A phytoestrogen found in red grape skin called Resveratrol is an antioxidant. It is also found in mulberries, peanuts, knotweed (polygonum cuspidatum) and red wine. Resveratrol was first isolated in 1940 as a constituent of the roots of white hellebore. Plants produce resveratrol to defend themselves against bacteria and fungi caused by the environmental stress and the severe of weather conditions.
Resveratrol made headlines in November 2006 when scientists demonstrated that it kept overfed mice from gaining weight, turned them into the equivalent of Olympic marathoners, and seemed to slow down their aging process.
The same Resveratrol has been found to help prevent the negative effects of high-calorie diets in humans. Studies have demonstrated that resveratrol is a potent antioxidant, has the ability to inhibit platelet aggregation (sticking together) and has anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and anti-cancer characteristics. These characteristics may help prevent free radical damage to our body and provide protective support to the blood vessels caused particularly by elevated levels of blood glucose.
High levels of glucose in the blood cause cellular damage and are associated with increased risk for retinopathy, kidney disease and heart disease. Retinopathy can lead to blindness and kidney disease can lead to kidney failure. Heart disease could lead to heart attack or stroke. Recent studies indicate that resveratrol may also be important for those at risk for Alzheimer’s, or those who already have it since both heart and brain need protection against a common enemy, oxidized fat.
Red wine contains about 1.5 to 3 milligrams of resveratrol per liter (about a quart) and numerous studies have indicated health benefits of moderate red wine consumption as opposed to white wine consumption due to the fact that red wine is fermented with red grape skin that contains resveratrol; grape skins are not used in producing white wine.
Resveratrol is vulnerable to light and oxygen; as such, the red wine should be stored away from sun light, in air-tight, cool temperatures to protect its resveratrol potency. It is said that the peak resveratrol potency available soon after opening a bottle of red wine. It is for this reason that many people prefer dietary supplements as their source for resveratrol. Most of these supplements contain resveratrol obtained from the herb called polygonum cuspidatum. It should be noted that when taken orally, the bioavailability of resveratrol appears to be low as it is rapidly metabolized and eliminated.
It is believed that in future resveratrol or similar compounds may be used as a therapy to prevent or manage vascular damage caused by hyperglycemia.
Darshana Vaishnav - Board certified medical doctor with a medical degree from Penn State University, USA Over 20 years of medical practice in Northern ...
