Resveratrol has been in the news quite a bit recently, but you may be asking “what exactly is resveratrol?” Resveratrol (pronounced “res-vair-uh-traul“) is best known as a compound found in red wine and has been attributed to the “French Paradox“.

The French Paradox is the idea that despite the French penchant for foods smothered in cholesterol-rich sauces, they strangely enough, have a low incidence of heart disease. It was speculated that this paradox could be explained by the French habit of quaffing down red wine in abundance with their meals and that something in the wine was responsible for their low incidence of heart disease.

Resveratrol is not unique to red wine and is also found in purple grapes, blueberries, other fruits, peanuts and Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum).

It is a antioxidant compound that plants produce to protect themselves from environmental stresses such as fungal attacks, extreme heat and cold and ultraviolet light. This is why grapes grown in harsh conditions show higher levels of this compound.

So what can resveratrol do for me?

This compound has been getting a lot of press lately as the fountain of youth in a pill.

There are two things that are known beyond most reasonable doubt to prolong life and good health in a variety of animal models:

*Caloric restriction and exercise.

Research on resveratrol has shown that in adequate amounts it can mimic these two things. Reservatrol given to mice extended their life span, prevented diabetes in those fed a high-calorie diet, lowered the risk of heart disease, increased exercise endurance and reduced their risk of cancer. It also seems to have a beneficial effect on mitochondria which is vital to successful aging.

This compound has shown so much promise that a group of resveratrol researchers at Harvard started up a pharmaceutical company to market it. This company, Sirtus Pharmaceuticals, was bought by the drug giant GlaxoSmith in 2007 for $720 million.

How Much Do I Need to Take?

The resveratrol dosage for beneficial effects seems to be around 100 to 300 mg.

In order to achieve these levels, one would need to quaff down more red wine than even the most seasoned wino would consider guzzling. Fortunately, it is available in a pill form extracted from Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum).

This brings us back to the “French Paradox”, which must be attributed to something else; like the daily shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables and perhaps a little genetics thrown in for good measure. It just goes to prove that a holistic approach to healty living is your best bet.

Check out this post for more information on getting the most from your resveratrol.