Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring compound plants produce to protect themselves from pathogens. Plants are vulnerable to changes in the weather, attacks from insects, and infections from microbes. That is why they need to produce substances that can protect them or heal them. Resveratrol is one of these protective chemical compounds that plants produce.

Resveratrol became widely known when red wine became the prime candidate for research studies for its health benefits to humans. Studies into the French Paradox (an observation that the French have very low heart disease rates, even though they consume a high number of saturated fats) revealed that the resveratrol found in the skin of red grapes may be the reason the French have a surprisingly high resistance to many diseases.

What is Resveratrol and What is its Effect on Humans?

Resveratrol obviously does its job protecting plants, but what is its affect when taken by humans? Since ancient times, we have looked on herbal genius as part and parcel of the medications we apply to various, if not all illnesses in our body. Up until now, alternative medicine is still primarily composed of leaves and fruits and even roots. Vitamins and minerals are abundant in the flora that the earth provided for our consumption. In recent times, we have discovered the benefits of phytochemicals beta-carotene and lycopene to the regeneration of good cells in our body.

It is therefore not surprising that resveratrol has the same characteristics, if not better ones, that can help us maintain the health of our system.

Resveratrol takes the role of an anti-oxidant in the body, ridding it of free radicals that can cause damage to our cells. There is evidence that shows resveratrol to help in retention of memory. There are also studies being conducted that is looking into the possibility that resveratrol activates an anti-aging gene that lies dormant in our body. If this is true, then we can say goodbye to premature wrinkles and age spots.

Resveratrol can also be helpful to the prevention of cardiovascular ailments. It is a natural anti-inflammatory and may inhibit inflamed blood cells from clogging arteries. Aside from that, resveratrol is also a natural anti-coagulant and may help in preventing blood platelets from clotting and blocking cerebral arteries. When cerebral arteries are blocked, the risk of a stroke happening is multiplied.

Resveratrol is also being touted as the best way to prevent obesity. It acts on triglycerides that get deposited in fat cells, preventing them from massive build-up. Too much bad fats that accumulate in the body can trigger illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart ailments.

Cancer is also a disease that may be prevented, and may be treated, by resveratrol. Because of its chemical composition, resveratrol acts as both an enzyme and a catalyst to various chemical substances that may cause cancer cells to grow. The good thing about resveratrol is that it only acts adversely to bad and damaged cells, and protects the good cells from getting damaged.

While studies into the benefits of resveratrol in humans is still very young, the potential for this compound is incredibly promising and exciting . Doctors have been suggesting one glass of red wine a day for many years, and now you know why. While red wine has been the most well known method of resveratrol intake, there are some obvious drawbacks to drinking an excess of alcoholic beverages. This is why the invent of powerful resveratrol supplements is so important. They allow us to get a higher concentration of the antioxidant, without the drawbacks of alcohol.