Resveratrol

The research done on resveratrol has been overwhelmingly positive to date, and many people have decided that there is more than enough evidence of benefit and safety to start taking this supplement. If you have started doing your homework on resveratrol supplements and decided that you would like to add them into your daily regimen, you probably want to know what the best resveratrol on the market is.  With any type of over the counter health supplement the quality of the product you purchase can mean the difference between noticing a big difference in your health and noticing nothing at all.

The key to finding these high quality resveratrol products is finding a company who produces them because they legitimately believe in the benefits that they can provide, and have done tons of research that forms the foundation for these beliefs.  You want to avoid companies who are only selling a product because of its own popularity and potential for profit.  This means that you often want to avoid supplements sold at the local convenience store or supermarket, even if these are the lowest priced option.

When it comes to resveratrol supplements specifically, there is a large disparity in the purity of the pills you will find.  There are two main forms of resveratrol supplements you will find on the market.  These are 50% and 99% pure trans-resveratrol products.  If you buy a 100mg pill that is 50% pure, then you will be getting 50mg of trans-resveratrol.  These lower quality supplements will contain other ingredients, such as emodin.  One of the few complaints this small percentage of people who take this product voice is an upset stomach or other simple and digestive problems.  While most of them realize is that it is often the emodin in a low quality supplement that causes this, and not the resveratrol itself.

When taking any type of pill or capsule, the absorption of the product is very important.  Different products are more bio-available than others when taken orally.  This can be a concern with resveratrol, and you want to make sure that your product has a delivery system that maximizes the amount that gets into your bloodstream.  One method of doing this is called micronization.  This is where the particles of a substance are reduced to an incredibly small level.  It is estimated that micronized resveratrol can improve the absorption up to 500% when compared to the non-micronized version.

After looking for a product that met all of these requirements and received high praises from people currently using it, I found that RevGenetics’ nitro 250 was the best resveratrol on the market.  RevGenetics is a well respected company within the anti-aging community, and backs up their products was legitimate scientific research.  They have many different options for purchasing resveratrol, but their Nitro 250 micronized resveratrol is the cream of the crop.  If you are looking to get the maximum benefits from this product, this is the one that you should choose.

Whenever a new health product comes on the market, it is often met by skepticism.  If the product is claimed to offer many positive benefits, there are often questions about its effectiveness and its safety.  Resveratrol is one such product.  When you have some accurate information about resveratrol, you will be able to decide if it can benefit you.

Resveratrol supplements are derived from plant sources.  Most people know about resveratrol from hearing that grape skins and parts of the grape vine are one of the most potent sources of this compound. This anti-aging supplement gained most of its notoriety when it was discovered that red wine contained one of the highest amounts of resveratrol in any food or drink we consume on a regular basis. Resveratrol can also be found in some other natural berries.  The majority of resveratrol supplements are derived from a plant called Polygonum cuspidatum, which is a less expensive and more potent source of resveratrol than grapes.

All of the major research studies to date have shown this supplement to be very safe, even in high doses.  However, it is only sensible to request your physician’s advice before starting any new supplement, especially if you have any preexisting conditions or are taking prescription medicines.  Women who are pregnant or nursing a baby, or individuals who have serious medical problems, should not use it without their doctor’s approval.  This should not cause any alarm, nor lead you to question its general safety, as it is a good rule-of-thumb regarding any dietary supplements.

A 2009 study done by the Burdock Group concluded that resveratrol did not cause any adverse affects when tested on rats, even at very high dosages such as 700mg/kg of body weight each day. This lead them to state that resveratrol was a well tolerated and non-toxic supplement.

A number of research studies have been conducted to verify the positive aspects of resveratrol.  One example is experiments conducted at Harvard in 2003.  The anti-aging and life-extending properties of resveratrol were concluded to be very promising when studied on mice.

The anti-viral effects of resveratrol were studied at an Ohio College of Medicine.  These studies showed that resveratrol did indeed have the capacity to block the process of the influenza virus.

While the long-term safety effects of resveratrol have not yet been determined, it is relatively impossible to have conclusive data for a product that has not been in use for very long.  This does not mean that there are any conclusive facts pointing to the product being less than completely safe.  It only means that sensible care should be exercised in its use. In addition to pregnant and nursing women, and individuals with serious medical problems, resveratrol should not be used by children.  If you opt to use this product, you should carefully assess its benefits, possible risks, and use it only as directed.

While resveratrol is hailed as an anti-aging product, it may produce other health benefits as well.  Similar to the recent trend toward drinking grape juice, resveratrol may protect one’s heart, and reduce one’s risk of developing cancer.  As some people do not wish to consume alcohol, including wine, or make any kind of drastic changes to their diets, resveratrol supplements can be the ideal solution.

Anecdotal reports from users have shown that resveratrol can cause an increase in the metabolism of fat.  This is why some people today use it to help them lose weight.  An important point to keep in mind is that no product, including resveratrol, is a miracle-cure in itself.  If you wish to lose weight using resveratrol, it should be only one part of your entire weight-loss program.  A balanced diet and exercise are also necessary for a weight-loss plan to be successful.

Presently, research studies have found little risk from the proper use of resveratrol.  Many people who uses this product correctly have been delighted with the benefits they receive.  However, it is necessary to bear in mind that even an all-natural supplement is safe only when it is used as directed, and not used if one has any medical contraindications.  While resveratrol may not be a miracle, studies have shown that it could very well be one product, which can help you to live a longer, healthier life.

Staying young, healthy, and in shape is one of the main goals in our modern society. It is not enough just to live longer than the generations before us, we want to do so while looking and feeling as good as we did in our youth. If there was a magic pill out there that did all those thing for us, without any work on our end, I could not begin to imagine how much people would be willing to pay for that. Unfortunately, this magic Fountain of Youth pill does not yet exist, but for now resveratrol supplements may be the closest thing we have.

Resveratrol is naturally produced by certain plants to protect themselves against bacteria and harsh weather conditions. Scientists really started looking into the substance when it was discovered that taking resveratrol mimicked the Calorie Restriction (CR) diet, one of the few ways scientifically proven to extend the life span of humans. It is believed that CR activates a normally dormant type of gene called Sirtuins, which act as a survival mechanism to help fights off many age related diseases.

Doing CR correctly takes a lot of will power, since you must eat 30% less than you normally would each day. Most people either cannot or do not want to live a life where they are basically starving themselves. This is why it was such a huge discovery that resveratrol allows you to get these same benefits, without the suffering.

Preliminary studies, as well as anecdotal reports from users, have shown that resveratrol may help fight off age and weight related diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. It has also been shown to induce effects that may help you lose weight, increase muscle tone, and improve athletic performance. In fact, one of the most famous studies conducted on mice showed that mice given a 60% fat diet accompanied by resveratrol preformed just as well physically as the mice being fed a healthy diet. The mice that ate 60% fate but were not given resveratrol preformed just as you would expect an obese person to perform.

Where to Buy Resveratrol?

That is the first question people ask once they decide that they want to add resveratrol supplements into their daily routine. The answer is not easy, as there are literally hundreds of different products on the market. Some of the products are of very high quality, while others are sold by companies who sacrifice quality for profit, at the expense of the customer. If you accidently buy one of these low quality products you will not see the results you want. You may think that resveratrol does not work, when it actually was just a low quality product. This happens to many people and they miss out on all of these great benefits just because they happened to choose the wrong product first.

I will go over some of the traits of a high quality resveratrol supplement to help make your decision on where to buy resveratrol easier.

Batch Testing from Independent Labs

In 2007 ConsumberLabs tested many of the most popular resveratrol supplements and found that many of them contained less resveratrol than advertised on their label, and some even contained almost no resveratrol at all. This is why it is important that the company you buy resveratrol from has an independent lab test each batch, and provides you links to those results.

98% or 99% Pure Resveratrol

Personally, this is the deal breaker for me. If I am going to put something into my body each day I want to know that it is as pure as possible. Most products on the market are only 50% extracts, which means if it is labeled as 100mg you are only getting 50mg trans-resveratrol. Obviously, this makes those supplements less effective, but there are also some other problems with them as well.

Almost all the potential side effects of resveratrol seem to disappear when people switch from a 50% extract to 98% or 99%. This would seem to be the case of the other 50% causing the negative effects, not the resveratrol itself. One of these additives is emodin, which is known to cause diarrhea. A high quality resveratrol  supplement will have little to no emodin in it.

Increased Bioavailability

The best resveratrol supplements will have some way to increase the bioavailability once it is in your system. The biggest barrier to the benefits of resveratrol is its bioavailability. If you can increase this you will dramatically increase how effective the supplement is.  One way to do this is to make micronized resveratrol. This has shown to increase absorption between 400% and 500%.

My Recommendation

In all of my research I only found one company that met all my requirements, and that I trusted completely for my resveratrol supplements; RevGenetics.

Their Nitro 250 capsules stand alone when it comes to resveratrol supplements. Since I started taking them I have noticed a significant increase in energy and endurance. After just a month I started to see an improvement in muscle tone and weight loss while staying on the same diet and workout routine I was on previously. I am still noticing improvements in these areas, and to this day I have not noticed any negative effects.

More important than all of these visible benefits, are the benefits that are happening under the surface in my body. It will be a while until we fully understand how resveratrol affects humans in the longer term, but if I have a chance to extend my life and live a healthy and active lifestyle into my 80s and 90s I am going to take it.

Besides the Nitro 250 capsules RevGenetics has a wide range of resveratrol products that fit anyone’s needs and can work with any budget. Their customer service is also phenomenal. The first day I ordered from them I sent in some questions about dosage and resveratrol in general. Within the hour I got a reply and ended up exchanging 10 emails with them by the end of our conversation. They answered all my questions and at the same time convinced me that I choose the right company to buy resveratrol from.

Click Here to Try RevGenetics Nitro 250 Micronized Resveratrol Capsules For Yourself

Dr. David Sinclair and resveratrol will forever be linked. Dr. Sinclair is a biochemist at the Harvard Medical School who focuses on studying the genetic components of aging. His research led him to study a normally inactive set of genes called Sirtuins. Previous studies on the life extension diet called Calorie Restriction (CR) showed that when these genes are activated they trigger a survival mechanism that can help fight off age related diseases, and possibly extend life. Dr. David Sinclair was convinced that some naturally produced compound would be able to activate these genes in humans. After testing over a thousand different compounds he finally found one that worked; resveratrol.

Resveratrol is naturally produced by grapes, and is found in the highest concentration in certain varieties of red wine. Ever since the French Paradox was discovered a daily glass of red wine has been recommended for its heart friendly benefits. For those who are not aware, the French Paradox is simply an observation that the French people suffer from significantly lower rates of heart disease than Americans, even though they eat a diet that is much higher in fat. Before Dr. Sinclair’s resveratrol discovery it was not known exactly why red wine would cause this paradox.

Dr. Sinclair believed he was very close to the anti-aging breakthrough he had been searching for most of his life, and almost immediately began studying the effects resveratrol had on lower life forms. Studies he conducted in 2003 showed that resveratrol could significantly increase the lifespan of yeast and worms.

In the most famous resveratrol study to date he fed two groups of mice a high fat diet (60% of calories from fat) and fed a third group a standard healthy diet. One of the groups being fed the high fat diet was also given 22 mg/kg of resveratrol. The mice given the high fat diet with no resveratrol suffered the typical repercussions normally associated with obesity. They were incredibly lethargic, started to develop diabetes, and died much earlier than the other two groups. Both the high fat plus resveratrol and standard diet groups had a 30% lower risk of death than the high fat group, and the resveratrol group greatly outperformed the high fat group in fitness tests.

Sinclair started a company called Sirtris with the goal to find a drug that would prevent and reverse the effects of age related diseases. A human study conducted by Sirtris showed positive results of their resveratrol drug on patients with diabetes. They are now in the process of developing and testing a synthetic resveratrol supplement, called SRT501, that is supposedly 5x more powerful than current resveratrol supplements. As of the time of this posting SRT501 is in Phase II testing and human studies are being conducted. In 2008 GlaxoSmitheKline bought Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, INC for a sum in the neighborhood of $720 million.
Dr. David Sinclair got his name out to the general public when he agreed to conduct an interview on the CBS show 60 Minutes. In that interview he said that he believed that we have turned the corner on extending the length of a healthy lifestyle into our 90s or 100s. He said that the goal was to have 90 year olds who were able to live the lifestyle that a healthy 60 year old now lives. His most intriguing quote was “People will live active healthy lives, and die quietly in their sleep. That’s really the aim here with these medicines”.

Dr. Sinclair was so certain about the health benefits of resveratrol that he started to take these supplements himself even before human studies were conducted. In fact, the exact amount he took was a big topic of debate in the anti-aging community. There has been some controversy on the optimal resveratrol dosage, so many were interested what an expert in the field thought was best to take himself.  At one point he revealed that he was sticking to a 5 mg/kg daily dosage, which worked out to be about 315mg per day. Much more research has been done between then and now, so we have no idea how much he is currently taking or how much he believes one should take each day.

As a society we are growing fatter and fatter each year. This epidemic is a direct result of how easy it is to get our hands on incredibly unhealthy food. Why spend 45 minutes cooking dinner and doing dishes, when you can just order a pizza or pick up some McDonald’s? The growing problem that is our waist line has spawned one of the most profitable industries in the history of the world; weight loss supplements. We all want a way to take off all the pounds that is as easy as it was to put them on.

Resveratrol is a naturally produced health supplement that has been known to counteract many of the signs of aging. Recently, many companies have been promoting it as the next big thing for weight loss. Is resveratrol weight loss for real, or has it just been hyped up by companies trying to take advantage of you?

The original intent of this product was not as a dietary supplement. The main benefits that have been discovered are; an increase in athletic performance, protection against diabetes, and as a defense against other age related diseases such as cancer and dementia. All of those sound amazing, and wouldn’t it be nice if this product also induced weight loss?

The reason that resveratrol does work is because it mimics the calorie restricted diet. This diet activates a gene known as SiRT1, which is thought to be a survival gene activated to help protect the body. Studies in mice have shown that the activation of this gene has helped to break down stored fat, increased metabolism, and prevented weight gain. Another study with mice showed that those mice who were given resveratrol on top of an incredibly high fat diet (60% of calories from fat) overcame many of the detriments of obesity, but still gained weight.

Resveratrol allows us to take advantage of many of the benefits of this longevity method, without the need to change to a highly restrictive diet. The two studies mentioned above seem to indicate that combined with a somewhat healthy lifestyle it could indeed the fact weight. The second study makes it clear that while it will still have positive benefits against obesity, it does not give you free reign to eat whatever you want.

There have not been many studies that have looked for a conclusive answer to this question. Most of what we know about resveratrol and weight loss comes from user reports. Since these reports are not conducted in a scientific manner it can be hard to tell exactly what caused a result.

That being said, many users say that they have lost weight and body fat percentages while on this supplement. There are many reasons why this might be the case. Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons here:

The first would be that the resveratrol itself is doing something to induce this result. If this is the case it would mean as long as you kept the rest of your life style the same (IE not eating more food) you would lose weight. There are not any human studies yet that backup this theory, but it is what most users and companies would like to be true.

The second reason could be that a side effect of the supplement could have a result that ended up causing you lose weight. One effect that people notice when they first began is that it causes a suppressed appetite for a few hours after taking a dose. Obviously, when you eat less you lose weight, so having a decreased appetite is going to cause the desired effect. Resveratrol is also known to improve endurance and athletic performance, so it might allow you to get more from your workout. If you are now working out harder and longer than you were before, then muscle gain and weight loss will likely occur.

The third could be that weight loss could occur because of the placebo effect. When people start to take a supplement like this, it is because they have a desire to be healthier and in better shape. Just the simple fact that you are taking something like this each day could cause you to subconsciously eat better and exercise more often. You are expecting a pill to give you a desired outcome, and your brain tricks you into getting that outcome by any means necessary. This is all done unknown to you, and you will likely give all of the credit to the little pill.

The fact that people are losing weight while on resveratrol could mean that any of those three scenarios could be true. With all the other amazing benefits this can bring you, it might not matter exactly how it works, just that it does. It might be sometime before we know for sure if resveratrol can be used specifically as a weight loss supplement, but all of the other benefits are starting to become universally recognized. If you lose some weight on top of those, that is just an excellent bonus.

Those who take resveratrol supplements are looking turn back the clock of their life. They are hoping it can be used to prevent heart disease, cancer, and dementia. They also want to look younger and live a more active life for as long as they possibly can. Recent studies into this miraculous compound are beginning to show that all of this just might be possible. As each new study is conducted more researchers are becoming convinced of the power of this supplement.

The question is; what is that correct resveratrol dosage necessary to get all of these health benefits? There is little argument in the scientific community about its usefulness, but the recommended dosage in humans is still highly controversial. Most of this debate started when one of the main researchers from The Harvard Medical School, Dr. David Sinclair, appeared on the CBS show 60 Minutes. While discussing a trial being conducted on mice, he stated that you would have to drink 1000 bottles of wine per day to match the amount of Resveratrol being given to the mice.

This event sparked an industry of high dose resveratrol supplements, and started a online war between low dose and high dose believers, that has been as much about marketing as it is science. The low dose followers recommend taking 100mg or less per day, while the high dose users tend to take an amount between 500mg and 2000mg each day. There is also a moderate group who falls in between those two, but tend to stay out of any heated dosage discussions.

There is also some controversy over how to spread out your dosage during the course of a day. Some say taking it multiple times spread out during the day, while others believe it is more beneficial to take it all at once. Science seems to be on the side of the latter group, as this seems to be the best way to maximize absorption. You see, the bioavailability is one of the biggest concerns when taking a resveratrol supplement and you want to make sure you are not letting any go to waste. Those recommending spreading your dosages out over the day are either ill informed, or are just trying to get you to run out faster (so you have to buy more often).

The quality of the resveratrol you choose will also affect how much you need to take to get equal benefits. You will need to take more of a 50% extract than you would one that is 99% pure trans-resveratrol.

In the same 60 minutes interview Dr. Sinclair also noted how much he was taking at the time. He stated that at the time of the interview he was consuming 5mg/kg per day. That comes out to be about 320mg each day. Many people hear this number and decide that 320mg is what they should be taking as well. However, this is not a logical way to determine correct usage of this supplement. Just because Dr. Sinclair, even as a leading resveratrol expert, took that much does not mean it is ideal for you.

Since we are each different it is unlikely that a single standard recommended dose will be able to provide the best results for an individual. Instead, take a scientific approach and find the answer for yourself (please read our site’s disclaimer before continuing).

Begin by recording how you feel when you are not taking any resveratrol supplements, it is also a good idea to discuss this whole procedure with your personal doctor before getting started. If you experience any problems along the way let the doctor know immediately.

Start with a small amount, such as 100mg per day. Many people believe this is the lowest amount you can take and still show significant results. Record how that makes you feel and stay on it for about a week, before moving up. Continue increasing the amount you take until you notice any unwanted side effects, or you stop noticing additional benefits. If you notice a side effects decrease dosage and see if this fixes the problem. If you are no longer noticing increase benefits then it is likely you have found the peak of the supplements usefulness.