Dr. Mercola November 14 2006 1,980 views
Researchers report that resveratrol, a natural substance found in the skin of grapes, can offset the effects of a high-calorie diet in mice and extend their lifespan significantly.
If humans respond to resveratrol in the same way, then large daily doses could help to curtail the effects of the unhealthy, high-calorie diet contributing to the epidemic of obesity currently sweeping the U.S. and other industrialized nations.
Scientists fed one group of mice a high-fat diet, consisting of 60 percent fat calories. The mice developed signs of incipient diabetes, and began dying early deaths.
A second group of mice was fed an identical diet, but were also given large daily doses of resveratrol (the equivalent, for a human, of the amount that would be found in 750 to 1,500 bottles of red wine.)
The mice did put on weight, but they avoided the enlarged livers and high blood glucose and insulin that signal diabetes. The resveratrol-fed mice also lived as long as mice on a healthy diet.
Resveratrol is, without question, one of my favorite antixoidants. This study illustrates some of my reasons for my fondness as it can extend life, prevent Alzheimer's, and inhibit the spread of cancer.
But I still do not recommend red wine for your daily dose of it, as it's not at all a good or safe source. Although many health experts feel that red wine is fine in moderation, I am not so certain about this.
This is largely because I am convinced the alcohol itself is actually a neurotoxin, which means it can poison your brain. Additionally, it has the strong potential to seriously disrupt your delicate hormone balance. This may be why those who drink heavy amounts of beer and spirits double their risk of developing colorectal tumors.
If you want to boost your consumption of resveratrol, stick with natural sources like whole grape skins (pass up the meat of the grape, which has no resveratrol but a lot of extra fructose which can serve to raise your insulin levels).