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::FoodSmarts GrapeExpectations
A nutrient from red grapes may boost your metabolism. BY STACY ACHUA
YOU’VE PROBABLYHEARD ABOUT THE health benefits of resveratrol, a nutrient found in the grapes that produce red wine. Past research on resveratrol has focused on its anti-aging potential, and for helping to reduce the risk for heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. Butmore recent studies have found other, more compelling advan- tages of taking resveratrol for people looking to lose weight and keep fit. For example: Dutch researchers found that resvera- trol significantly improvedmetabolismin the sameway that low-calorie dietswork. Resveratrol reduced insulin resistance and helped protect against the bad effects of high-fatmeals. Said lead researcher Patrick Schrauwen from MaastrichtUniversity in theNetherlands: “We need further studies, but Iwould advise people to use resveratrol.” Research published in the FASEB Journal suggests that resveratrolmay prevent the negative effects of a seden- tary lifestyle. “There are overwhelming data showing that the human body needs physical activity, but for some of us, getting that activity isn’t easy,” summed up GeraldWeissmann,MD, editor-in-chief of the FASEB Journal.
“Resveratrolmay not be a substitute for exercise, but it could slow deterioration until someone can get moving again.”
This follows other find-
ings that suggests that resveratrol also lowers blood pressure, improves cholesterol levels, helps blood vessels stay flexible and blocks free-radical damage to LDL cholesterol. On the whole, resveratrol has been shown in numerous studies to protect the heart and blood vessels in multiple ways. It’s also been found to produce an anti- microbial effect and reduce levels of periodontitis-causing bacteria, another heart-healthy benefit.
The French Paradox Resveratrol has been discussed as an explanation behind the “French Paradox” of France’s relatively low rate of heart disease despite the country’s high-fat diets and heavy wine con- sumption, not to mention the smoking habits of the European country. While moderate consumption
what to take Here are some guidelines for using resveratrol:
• Look for “trans” and not “cis” resveratrol. • Avoid fillers or additives such as sugar, starch, gluten, or artificial colors or flavors.
• Check that it’smade in an oxygen-free environment, and then sealed in air-tight and opaque capsules and vials.
• It’s documented to activate sirtuin (SIRT1) activity. • It’s produced by good manufacturing practices- (GMP) compliant manufacturers. • Take 100mg of resveratrol each day for health promotion, and increase that to 300mg if you have type 2 diabetes.
14 IHRSA | www.heal
thclubs.com of red wine may actually
be good for you, to get enough resveratrol from the beverage to derive its
benefits requires you to imbibe
Dionysian amounts of the alcoholic beverage. Because of that, it’s recom- mended that you get your resveratrol from capsules or tablets. In the Dutch study on metabolism mentioned above, the male subjects took 150 mg of a resveratrol supplement a day for 30 days. To get that much resveratrol from wine would mean drinking more than two gallons a day. Resveratrol in the grape skin acts a
bit like an immune system for the grape plant.When a grape plant faces stress (such as fungal infection, injury or UV rays), it makes more resveratrol. You don’t have to track down stressed- out grapes to find the healthiest wines. An increasing number of wine makers have put this stress-resveratrol
discovery to good use by selecting resveratrol-rich, infection-resistant grapevines for their vineyards.
While resveratrol is found in
the highest concentration in grape seeds and grape skin, it’s also in other food sources, including dark chocolate, green tea, peanuts and blueberries.
Feeling Vine: a nutrient in grapesmay be nature’s
strongest anti-aging agent.
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