resveratrol Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Natural Plant Compound in Grapes Protects Brain Health, Research Reveals

AHA Publisher — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 07:00:14 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Over the past few decades, resveratrol, a polyphenol found in grapes and berries, has generated a lot of “buzz,” with numerous – and well-publicized – studies attesting to the cardiovascular benefits of resveratrol-rich red wine. (Non-drinkers can get resveratrol through foods and supplements). But what else can this natural plant compound do? Claims for the health-promoting benefits of resveratrol have been coming thick and fast, with researchers crediting it with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and anticancer effects. In fact, in a study published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, scientists noted that resveratrol could protect brain cells in an unexpected way – by stimulating the destruction of specific proteins. Let’s explore the scientific research on this intriguing polyphenol. Benefits of Resveratrol May Include Hope for Treating Alzheimer’s Disease Resveratrol is classified as a phytoalexin, a sort of natural antibiotic that protects plants from fungal infection, blight, and ultraviolet radiation. Not unreasonably, scientists hope that resveratrol can extend its same protective benefits to human health. What is known is that resveratrol has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity that can cause it to reduce oxidative stress. But, this is not the only gift to health in resveratrol’s “bag of tricks.” According to David Sinclair, AO, PhD, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, resveratrol induces autophagy – a type of cellular defense that targets old, damaged proteins for destruction and recycling. The study referenced by Dr. Sinclair, revealingly titled “Resveratrol regulates neuro-inflammation and induces adaptive immunity in Alzheimer’s disease,” also shows that resveratrol supplementation reduced cognitive and functional decline in Alzheimer’s patients. Earlier research supports these encouraging findings. In a 2018 study published in Biomedicine, researchers credited resveratrol with neuroprotective effects that could cause it to potentially act against Alzheimer’s, Huntingdon’s, and Parkinson’s diseases. The team reported that resveratrol promotes the clearance of beta-amyloid peptides – meaning that it may help reduce the deposit of harmful beta-amyloid plaques in the brain. It also reduces neuronal apoptosis – in other words, it prevents the death of brain cells. Resveratrol also offers neuroprotection to healthy individuals, so “topping up” on this beneficial compound may help protect cognitive function into old age. Resveratrol Supports Joint Health and Reduces Arthritic Inflammation Scientists have long been intrigued by the potential of resveratrol to ease inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While preliminary animal studies showed that resveratrol could suppress arthritic inflammation, human trials were clearly needed. In 2018, one took place. In a controlled study published in Clinical Rheumatology, researchers set out to study the therapeutic benefits of resveratrol for patients suffering from varying degrees of RA. One group received one gram of supplemental resveratrol – along with conventional treatment – a day for three months, while another group received only conventional treatment. The investigators found that the resveratrol group experienced less swelling and tenderness in joints and also had lowered levels of pro-inflammatory substances, including the “usual suspects” such as C-reactive protein, matrix metalloproteinase-3, necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6. Boost Dietary Resveratrol With Tasty, Succulent Grapes and Berries You can ramp up your levels of dietary resveratrol by eating healthy amounts of grapes, blueberries, and pomegranates. Of course, opt for organic produce whenever possible. While red grapes are commonly believed to contain more resveratrol than green grapes, the American Institute for Cancer Research reports that the amount of resveratrol in grapes (which, by the way, is found mainly in the skins) is more dependent on growing conditions than on the color or type of grape. (When it comes to wine made from grapes, however, red wine contains more than white wine – as grape skins are used in making it). While red wine is an excellent source of resveratrol, health experts point out that alcohol can increase the risk of several common cancers – so its consumption should be sharply limited. Grapes and berries, on the other hand, are a safe non-alcoholic source of resveratrol. Rich in beneficial dietary fiber, these fruits also contain anthocyanins, natural plant pigments with the ability to promote overall health. By the way, other benefits of resveratrol include protecting the heart and supporting pulmonary function. It has also been shown in cell studies to target cancer cells and act against tumors – without harming healthy cells. How Much Resveratrol Is Right for Me? Multiple clinical trials have used resveratrol up to 5 grams a day with no toxic side effects. However, in some studies, amounts of over 2.5 grams a day caused side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. There has also been a paradoxical finding concerning resveratrol, with some studies suggesting that resveratrol can sometimes behave more like a pro-oxidant than an antioxidant – even causing DNA damage and oxidative stress. Researchers speculated that this phenomenon seems related to the amount consumed – and perhaps to the individual’s age – with more research clearly needed. Before supplementing with resveratrol, consult your integrative doctor to find the safest and most beneficial amount for you. Resveratrol has the potential to reduce inflammation and act against neurodegenerative conditions. The exciting possibilities of this natural plant compound have just begun to be explored. Sources for this article include: link.springer.com FoundMyFitness.com NIH.gov MedicalNewsToday.com NIH.gov AICR.org To read the original article click here.

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The Best Source of Resveratrol

AHA Publisher — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 08:00:04 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – Is there any benefit to resveratrol? If so, should we get it from wine, grapes, peanuts, or supplements? “Alcohol is a neurotoxin which can cause brain damage…[and] can cause cancer,” so perhaps the “consumption of alcohol…cannot be considered a healthy lifestyle choice” since it’s an addictive carcinogen. Cancer is only killer number two, though. Killer number one is heart disease, so what about the “French paradox”? Doesn’t moderate drinking protect against cardiovascular disease? I discuss this in my video Flashback Friday: The Best Source of Resveratrol. As I’ve explained before, apparently there is no French paradox. It seems to have all just been a scam. That’s what started the whole “resveratrol fiasco,” though. During an episode on “60 Minutes,” it was suggested the red wine component resveratrol may account for the French paradox, and research took off. Even after it turned out there was no French paradox, research continued unabated, culminating in more than 10,000 scientific publications to date. What did researchers find? “After more than 20 years of well-funded research, resveratrol has no proven human activity.” “One salient theme that consistently arises throughout this voluminous body of work underscores the fact that data from human studies regarding any biological effects of resveratrol is sorely lacking, despite its popularity as an over-the-counter nutritional supplement.” In fact, “the hype in the popular media regarding resveratrol…may indeed turn out to be nothing more than a slight-of-hand marketing device using…non-human research as a cover.” As you can see at 1:36 in my video, some studies are based on laboratory animal studies at massive doses—tens of milligrams of resveratrol per pound. If you do the math, this is how “various ‘experts’ claim that a daily dosage of 1 g/d is effective for treatments of diverse disorders in humans.” So how much red wine do you have to drink to get a gram of resveratrol a day? Why, just 5,000 cups a day. Not a fan of red wine? Don’t worry. You can just have a couple thousand gallons of white wine a day, 5,000 pounds of apples or grapes, 50,000 pounds of peanuts, a couple thousand pounds of chocolate, or nearly a million bottles of beer. A million bottles of beer on the wall. A million bottles of beer. Take one down and pass it around, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall…. It doesn’t help matters when a “leading researcher on the beneficial properties of resveratrol…has been found guilty of 145 counts of fabrication and falsification of data,” throwing the whole field into turmoil. “Wine is good for those…who sell it!” The resveratrol fiasco is not the only time dietary supplements have failed to fulfill their promise. “Notable examples” include beta-carotene pills and fish oil capsules. Studies in the 1990s showedtaking beta-carotene in pill form actually increased cancer risk, and, in 2013, the thinking shiftedon fish oil supplements from “No Proof of Effectiveness” to “Proof of No Effectiveness.” “The main lesson we should learn is that what makes biological sense and works in test tubes and animals does not always operate in humans.” “Resveratrol is one of approximately 25,000 components identified from food to date,” after all. Thinking in terms of whole foods “may be a better approach for health and disease prevention.” Instead of consuming just one chemical in wine extracted from grapes, why not eat the whole grape? “[F]or the prevention of diseases, the [whole] dietary grape seems to be the best-case scenario.” Key Takeaways Alcohol is a neurotoxin that can cause brain damage and our number-two killer, cancer, but what about the so-called French paradox of moderate drinking protecting against cardiovascular disease, our number one killer? During an episode of the television show “60 Minutes,” it was suggested that resveratrol, a component in red wine, may account for the French paradox, but it has been dismissed as a hoax. Despite that, research has continued and more than 10,000 scientific papers have been published to date. Resveratrol has been found to have “no proven human activity,” and “the hype in the popular media regarding resveratrol…may indeed turn out to be nothing more than a slight-of-hand marketing device using…non-human research as a cover.” Indeed, some animal studies used massive doses of tens of milligrams of resveratrol per pound to claim that a daily dosage of 1 g/d is an effective treatment of diverse human disorders, but you would need to drink 5,000 cups of red wine to get a single gram of resveratrol. Other dietary supplements have also been found unable to fulfill their promises, such as beta-carotene pills and fish oil capsules. Beta-carotene in pill form has been found to increase, not decrease, cancer risk, and there is no proof of effectiveness with fish oil supplements. “The main lesson we should learn is that what makes biological sense and works in test tubes and animals does not always operate in humans.” Rather than consuming just one chemical in wine extracted from grapes, why not eat the whole grape? Surprised about the French paradox? Learn more in What Explains the French Paradox?. Can resveratrol supplements do more harm than good? Check out Resveratrol Impairs Exercise Benefits. In health, Michael Greger, M.D. This article has been modified. To read the original article click here.

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