subject: Nutrient-rich Resveratrol And Acai Berries [print this page] Resveratrol has become the latest in a series of natural remedies to find itself being highlighted in various media circles. Most commonly found in the skin of grapes, resveratrol is also a natural defense for many forms of plant life and protects against the effects of disease and environmental stress.
Following the development of exciting new research into resveratrol, many major media outlets have reported on the results of extensive testing carried out on laboratory mice. Amongst other things, resveratrol appeared to have the capabilities of extending the lives of tested rodents in comparison to other test subjects that werent fed the nutrient.
Although being currently hailed as a new natural remedy, resveratrol has been used for many centuries in other cultures. It has been traditionally used in China and Japan as a treatment for fungal heart and liver diseases and can also be utilised to reduce inflammation.
One interesting field of research that has taken place has come to be known as the French Paradox phenomenon. Maybe a little unfairly, the French are considered to eat a relatively poor diet consisting of high fat content food products and generously sized glasses of red wine. Surprisingly, France actually boasts a significantly lower-than-average quota of heart disease amongst its inhabitants.
There have been a series of epidemiological studies and these have produced a direct correlation between a mid-range consumption of red wine and a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease.
There are two different types of resveratrol. Trans-resveratrol is the most natural form of the nutrient, while CIS is the synthetic form produced by the photosynthesis of plants. It is trans-resveratrol that appears to be the best form of resveratrol and this can be found in red wine, grapes and grape juice.
Natural resveratrol catalyses the Sirtuin-1 gene that otherwise lies dormant in human beings and this can help in repairing DNA and theoretically assist in sustaining life for longer periods of time. It is this trans-resveratrol form of the nutrient that is used in laboratory studies and is considered to be better than the CIS derivative as it is more stable to influences such as heat, oxygen and light. This can lead to problems when purchasing resveratrol, although supplements that contain polygonium cuspidatum are a clear indication of the CIS graded version.
Polyphenolic materials, such as resveratrol and flavonoids, are attributed to the beneficial effects of red wine and act as an antioxidant. Unfortunately, the levels of red wine consumption required to equate the strength of a dietary supplement would mean drinking amounts that could lead to long-term liver damage.
Studies show that the best resveratrol supplements use other antioxidants, such as Vitamin C, to promote the effects of the main nutrient. Unwanted CIS additives lead to poor absorption and stomach acids can alter the state of resveratrol from trans- resveratrol to CIS-resveratrol.
Quality supplements should contain an enteric coating to avoid this, while pharmaceutical companies should be able to offer a certificate of analysis and independent laboratory verification.
Another nutrient-rich food that has been getting a lot of attention with resveratrol recently is the acai berry. Acai berries are extremely nutritious fruits found in the Amazon rainforest. Whats making them so popular is the high content of antioxidants in them, more so than blueberries and red wine. This is definitely something you should check out as well!
