Resveratrol
What is resveratrol? Is resveratrol the fountain of youth? I will attempt to answer this question. Most everyone I know, including myself, wants to be healthy, live longer and be free of sickness. Resveratrol is a substance ( a kind of polyphenol) found in some food sources. Resveratrol is found a lot in grape skins, specifically grapes that are exposed to attacks by its natural enemies like fungi.
When the grapes are attacked, they produce resveratrol to combat the fungi or bacteria. It is suspected that this natural defense of grapes, may be beneficial to humans, as well.
Grapes that are grown in cooler climates, where optimum conditions for fungi growth make them more susceptible, tend to produce more resveratrol. When researching wines, grapes or berries, that might contain a significant amount of resveratrol, keep in mind the climate in which they are grown.
Red wines contain a considerable amount of resveratrol, but other food sources like peanuts, blueberries, cranberries, mulberries and even dark chocolate contain some as well.
Currently there are some resveratrol supplements being produced. As always, when a potentially beneficial nutrient or food is shown to have promising effects, companies will find a way to pack a large dose into a pill. Given the complex nature of the chemical reactions, which may even react at the genetic level, I think its best to try and get more resveratrol by increasing the amounts you get, by increasing the foods in your diet, that it is found in naturally.
Some wines have very little resveratrol and some have a lot. Some studies have shown that the Pinot Noir grape has a more consistent level of resveratrol, than some other grapes. Remember that drinking wine in moderation is the key, considering drinking too much will more than likely negate any positive health benefits.
