimuli before they become active. Resveratrol may be able to prevent this activation from occurring in some types of cancer-causing agents. These two anti-carcinogenic functions are interconnected, because these unactivated cancer-causing agents are evacuated from the body faster those that are activated.

Resveratrol May Limit the Ability of Certain Cancers to Propagate

Research has shown that Resveratrol has the ability to limit the activity of many types of cancerous tissue. After a DNA molecule has been pathologically altered, it is possible for the cell to freeze the process of cell reproduction in order to fix the broken DNA molecule, or to choose to self-destruct in order to preserve the integrity of the entire organism, if it is not possible to effectively restore the health of the DNA.

If cells with malfunctioning DNA are able to reproduce, this can lead to mutations which can eventually lead to cancer. There is evidence that Resveratrol has the ability to increase the capacity for self-regulation at the cellular level, encouraging malfunctioning cells to break down. Some research has shown that Resveratrol is able to convince certain types of cancer cells to shut down and die off.

Cancer cells function much differently than normal healthy cells. Cancer cells are normal cells that begin replicating out of control, and no longer have a functional means to suspend cell reproduction. Resveratrol seems to be able to enter these cancerous cells, recognize that there is a severe issue which threatens the host, and induce apoptosis, killing the cancer cell as it should have died when it first became abnormal.

In addition to preventing cancer and the cell division of mutated cells, Resveratrol may be able to prevent certain types of cancer from spreading. In initial studies, Resveratrol has the capacity to prevent the dispersal of certain enzymes which allow cancers to spread. In addition to this, there is some laboratory evidence that Resveratrol can also prevent the synthesis of abnormal blood vessel development which feeds blood to the cancer site.

More Information about Resveratrol and Cancer

There are many types of cancer that Resveratrol may be able to treat. Among the types of cancer which have shown promising results in regard to Resveratrol Cancer Treatment are cancers of the thyroid, pancreas, colon, stomach, prostate, and breast. In all of these forms of cancer, Resveratrol has been able to stop or slow the development of cancerous tissue in vitro.

In animal research, Resveratrol has been shown to slow down or stop the development of breast cancer, intestinal cancer, and cancer of the esophagus. In these cases, cancers were caused by the ingestion of carcinogens. Although Resveratrol has shown levels of promise in these forms of cancer, research has shown that Resveratrol does not alter the advancement of lung cancer caused by smoking when taken orally.

Resveratrol and Colon Cancer

In the case of colon cancer, oral administration of Resveratrol in mice with a predisposition toward colon cancer has produced varied results. In other studies using rats, however, Resveratrol seems to reduce the risk of developing colon cancer in the presence of known carcinogens which cause the disease. There is no clear evidence that Resveratrol can protect the body against cancer in human patients, but the body of research seems somewhat promising that the supplement has at least some protective capacity.

Currently, medical trials are being performed in order to discover if Resveratrol has the capacity to reduce cancer risk in human patients, or may provide some benefits to those currently fighting against cancer. Research regarding Resveratrol Metabolism in Humans shows that increasing the amount of Resveratrol consumed in the diet may not produce a high enough level of Resveratrol in the body to preserve the body against cancer, but this does not mean that Resveratrol may not be useful in regard to cancer treatment.

In the future, it is very likely that medical forms of Resveratrol, or medications derived from Resveratrol, may be highly beneficial in treating certain forms of cancer.

Anti-Inflammatory Resveratrol Benefits

At it's core, inflammation is an attempt by the body to heal itself, although inflammation often causes more problems than it resolves. Inflammation increases the rate at which cells in the inflamed area divide, and this process also slows down the rate at which cells die off. There is evidence that Resveratrol may have the capability to limit certain enzymes which encourage the process of inflammation.

Many hypothesize that Resveratrol may be an effective means to limit inflammation and reduce pain and discomfort related to inflammation. There is no downside to increasing Resveratrol intake in order to attempt to alleviate inflammation. It may even prevent the need for unhealthy acetaminophen products in some patients!

Anti-Aging Benefits of Resveratrol

There is significant evidence that the dietary act of Caloric Restriction can produce health benefits in at least some types of animals. Caloric-Restriction is a form of diet in which an organism only consumes around 70% of their normal recommended daily value of calories, while maintaining proper nutrition in every other aspect of diet.

Caloric restriction has been particularly successful in mammalian studies, a class to which we as humans belong. In a study performed with yeast, it was proven that restriction of calories increases the physiological response of an enzyme by the name of SIR-2. Resveratrol also has the ability to increase the response of SIR-2 in yeast, in a manner which mimics that of Caloric Restriction. It was also discovered that Resveratrol has the capacity to increase the lifespans of fruit flies and worms as well.

Resveratrol Increases the Lifespan of Various Members of the Animal Kingdom

In the case of yeast, Resveratrol was able to extend the period during which yeast could actively replicate by seventy percent. Among more complex organisms, Resveratrol was able to extend the life of one species of fish known as the Turquoise Killfish. Resveratrol has also been shown to extend the lifespans of mice as well. In one piece of research, the benefits of Resveratrol equaled those of Caloric Restriction in mice.

Scientists added Resveratrol to the diet of mice which were on a high-caloric regimen, and the extension in lifespan that resulted was very near that of mice that were fed under the guidelines of Caloric Restriction.

Resveratrol Boosts SIRT-1 Stimulation

There is strong evidence that the same benefits of Resveratrol in rats and other species may apply to humans as well. The human equivalent of SIR-2 is SIRT-1, and in vitro, Resveratrol has the capacity to vastly increase the stimulative response of SIRT-1. It is unclear whether ingested Resveratrol will have this exact same effect in humans, but other treatment options will likely arise as a result of this research, even if the benefits in regard to SIRT-1 activity are not achieved through dietary consumption alone.

Although dietary use of Resveratrol may not directly stimulate SIRT-1 activity, there is evidence that lower dosage of Resveratrol consumption has the ability to improve the function of the brain, heart, and skeletal system in rodent subjects, similarly to a diet of calorie-restriction. Resveratrol promoted Anti-Aging activity in these subjects, slowing down the rate of natural cardiovascular decline as a natural product of aging. Scientists of in the process of studying the effects of Resveratrol on human cardiovascular health.

The Future of Resveratrol

Although there is still a lot of research to be done in regard to the health impact of Resveratrol in human patients, it is clear that Resveratrol produces many benefits without any particular negative risk associated with its consumption. We encourage patients to seek out sources of Resveratrol in order to supplement their diet with this natural and potent health-booster.

In our next article we will discuss the potential benefits of Resveratrol in regard to the Heart and Cardiovascular System.

Study Displays the Benefits of Resveratrol

Scientists have recently come to the conclusion that Resveratrol has the ability to produce significant benefits in regard to Anti-Aging, as well as overall health and wellness. A recent study conducted by Harvard medical scientists confirms a long-standing hypothesis that Resveratrol is an incredibly beneficial supplemental nutrient. One of the most well known sources of Resveratrol is red wine, although red grapes confer the benefit as well, in addition to dark chocolate and other foods.

Resveratrol Increases SIRT-1 Release

This piece of research was conducted in early March of 2013, and illuminates the process by which Resveratrol interacts with the human physiology. Researchers found that Resveratrol works by increasing the secretion of a hormone known as SIRT-1. SIRT-1 is a hormone which is intricately linked to cellular efficiency and longevity. SIRT-1 also increases the body's resistance to disease by increasing the rate of mitochondrial activity.

In addition to discovering how Resveratrol is able to stimulate hormone production, scientists also discovered the exact genetic link which causes Resveratrol to produce its stimulative effects. The researchers also hypothesize that a number of pharmaceuticals now in the process of clinical assessment may be able to stimulate these same benefits in regard to longevity.

Researchers Optimistic about Resveratrol

The research team responsible for this discovery is incredibly excited and optimistic about the findings of the study. The lead researcher, Dr. David Sinclair, explains that Resveratrol achieves something that he has yet to witness from any other drug. The rate at which Resveratrol increases mitochondria metabolism is absolutely unprecedented.

Dr. Sinclair is a genetics professor at Harvard Med School. He is also a scientific consultant, as well as one of the founders, of Sirtris, a company related to the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. Sinclair goes on to say that there are very few drugs that have the capacity to increase cellular metabolism, and that most drugs that interact at this level actually block or depress this form of metabolism.

Resveratrol is an Anti-Oxidant as Well as a Phytoalexin

Although Western Scientists are just beginning to learn about Resveratrol, it is a chemical which is present in nature, most commonly in cocoa and grapes. In countries such as China and Japan, Resveratrol has been used as an herbal treatment for centuries. Resveratrol belongs to a potent class of compounds known as antioxidants that preserve cellular health at the molecular level, safeguarding the cells from outside damage, as well as damage caused by internal processes of organic function.

Resveratrol not only has Antioxidant capabilities, it also produces anti-inflammatory and immune-strengthening benefits. Resveratrol belongs to a classification known as Phytoalexin, which is a group of microscopic compounds which prevent microbes from establishing presence on plants. In addition to this, Phytoalexins have the capacity to increase the resiliency of plants, preserving them from dangers such as environmental change, infection, and excess sunlight.

Other Benefits of Resveratrol

Resveratrol has been found to be connected to a number of different preservative benefits in human beings, safeguarding the body against both diabetes and obesity while having an immensely positive effect upon the cardiovascular system. In regard to the heart and the blood stream, Resveratrol has been proven to alleviate excess blood clotting, normalize LDL Cholesterol levels, and open up blood vessels, reducing blood pressure. Resveratrol also seems to have a stimulative effect upon Nitric Oxide production.

Resveratrol Controversy: Was Early Resveratrol Research Falsified?

Although studies in the past pointed to the potential benefits of Resveratrol, earlier researchers were accused of falsifying results in order to make Resveratrol look more beneficial than it actually is. In early 2013, rumors began to fly that Dr. Dipak Das, the author of a number of studies regarding Resveratrol was serially fluffing up the results. The results of this study vindicate Dr. Das, and provide further evidence that Resveratrol produces specific benefits in ways that have not been replicated anywhere else in nature.

There were two primary sources of conflict in regard to Dr. Das' study. The first conflict was primarily in regard to the data itself. Many researchers question whether Resveratrol was actually increasing the release of SIRT-1 directly, or if some other conflicting influence was actually producing the displayed benefit.

The second conflict inferred something more sinister. Some scientists were so awed by the level of SIRT-1 stimulation, that they did not believe that the results could be produced without outside tampering. They believed that the vastly increased SIRT-1 activation was the result of researcher manipulation rather than a natural biological process.

New Resveratrol Study Resolves Controversy

In this Harvard Resveratrol Study, researchers came to the conclusion that high levels of Resveratrol are likely to be incredibly beneficial in preserving the health of aging men and women. Dr. Sinclair explains that he and his staff had worked for six years in order to prove that Resveratrol does indeed increase SIRT-1 production, and that they had their first confirmation in 2006, using laboratory mice in order to show proof of benefit.

After 2006, the goal of research went from proving the impact of Resveratrol, to uncovering the underlying genetic component which causes Resveratrol to activate within the human body. Surprisingly, the conclusion that the researchers came to was incredibly clean cut.

How Does Resveratrol Work?

In the process of attempting to showcase the link between SIRT-1 and Resveratrol, researchers found that Resveratrol was chemically very similar to a few different natural amino acids, including Tryptophan, which is common in certain meats and food products such as turkey. After discovering a potential link between Tryptophan and Resveratrol, they attempted to activate SIRT-1 molecules in a laboratory setting in order to more fully establish the link. They were successful.

After making this link, Dr. Sinclair and his research team studied two thousand separate mutations of the SIRT-1 gene in order to find out exactly in what manner Resveratrol functioned. As they studied these various mutations, they discovered one form of mutated gene which did not respond to Resveratrol stimulation.

After they pinpointed the location of Resveratrol activation, they were able to go into normal genes and turn off that single gene in an otherwise perfectly normal genetic code. Scientists cultured skin and muscle cells that had the gene for Resveratrol turned off. Then, they tested the culture with Resveratrol and other pharmaceuticals which impacted the same gene. In control cells, Resveratrol produced its hypothesized stimulatory function. Experimental cells no longer benefited from Resveratrol exposure.

Dr. Sinclair's Resveratrol Study Answers Many Questions

Dr. Sinclair says that this was the experiment that connected all of the dots. After conducting this experiment, it became perfectly clear that Resveratrol does in fact stimulate SIRT-1 secretion. Now that the researchers have made the connections, this paves the way for further scientific study in order to look at how Resveratrol stimulates SIRT-1 production, and re-engineer the hormone in order to produce an even stronger stimulative effect.

The Doctor is not only interested in producing a more robust and stimulative form of Resveratrol. He wants to learn more about the benefits of Resveratrol, and commit to further scientific study in order to examine the capacity of Resveratrol to benefit healthy individuals.

Resveratrol Research Enlightens Our Understanding of Aging

Therapeutic Resveratrol Treatment is very near on the horizon, and the benefits seem to be astounding. These findings in regard to Resveratrol provide further evidence that the aging process is more complicated, and less inevitable, than we previously imagined. Every year, it is going to get easier to break the threshold of 100 years. Although some aspects of aging are irreversible, it is becoming clear that more and more conditions which were once thought to simply be the result of aging, are actually the result of hormone imbalance and other medical issues which are actually damaging health.

One day we may even find that the majority of aging symptoms are the result of malfunctions of this sort. The process of evolution was not designed to produce an Ageless Man, but it is becoming clear that there are numerous ways that we can chemically and biologically alter our personal physiology in order to alter and prolong the normal common track of human life and existence.

Many Scientists are Intrigued by the Possibilities of Resveratrol

There are many in the scientific community that share Dr. Sinclair's enthusiasm about Resveratrol. Dr. Leonard Guarente, another Sirtris science consultant, and MIT biologist, believes that Resveratrol is the real deal. He believes that Resveratrol research and development will inevitably lead to profoundly beneficial results (and financial success for those who invest in Resveratrol).

Resveratrol Converting Skeptics

The findings of this study are so clear and certain, that they are even converting former skeptics and detractors into believers. Dr. Brian Kennedy, CEO and President of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, was once incredibly skeptical in regard to initial Resveratrol research, because he did not believe that positive results in yeast would carry over into human physiology. Now that early research has been supported, and it has been shown that Resveratrol indeed activates human cells, Dr. Kennedy has changed his mind about Resveratrol, and is optimistic that further research will yield real benefits.

It is becoming increasingly clear that in spite of how different we seem, living organisms share an immense and awe-inspiring level of biological continuity.

Cardiovascular Benefits of Resveratrol

Although Resveratrol offers a lot of exciting potential benefits in systems throughout the body, nowhere do these benefits offer keener prospects for long term health and longevity than within the cardiovascular system. This article will discuss the body of scientific research in regard to Resveratrol's effect upon the heart and the rest of the cardiovascular system.

Resveratrol Prevents Arterial Plaque from Forming

One of the most dangerous diseases related to inflammation is atherosclerosis. This disorder is also referred to as the Hardening of the Arteries. In patients that suffer from this disease, the arteries become clogged up with cholesterol, fat, white blood cells, and other substances, which stick to cell walls and prevent the heart from pumping blood effectively.

At a certain point, severe blockage can lead to heart attack, stroke, or death. One reason that atherosclerosis occurs is because tiny apparatus known as cell adhesion molecules encourage white blood cells to become stuck to the walls of the arteries. After these white blood cells become stuck, they promote inflammation within the sensitive tissue of the arteries.

There is evidence that Resveratrol can slow down the rate at which atherosclerosis occurs by limiting the ability of adhesion molecules to become activated. Atherosclerosis also changes the way that Smooth Muscle Cells within the blood vessels function. As these muscle cells grow in response to damage, they increase the severity of the blockage. Preliminary research seems to suggest that Resveratrol can limit this process in a laboratory setting.

Resveratrol Stimulates the Production of Nitric Oxide by the Cardiovascular System

Resveratrol has been shown to reduce blood pressure and increase freedom of blood flow by activating an enzyme known as Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase, abbreviated eNOS. Nitric Oxide is one of the most important chemical messengers in the body. This gas is one of the primary agents which control blood flow, stimulating the arteries to open in a process known as vasodilation.

Most cardiovascular ailments in aging men and women are related to high blood pressure and medical issues which occur in relation to high blood pressure. If the arteries are not producing a sufficient amount of Nitric Oxide, this prevents the arteries from functioning in a healthy manner. If the arteries are not properly stimulated by Nitric Oxide, then the arteries will not open up properly to allow for optimal blood flow.

The enzyme eNOS is directly responsible for Nitric Oxide production, because the enzyme interacts with Vascular Endothelial Cells, stimulating them to release Nitric Oxide, thereby controlling blood flow effectively through the body. Resveratrol has been shown to increase the receptivity of endothelial cells to eNOS stimulation.

Resveratrol Slows Down Platelet Clotting

Blood clotting is incredibly important for health and healing, but in many patients, the blood begins to clot too readily, and this can cause major problems. A process known as Platelet Aggregation is among the initial steps of the clotting process, and in aging patients with cardiovascular complications, internal blood clotting can cause blockages in the arteries leading to both the brain and the heart. If blood clots block off or restrict normal blood access to the brain or the heart, this leads to the conditions known as stroke and heart attack.

There is laboratory evidence that Resveratrol reduces the activity of platelet aggregation, reducing the size and danger resulting from persistent clots. It should be remembered, however, that in the laboratory setting in which this research was performed, human cardiovascular cells were exposed to concentrations of Resveratrol which were higher than the levels that would most likely be able to achieved by taking Resveratrol by mouth.

This does not mean that benefits of consuming Resveratrol offer no benefit, but the results displayed in vitro are likely more potent than those of oral ingestion in a human patient.

Red Wine, Resveratrol, and Your Health

Researchers have long been aware that modest ingestion of alcohol has been correlated with a healthier cardiovascular system. In nowhere in the world is this more apparent than in the nation of France.

France consumes more wine than perhaps any other country in the world. Amazingly, it also has one of the lowest incidences of heart disease as well. Although this may already be surprising at face value, it is made even more fascinating by the fact that a very high percentage of the French engage in smoking. They also engage in dietary practices which are high in saturated fat.

Normally, smoking and saturated fat are correlated with increased levels of heart disease, but in France, some outside variable protects the body from these negative health choices which normally wreak havoc upon the body. In the scientific community, this is known as the French Paradox.

After decades of study, it seems that the consumption of alcohol, red wine in particular, has allowed the French to live healthier lives in spite of their vices. In recent years, it is becoming more and more widely hypothesized that the Resveratrol in Red Wine is the primary actor which safeguards the health of the French heart.

Red Wine Flavonoids

In addition to Resveratrol, Red Wine also contains a very high concentration of molecules known as flavonoids. Flavonoids share many health benefits with Resveratrol. They are proven to reduce the effects of inflammation, while also safeguarding the body as potent antioxidants. There is also evidence that they support the health of the arteries in other ways that we have yet to fully understand.

In a number of studies, it has been noted that patients that consume alcohol moderately, yet regularly, have a risk of heart disease that is twenty to thirty percent lower than individuals that do not consume alcohol at all. It is apparent that responsible alcohol consumption does have some beneficial effect upon health. It also seems clear that flavonoids, as well as Resveratrol, offer numerous benefits in regard to cardiovascular health.

In animal research, rodents experienced cardiovascular improvement when exposed to red wine, even if the wine was non-alcoholic. In human patients, a recent study showed that consumption of concentrated polyphenols from red grapes (including Resveratrol) had the immediate impact of improving Nitric Oxide release, stimulating healthier levels of vasodilation.

Consider Adding Sources of Resveratrol to Your Diet Today!

Although much of the research regarding Resveratrol and the heart is preliminary, researchers are quickly realizing more about this wonderful compound on a yearly basis. One should not consider Resveratrol a wonder drug than can resolve all of these serious medical issues, but it is important to realize that increasing the level of Resveratrol in your diet can improve your health and your heart in a number of different ways.

Even if some of the exciting potential benefits of Resveratrol end up being slightly exaggerated, Resveratrol represents one of the best examples of Low Risk-High Reward experimental dietary supplementation available in the world of 21st Century Nutrition.

In the next article, we will discuss the most effective ways to add Resveratrol to your diet!