NATURAL BIOLOGY'S RESVERATROL BLOG - Keeps you posted of all developments, news, research, etc.

 

Resveratrol is one of the hottest supplements on the market today. In the summer of 2009 60 minutes did a story on Dr. Sinclair and the Harvard study which indicated resveratrol may activate a genetic link to a longer life. Previous research indicated that the only method to extend life was by calorie restriction. By eating a diet relatively low in calories but rich in certain foods, the SIRT1 gene is activated and this gene has been proven to extend life. The Harvard study confirms resveratrol also activates the SIRT1 gene. Therefore, it is possible for resveratrol to extend your life.

 

Until the Harvard study only calorie striction research had demonstrated methods to stimulate the longevity gene. 

 

 

This breaking news that the fountain of youth may actually exist caused an avalanche of consumers to rush out and purchase resveratrol supplements. For as little as one dollar per day, anyone can purchase a resveratrol supplement. This is where the real problem begins. Most people do not understand how to muddle through all the hype and excitement about this hot new supplement. There is by far more bad information than good information, and understanding the difference is the difference because if you go down the wrong path not only will you be wasting your money but you may be putting something harmful into your body.

 

 

To illustrate this point, Oprah and Dr. Oz in the Fall of 2009 filed a law suit against over 30 companies who were fraudulently using Oprah's and Dr. Oz's name to promote resveratrol supplements. Oprah had followed the 60 minute story with full hour feature to explore this "fountain of youth" ingredient. This inevitably caused internet marketers to jump on the band wagon who also took the liberty to use on their websites Oprah's and Dr. Oz's names and pictures as though they were associated with these two celebrities. Of course, they were not. These people wrote a lot of really bad information about resveratrol which has caused a boomerang of internet myths to perpetuate their hype.

 

 

There are a few important points you should know before using resveratrol. Resveratrol is found in multiple plant sources including peanuts. In China it is found abundantly in a plant called polygonum cuspidatum or commonly called Japanese knot root. The most researched source of resveratrol is French red wine grape extracts. Recent research suggests that the grape may play a pivotal role in why resveratrol works. Trans-resveratrol is the active ingredient found in resveratrol and the trans-resveratrol found in French red wine grape extract provides an exponentially higher efficacy than other sources. Efficacy is how well your body is able to utilize a nutritional component. You will often hear efficacy related to ORAC values, absorption, and bioavailability. These are all part of efficacy. ORAC for example, is how we measure the strength of an antioxidant.