I am usually pretty skeptical
when a supplement comes on the market and promises miracles. It took me awhile
to get onboard with fish oil and vitamin D, but after tons of my own research,
I now take both regularly. But, I know many people who started taking acai pills
even though they couldn’t even pronounce it (ah-sigh-ee). There is also a huge
market for weight-loss shakes. We Americans seem to always be searching for the
fountain of youth or a quick-fix.
I have read articles about the
benefits of resveratrol for quite a few years now. Resveratrol is a compound
found in red grapes, mulberries, peanuts, and other plants (however, studies
focus around resveratrol found in the skins of red grapes) that is thought to
provide powerful health benefits such as life extension and disease prevention.
Resveratrol was first studied for its antioxidant effects, but then was found
to be much more powerful than just an antioxidant. Resveratrol can actually
modify genes.
I considered resvertrol to be just
another ‘supplement-du-jour' until I came across an article in Huffington Post
written by David Katz, MD, who is the Director or Yale Prevention Research
Center. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-katz-md/resveratrol-health_b_1070639.html?ref=healthy-living
Well, that caught my attention! I like David
Katz and find him to be exceptionally smart. Not the type of person to promote
nutrition hype or jump on a bandwagon. He is actually recommending taking
resveratrol. Well, to be exact he is not ‘recommending it’ but stating that he
started taking it himself. That works for me!
Dr.
Katz based his decision on a research study in the scientific journal, Cell
Metabolism. The study had 11 obese, but
otherwise healthy, men take a placebo for 30 days and then for 30 days given 150
mg of resveratrol daily in random order. The study was double-blinded; meaning
neither the participants nor the researchers knew who was taking what when. The
study set out to prove, based on a prior study of mice, that resveratrol
supplementation would mimic the effects of calorie restriction (reducing
calorie intake by 30% of healthy levels). And it did!
Taking
resveratrol daily for a month mimicked most effects of calorie restriction,
improving energy metabolism in muscle, improving insulin sensitivity, lowering
blood pressure, and even enhancing fitness levels. There were no adverse
effects of resveratrol. Calorie restriction, on the other hand, does have
adverse effects such as zero libido, among others.
There
is still a chance that in the future resveratrol will prove to be just a waste of
money. But, somehow, I think this is the real deal. There are no adverse
effects so I am not willing to let this opportunity pass me by. There is nothing
to lose (except the cost of the pills), but so much to gain (longevity, disease prevention, stronger muscles, less wrinkles, etc).
At
first I thought I could skip the pills and just drink more red wine. But wine really doesn’t contain very
much resveratrol. So, I went to Vitamin Shoppe and picked up some pills… which
I will take with red wine!
Cheers!
XOX
This blog is for informational purposes only. It’s not
intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem, nor is it
intended to replace the advice of a physician. No action should be taken
solely on the contents of this website. Always consult your physician or
qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health. It is
advised see your physician before changing your diet, starting an exercise
program, or taking any supplements of any kind.
