Resveratrol’s Health Benefits


You may know that a glass of red wine can benefit your heart. But did you know that the property behind this health benefit may do a lot more? It comes down to a molecule called resveratrol. In recent studies revolving around anti-aging, resveratrol's health benefits have multiplied exponentially. This discovery has led to a breakthrough in anti-aging research that may affect a lot more than your heart. In fact, it may affect your life span.

The molecule resveratrol is found in the skins of the grapes used for making red wine (it's also been found in cocoa and dark chocolate) and is a strong antioxidant. In researching the genes related to the aging process, it's been found that this molecule seeks out those genes and activates them, slowing down the aging process and possibly preventing many age-related health problems. This has led to a slew of finds that show that this molecule may do more than prevent heart disease. It may even increase life spans. Here's an overview of the potential of resveratrol's health benefits.

Prevention of heart disease. Red wine has long been connected to heart health. That fact is illustrated well by the French who drink a lot of wine and consume a lot of fat in their diet but don't experience as many heart-related health problems as Americans. Now, scientists know what property in the red wine is responsible. With that understanding, resveratrol's health benefits now also include preventing other age- and lifestyle-related problems.

Prevention of Type 2 diabetes. Resveratrol's health benefits may include prevention of Type 2 diabetes, a result of increasing age and an unhealthy lifestyle. In studies done on lab mice, those on a high-fat diet who took resveratrol did not show signs of developing diabetes while the mice who did not take it did develop the symptoms of diabetes.

Prevention of certain cancers. Studies show that resveratrol's health benefits may reach as far as certain cancers, including prostate and breast cancer. A study into resveratrol's effects on prostate cancer showed that mice treated with the supplement were 87 percent less likely to develop tumors in the most dangerous stages of the illness. Also, mice who did develop tumors were 48 percent more likely to have the tumor growth slowed or even stopped. Similar promising finds have turned up in breast cancer studies.

Prevention of Alzheimer's disease. As research into the molecule continues, Alzheimer's disease prevention may be another one of resveratrol's health benefits.

Counteracting an unhealthy diet and little exercise. Consuming high-fat foods and not exercising regularly can increase risks for a number of diseases, some of them also age-related, including heart disease and diabetes. Mice studied in the research of resveratrol's potential use in age- and obesity-related problems had decreased total cholesterol and improved aortic function. Resveratrol may also increase calorie burn without exercise and prevent weight gain.

This is just the tip of resveratrol's health benefits. It may also increase bone density and prevent bone loss, prevent cataract development, help in weight loss, and increase one's life span. It's not exactly understood how it works and time will tell what the long-term effects on humans are. But research continues, unfolding more possibilities for this potentially beneficial molecule found in a simple glass of red wine.