Resveratrol Health Benefits

Resveratrol is a phytolexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi. It was, firstly discovered in the Japanese Knotweed roots in the year 1940. Many experiments have shown that it has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, blood-sugar-lowering and other beneficial cardiovascular effects on the human body.

Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes and is a constituent of red wine, but apparently not in sufficient amounts to explain the French paradox. Experiments have shown that resveratrol treatment extended the life of fruit flies, nematode worms and short living fish, but it did not increase the life span of mice.

Resveratrol is more powerful and effective than Vitamins C and E (the most famous antioxidants). As an antioxidant, Resveratrol inhibits the degradation of lipids and LDL cholesterol ” thus resveratrol helps lower the bad cholesterol. And like an antioxidant, resveratrol protects cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals.

Resveratrol research has shown resveratrol to induce the death of tumor and cancer cells. These effects were confirmed in several in vitro studies, and were successful in every type of human cancer that was tested, including: breast, prostate, esophageal, cervix, ovary, lung and skin cancer. It was also shown to inhibit tumor growth in the development of colon cancer by blocking the building enzyme Cox-2.

Resveratrol is beneficial as:

1. Protecting the central nervous system, by increasing the levels of heme oxygenase (an enzyme known to protect nerve cells) in the brain. 2. Regulating hormones. 3. Acting as blood thinning an agent, minimizing the formation of clots and alleviating the damage to blood vessels, and suppressing platelet aggregation. 4. Acting as an anti-inflammatory, anti-infective. 5. Controlling cravings leading to weight loss. 6. Shielding against hearing loss. 7. Increasing and reducing estrogen excess in men. 8. Reducing the risk of Alzheimers disease.