Resveratrol – The Anti-aging Wonder

Longevity proponents are pegging strong hopes on resveratrol anti-aging benefits, as this wonder ingredient has been indicated in some recent research to possess potential life-enhancement properties. Resveratrol is not a new find; in fact, some medicines in Japan and China have been using it since the 1980s for treatment of wide range of afflictions, including fungal infections, various skin inflammations, and liver and cardiovascular diseases.

What is Resveratrol?

Resveratrol is a compound found in the skins of red fruits, red wine, grapes, seeds, peanuts, berries (especially, mulberries), various herbs, and propolis (a natural honeybee product). It occurs in two forms — cis and trans resveratrol — but it is the trans isomer that is biologically active.

The potential benefits of resveratrol have not only been traced to its use in some medicinal formulations in Japan and China, the relatively less incidence of cardiovascular diseases among the French is also being attributed to their passion for red wine that contains resveratrol.

Anti-aging and other benefits of Resveratrol

Apart from properties of preventing heart diseases, resveratrol is known to have anti-aging, cancer-preventive, anti-inflammatory, anti-infective and nerve protection properties. So, it is an excellent supplement for the aging people who are more prone to this sort of health disorders.

Resveratrol is also known to improve the functioning of estrogen hormone and act as an effective enhancer of the neuroendocrine system. This particular property makes resveratrol an excellent remedy among women, as women usually witness reduced estrogen activity in their system after menopause and suffer from many adverse health effects due to this shortage.

How does Resveratrol work as an Anti-aging Compound?

Resveratrol anti-aging benefits are due to its possessing a property by which it can activate a class of longevity genes in the body known as sirtuins. Sirtuins reduce cellular decay and impart to the cells greater power to repair themselves.

In fact, scientists have suggested that these types of genes are present in all forms of living matter, and they pass on to the human body similar benefits that are achievable with calorie restricted diets. They slow down metabolism and enhance cellular respiration and thus help the body to tackle “crisis” situations triggered by switching on to calorie restricted diets from regular diets.

The basic thing thus is, resveratrol slows down cellular decay, reduces cell death, controls growth of abnormal cells, and gives the cells more capacity to repair them. All these attributes are extremely important longevity-enhancers.

How Much To Take

The amount of resveratrol to be taken depends on its application – whether it is to be used for therapeutic purposes or for preventive purposes. Studies suggest that resveratrol anti-aging benefits can be best obtained with a daily dose of 1-10 mg of resveratrol. Higher doses of up to 100 mg daily are recommended for therapeutic purposes. With wines containing about 5 mg of resveratrol per liter, a moderate wine intake of 250 ml per day is quite sufficient to give excellent resveratrol anti-aging benefits.

By attacking aging at its roots through making the cells more stable and offering a host of health benefits that the elderly seek, resveratrol is fast turning out to be an elixir of eternal youth.