Science shows that resveratrol is pushing its way to the top of the buzz-worthy ingredient list. It’s been shown to help treat everything from heart disease to diabetes as well as naturally turn back the clock on skin. Here’s why you’ll want to harness resveratrol’s impressive health and beauty benefits. Right. Now.
Why The Buzz? So, what is this fancy sounding R-word exactly? “Resveratrol is a very potent polyphenolic antioxidant,” says Jeffrey Morrison, MD, founder of the Morrison Center for Integrative Medicine in New York City. And while it’s most famous for its ties to red wine, there are actually many other natural sources of the antioxidant powerhouse including many of your go-to foods, as well as around 70 plant species.
Where to Find It Along with grapes (and therefore the vino connection), it’s found in several kinds of berries such as mulberries, blueberries and cranberries along with peanuts and dark chocolate. “It concentrates in the skin of red grapes and other plants (like Japanese Knotweed) to protect the plant from ultraviolet light, as well as fungal infections and environmental stress,” explains Dr. Morrison. “So, essentially, the more the plant needs to struggle, the higher the concentration of resveratrol.”
When Food Is Not Enough And there are plenty of research-backed reasons to add resveratrol to your diet. “You’re getting potent antioxidant protection to help your body manage many different types of environmental and self-induced stress from the inside out,” explains Dr. Morrison. “Resveratrol works to directly bind free radicals [damaging atoms or molecules with one or more unpaired electrons] and enhance the body’s ability to produce our own antioxidants including glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean that you should down Cabernet every night to get your resveratrol fill. Nor is eating the amount of, say, berries needed to reap its antioxidant capabilities realistic. Dr. Morrison says that opting for a supplement that contains an extract of trans-resveratrol from Japanese knotweed (aka polygonum cuspidatum root) can help you reach a resveratrol-rich level. He suggests 150 milligrams daily for three weeks on and one week off, to maintain an effective level within the body.
For a Beautiful Heart Along with stellar antioxidant powers, resveratrol has been shown to help fight cardiovascular disease and diabetes. A study published in the journal Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry, states that resveratrol helps stimulate the production of nitric oxide as well as lowers oxidative stress and inflammation and platelet aggregation, all of which are crucial to heart health. In a 2013 study in Cell & Bioscience, resveratrol showcased anti-diabetic capabilities because it’s able to regenerate insulin-producing cells.
Stave Off Disease Several studies also show that resveratrol may have anti-cancer powers, including recent research that shows it has a unique ability to cause the degradation of cancer cells specifically, while protecting cancer-free cells. Research also shows its amazing anti-inflammatory characteristics, and reducing inflammation is possibly the single best thing you can do to stay healthy and young.
Original post found at: http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/superfood-berries-promotes-weight-loss-younger-skin-162000253.htmlP.S. Include red grapes, plums and blueberries with your daily intake of five or more fruits each day to get your recommended daily allowance of resveratrol.
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