
Best
Sources of Resveratrol
In
previous articles we discussed various potential benefits of
Resveratrol in the diet. In this article, we will discuss some ways
that you can increase the level of Resveratrol that you consume in
your daily routine while also encouraging you to reap the other
benefits inherent in these various and healthy foods.
Resveratrol
is Abundant in Red Wine
Red Wine
is the most well known, as well as the most potent, form of
Resveratrol available without resorting to supplemental forms of the
compound. There is a reason why the French have some of the most
resilient cardiovascular systems in the world, and it's not because
of their smoking habits. If you choose to enjoy alcohol responsibly,
then Red Wine is a fantastic way to get a physiological boost.
Red Wine
is full of multiple flavonoids, as well as polyphenols such as
Resveratrol, which reward the body for their consumption in multiple
ways. If you choose not to consume alcohol, non-alcoholic Red Wine
appears to offer many of the same benefits of its alcoholic
counterpart.
Red
Grape Resveratrol
Although
Red Wine is the most well known source of Resveratrol, Red Grapes
themselves are an efficient vehicle for Resveratrol as well. Grape
seeds contain the highest concentration of Resveratrol in the plant.
The skin of the grape offers the second highest level of Resveratrol.
Something to keep in mind in regard to grapes: The darker the grape,
the higher the concentration of Resveratrol. Choose grapes that have
a sharp color as near to black as possible in order to maximize the
amount of Resveratrol you receive from your snack.
Why is
Red Wine a Better Source of Resveratrol? 
The reason
that Red Wine is a better source of Resveratrol than Grapes
themselves is a result of the wine-making process. The process of
fermentation increases the amount of Resveratrol that is available in
the liquid that you actually consume.
Resveratrol
is largely trapped in the seeds and the skin of grapes. This means
that when you eat raw grapes, much of the resveratrol that passes
through your system in never unlocked and released into your body
The
process of fermentation leaches the vast majority of Resveratrol from
these parts of the grape which are normally poorly digested, vastly
increasing the amount of Resveratrol available in your glass of wine.
Why is
Red Wine a Better Source of Resveratrol than White Wine or White
Zinfandel?
The level
of Resveratrol available in a glass of wine is directly related to
the amount of time that the fermented liquid has been in contact with
the pressed skin and seeds of the wine. The color of the wine is
directly related to the amount of time that the wine is allowed to
soak in the presence of the grape skin. Darker Wine = More
Resveratrol
Dark
Chocolate: A Significant Source of Resveratrol
Dark
chocolate is one of the densest forms of natural Resveratrol
available from any food product. Red Wine contains the highest level
of Resveratrol out of any other food or drink, but dark chocolate is
the third best source of this amazing polyphenol compound, behind red
wine and boiled peanuts. A serving of dark chocolate contains around
three quarters as much resveratrol as a glass of wine.
All forms
of chocolate contain at least some Resveratrol, but the amount of
Resveratrol is directly related to the purity of the chocolate. Cocoa
powder has the highest concentration of Resveratrol among chocolate
products. After the powder itself, baking chocolate has the second
highest amount of the compound, followed by dark chocolate. The least
potent form of chocolate is milk chocolate.
Peanuts:
An Efficient Alternative to Red Wine
Peanuts
are an incredibly versatile food, but did you know that they are also
a fine source of Resveratrol? The amount of Resveratrol in a serving
of boiled peanuts is nearly identical to that contained within a
glass of wine. Boiled peanuts are the best source of Resveratrol from
peanuts. Peanut butter comes in second place, and Roasted Peanuts
come in third place.
The reason
why boiled peanuts provide higher levels of Resveratrol than peanut
butter or roasted peanuts is similar to why Red Wine provides more of
the compound than grapes. The highest level of Resveratrol is
available in the shell, and the thin casing of the peanut itself. The
boiling process works the Resveratrol out of the portions of the
peanut that the human body is less effective at digesting, providing
a higher active dose. The process of making peanut butter also coaxes
these same polyphenols free, but to a lesser extent.
Various
Berries Contain Resveratrol
A number
of types of berries contain Resveratrol. Like grapes, the
concentration of Resveratrol is related to the color of the berry
itself. Dark berries like cranberries and blueberries contain the
highest levels of Resveratrol.
Resveratrol
is also available in the same primary locations in berries: The seeds
and the skin. Like Red Grapes, the fermentation products can also
draw out increased levels of Bio-Available Resveratrol.
Resveratrol
Supplements
You may be
interested in turning to supplemental forms of Resveratrol. As we
mentioned in earlier articles, the levels of Resveratrol used in
scientific study of the compound are often higher than the levels of
Resveratrol that can normally be acquired from diet alone.
Supplemental
sources of Resveratrol provide a higher dose of this particular
polyphenol than can be acquired from normal dietary sources. You
should be conscientious when choosing your Resveratrol Supplement,
because supplements are not regulated by the FDA and, as a result,
don't carry the same guarantees of quality and conformity.
Just do
your research, and choose a Resveratrol Supplement that actually
offers what it claims to provide. Most Resveratrol Pills contain
between ten and fifty milligrams of Resveratrol, although there is
evidence that the body can benefit from much higher doses. Although
there are many brands of Resveratrol, one of the most trusted brands
of Supplemental Resveratrol is Biotivia Transmax Trans-Resveratrol.
Although
there is not a strict Recommended daily allowance, it appears that
the ideal level of Resveratrol for optimized physiological health is
between five hundred and two thousand milligrams per day. This is not
to say that the lesser amount you can acquire from a normal diet will
not provide benefits, but that the maximum potential benefits of
Resveratrol continue to accumulate as the dosage grows!
Add
Resveratrol to your Daily Routine!
As you can
see, there are many ways to add Resveratrol to your diet. We
encourage you to at least try out Supplemental Resveratrol, to see if
it works for you. Even if you find the results unsatisfactory, there
is absolutely no risk in adding this potentially highly beneficial
nutrient to your diet!
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