Resveratrol is a polyphenol, a component of some common plants and plant foods, which has lately been the subject of extensive clinical study due to capacity to protect against disease, aging and injury.
Resveratrol has properties that protect against the common diseases of aging, including diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, and even Alzheimer's Disease. The nutrient has been found to mimic the benefits of calorie restriction. Simply reducing calories has multiple benefits as we age; it prevents insulin resistance and therefore diabetes, and prevents the formation of free radicals. However, for most people in our society, a low calorie diet is difficult to maintain over the long term. Supplementation with resveratrol has many of the same benefits, counteracting the effects of a high calorie diet and boosting the life span of cells.
In addition, reservatrol inhibits the growth of certain cancers, notably colorectal and prostate cancer; promotes the health of blood vessel tissue lining, as well as of the heart itself, and activates proteins in the cell mitochondria.
Resveratrol was first discovered in red wine and grapes, but it is present in a number of other plants and plant food as well. For example, some berries, especially blueberries and bilberries, are good sources of resveratrol. Peanuts also contain the nutrient, as do some pine, and the roots and stalks of the Japanese knotweed.
Up to 300 mg/ day of resveratrol is considered safe, but for individuals taking certain medications, the safe dose is somewhat lower. 100 mg/ day is safe and beneficial for all.
