Resveratrol 400 is the nonflavanoid found in red wine that has been getting so much attention lately. The potential benefits in protection against strong heart disease risk factors looks very promising. Resveratrol is the main ingredient getting lots of focus lately even though there are other antioxidants found in red wine. I think it’s time we pay attention.
Research involving mice has indicated that resveratrol may be capable of preventing artery blockages, blood clots and damage to blood vessels, as well as reducing “bad” cholesterol. Study results showed that it might also help protect against diabetes and even obesity.
Red wine contains the most resveratrol because it comes from the skin of the grapes used to make wine, and red wine ferments with the skins longer than white wine does. Getting your resveratrol solely from red wine to equal the dosage levels used in these studies you would need to consume over 100 bottles a day. This is obviously not a sensible prescription, so the more logical option has people looking towards supplementation.
Some companies have resveratrol supplements available, but nothing can be officially endorsed yet since research studies are continuing, but it does seem like the best option of acquiring the beneficial effects. Although the substance is also found in foods besides red wine (such as grape juice, peanuts, blueberries and cranberries), the amounts found in these foods can vary greatly, therefore making the dosage levels difficult to track and sustain. It seems to me that a combination of the three would make the most sense: use your one glass of red wine per day to wash down your resveratrol supplement pills and cranberry peanut trail mix. Hopefully the future research studies will be to find out how many vineyards are being bought by unemployed cardiologists.
