Unless you’ve been completely out of touch with any form of broadcast or print media for the last couple of years, you have no doubt heard plenty about the compound known as resveratrol by now.

At the bare minimum, you have probably heard something about it in connection to its antioxidant properties; maybe you know that it is found in red wine. You may also have seen advertisements or articles about the resveratrol capsules and other resveratrol supplements which are now widely available to consumers.

However, if you haven’t yet learned that much about this substance, the health benefits it may be able to provide or where to find resveratrol, this article is for you – keep reading to learn a little more about this very popular supplement. We’ll cover a little about what resveratrol is and what it can do as well as where to find it.

Resveratrol is a substance which is naturally produced by a number of different plants, usually in response to threats such as bacterial or fungal infections. This compound is able to protect the plant and as it turns out, it may be able to protect our health as well from cellular damage and certain diseases, possibly even extending lifespan.

As you may already know, resveratrol is an antioxidant, meaning that it neutralizes free radicals – unstable oxygen molecules which can cause cellular damage through a process similar to the corrosion oxygen can cause to metals.

A growing body of evidence suggests that much of the physical decline associated with aging may in fact be the result of free radical damage on the cellular level; so getting a greater amount of resveratrol and other antioxidants through diet and supplementation can help to protect your health and possibly keep you feeling and even looking younger as you age.

There are other health benefits which resveratrol may offer as well. In some studies on animals, the results seem to suggest that resveratrol may be helpful in controlling and treating diabetes, help to prevent or slow the growth of certain forms of cancer and offer other beneficial effects for human health.

It is even thought by some that this compound may help people to maintain a healthy body weight through an ability to help regulate the metabolism. However, research is still being done into this area, since the dose needed to provide this effect is relatively high (about 4,500 milligrams per day) and has not been studied in humans.

Even discounting the possibility that resveratrol may be able to help people maintain a healthy weight through this kind of metabolic regulation, resveratrol capsules still offer plenty of health benefits which make this supplement well worth trying.

With concern about free radical damage on the rise, it’s a type of supplement which seems certain to remain popular. It’s difficult to get enough of this natural compound through diet alone, making capsules and other supplements an ideal method to ensure getting adequate levels of resveratrol to avail oneself of its many health benefits.

Even if you’re not entirely clear on what resveratrol is or what it does, you’ve almost certainly heard someone talking about resveratrol weight loss supplements. Is there any truth to the claim that the substance known as resveratrol can actually help you to lose weight?

It seems that there is some product or another hitting the market nearly every week, each touted as the greatest aid to weight loss ever developed. Of course, the vast majority of these products do little or nothing and are justifiably forgotten as quickly as they showed up on websites and store shelves.

So is the same true of resveratrol products which claim to be able to help you lose weight? It’s a question which is too complex to be answered with a simple yes or no answer. First, let’s have a look at what resveratrol actually is and what health benefits this substance can provide before we examine the question of whether it can be of assistance to those attempting to lose weight.

Resveratrol is a compound which many plants produce as a natural defense against fungi and bacteria. Not only does it protect plants, but this naturally occurring substance may be a potent ally in preserving human health as well, largely through its antioxidant properties.

Many researchers are of the opinion that a lot of the physical decline which we customarily associate with aging may actually be due to cellular damage from the oxidation which free radicals can cause. As such, you may have heard about antioxidants as a sort of anti-aging substance; and resveratrol is a potent antioxidant which might also provide some other health benefits.

I know, I know – you’re wondering if resveratrol weight loss supplements actually work, but bear with me for a moment; we’ll get to that soon enough. Animal studies suggest that resveratrol may be helpful in preventing and slowing down the progression of some cancers, offering the potential to help in their treatment.

Additionally, data from some other studies seems to indicate that this substance may also be useful in treating diabetes, another benefit which makes resveratrol something that you may want to get into your diet through foods which are good sources as well as with supplement products.

But do resveratrol weight loss products work? To answer that, let’s have a look at something else which animal studies on resveratrol’s health benefits have found. In studies conducted with mice, resveratrol seems to have an effect on metabolic function, which suggests that it may be able to help people to maintain body weight as well as to keep the metabolism to a level which may be useful in extending the lifespan.

However, researchers have projected that the dose necessary to provide this kind of effect in the human body would be in excess of 4,500 milligrams per day – a dosage far higher than any whose effects have been studied in humans and also far higher than that contained in any resveratrol supplement on the market at present. Since no long term studies have been performed on resveratrol at this high of a dose, it is unknown if this would be effective; or if a dose this high may cause unwelcome side effects.

So the short answer is no.  As far as we know, none of the products marketed as resveratrol weight loss supplements can help you to lose weight loss, at least not based on their resveratrol content alone.

However, this antioxidant compound offers a number of health benefits which make supplements containing the substance well worth taking; and of course, you’ll always have an easier time losing weight when you’re already in good health. While they won’t make you lose weight, they are good for your health in other ways and certainly can’t hurt your attempts at weight loss.

It seems that new nutritional supplements are introduced nearly every day; most of the time, these are soon replaced in the public consciousness by a new supplement or new “superfood”. If you watch any daytime television, you’ve no doubt seen these supplements and exotic fruits come and go with the seasons.

However, one of the newer supplements which is much more than a flash in the health food pan is resveratrol, with many different resveratrol free trial offers being available to those who want to give this supplement a try for themselves.

Resveratrol itself is nothing new; this is a compound which is naturally produced by many plants and has been known and studied for years now.

It is found in red grapes, peanuts, cranberries and a number of other common foods. The resveratrol content of red wine may be partly responsible for the well-known health benefits of moderate consumption of red wine.

Resveratrol is known to have antioxidant properties, helping the body to prevent damage from the unstable oxygen molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage to the body’s tissues is thought to be the cause of much of the physical decline associated with the process of aging.

Resveratrol also possesses anti-inflammatory properties and some studies suggest that resveratrol may even help the human body to fight against cancer.

In short, this is a very promising nutrient for preserving health and it may be well worth trying out a resveratrol free trial if you’re curious about what this natural antioxidant compound can do for you.

It’s good to include foods which contain resveratrol in your diet, though you may not be able to get as much of the compound as you’d like through diet alone. This is why many prefer to use resveratrol supplements in addition to incorporating foods which are good sources in their diet.

Interestingly enough, the resveratrol used to manufacture most of the supplement products available on the market are not made from red grapes, peanuts or any of the other well known foods which contain this compound.

Many of these resveratrol supplements are made from a plant called Japanese knotweed; it is often considered a noxious, invasive weed but as it happens, it has been known to be an excellent source of resveratrol long before the compound was proven to be present in red wine!

Resveratrol was first isolated from this plant all the way back in 1963, though people didn’t really start to become interested in the disease and free radical fighting properties of this compound until the 1990s. It is only in the last few years that it has become something that has become known as a helpful dietary supplement with greater awareness of the role free radical damage plays in aging.

So is a resveratrol free trial for you? Almost certainly – but not every free trial may be what it seems to be. Look into the company to find out if they are known for producing a quality product and that the supplement actually contains what the manufacturers claim. While relatively rare, there are unscrupulous companies out there who don’t provide what they promise; but a free trial can be a good way to separate the wheat from the chaff – or the Japanese knotweed from the chaff, as it were.

Red wine lovers have plenty to be happy about; not just the fall grape harvest in a year which promises some very good wines from regions around the world (once they’ve had at least a year or two to age, of course).

As has long been known, moderate consumption of red wine is beneficial to your health due to a number of the compounds which are naturally contained in this beverage – so go ahead and pour yourself a glass to sip as you read; I’ll wait.

Nothing against white wine enthusiasts, but red wine is simply healthier, containing a number of substances which offer health benefits that are not contained in white wine.

Other than red wine’s well known cholesterol-regulating properties, there is something else which has gotten a lot of attention lately which is contained in that glass of red wine. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring compound produced by many plants, with red grapes being an especially good source.

Resveratrol is a substance which has antioxidant properties, helping to protect your body from the cellular oxidation damage caused by free radicals.

Since many of the physical effects of aging are due to the action of these harmful, unstable molecules, that glass you’re holding right now may actually be able to help you to remain feeling and looking just a little bit younger than that person across the room with a glass of Pinot Grigo in their hand (you can show them this article later if you’re feeling altruistic).

Other dietary sources of resveratrol include red grape juice, so even the abstentious among us can enjoy the health benefits of this plant compound. It’s also found to a lesser degree in blueberries, cranberries and even peanuts – though a glass of Barbera and a PBJ are probably not the best pairing you’ve ever had.

There are also plants which are not considered edible which are considered to be good sources of resveratrol, most notable white hellebore (which is the first plant which resveratrol was isolated from, all the way back in 1940) and Japanese knotweed, which is the source of the resveratrol used to make many of the supplements on the market.

If you’d prefer to take resveratrol which comes from your favorite vine, you’re in luck – there are also many supplements whose active ingredients are sourced from red wine. Resveratrol and supplements containing this compound may actually offer benefits other than their antioxidant action.

This substance is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties as well as having some promise for the treatment of diabetes and even prevention and control of some forms of cancer!

Unfortunately, you can’t get as much resveratrol as you might want to provide the maximum benefit through red wine alone; while you’ll of course want to keep drinking red wine in moderation, supplements allow you to get more of this health-protecting natural substance than you’d be able to take in through dietary sources. You already knew it was healthy as well as delicious, but red wine’s resveratrol content just made it an even more enjoyable accompaniment to your meals or while winding down at the end of the day.

One of the many antioxidant compounds you’ll see discussed in broadcast and print media, resveratrol is a substance produced by many plants, often in response to stress caused by fungal or bacterial infection.

You can order resveratrol supplements from any number of different websites, mail order health food and dietary supplement suppliers and wholesale companies as well as over the counter in many pharmacies and health food stores.

Resveratrol has generated a lot of interest due to the unprecedented public interest in the health benefits of antioxidants and the awareness of the damage which can be caused to the human body by the unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals. As these compounds break down, the ionized free oxygen molecules can cause harm to cells through oxidation (much the same way as oxygen can cause metals to corrode).

Oxidation due to the action of free radicals is believed to cause much of the degeneration associated with aging; meaning that antioxidants may be able to delay many of the physical processes of aging.

However, resveratrol is popular because this is a compound which has other beneficial properties other than those associated with many other antioxidants.

It appears to act as a natural anti-inflammatory agent and studies suggest that it may possibly offer a treatment for diabetes and help to regulate the metabolism.

This has made this a highly sought after supplement as well as leading many to add foods which are rich in the substance to their diets.

Dietary sources of resveratrol include red grapes (and the juice and wines made from red grapes), peanuts, blueberries and cranberries.

Unfortunately, you can’t yet go to your local restaurant or grocer and simply order resveratrol – but this compound is thought to play a large part in the health benefits of red wine, so you can probably go ahead and have that glass of wine with dinner with a clear conscience as well as a pleased palate!

However, it would be difficult if not impossible to get as much resveratrol through diet alone as you can by using resveratrol supplements to provide this health-protecting compound. This has led to a number of manufacturers introducing these supplements to the market or reformulating existing products to include this popular ingredient.

Unfortunately, there are some less than scrupulous companies out there who are merely trying to cash in on the demand and produce resveratrol supplements of little to no value or those containing other ingredients which can cause adverse reactions in some people.

When you order resveratrol, make sure that it’s from a source you can trust. Just as you’d be cautious when ordering any other sort of dietary supplement, do your due diligence when looking at these products.

Make sure that the manufacturer is a company which has earned a good reputation for producing high quality products and that tests their supplements for quality and potency. You definitely don’t want any supplement which doesn’t clearly state its ingredients or the amounts of resveratrol contained. Look for reviews and the opinions of others who have used these supplements and make your decision wisely.

Resveratrol is something which is very much on the minds of health-conscious people these days. While this compound has been known about for decades, having first been isolated from white hellebore in the 1940s, it is only in the last few years that it has finally entered the public consciousness in a big way.

Resveratrol is a compound which is naturally produced by many plants, including many which may already be a part of your diet – not all resveratrol products are necessarily nutritional supplements as we tend to think of them.

If you’ve only just heard about resveratrol in passing, you may be curious about what health benefits that this plant compound may be able to offer you. One thing which does need to be mentioned before we go any further here – no nutritional supplement, including resveratrol is a literal fountain of youth and you should be very suspicious of any manufacturer who represents their product as such or as some sort of panacea for all ills.

However, resveratrol  is known to have several beneficial effects for health which make this something that anyone would do well to get more of through supplementation. It is a natural anti-inflammatory as well as being a potent antioxidant compound.

Since it is thought that many of the physical effects which come with aging are due largely to the damage caused by free radicals, resveratrol may be able to help slow aging to some extent. It has also shown promise in helping to prevent or fight certain forms of cancer and as a possible diabetes treatment as well.

The positive effects which this compound can have on human health are a compelling argument in favor of at least considering the idea of using resveratrol supplements or other resveratrol products. There are a number of dietary sources, including cranberries, peanuts and most notably, red wine.

However, it would be difficult to consume enough of any of these foods to get all of the benefits offered by a high quality resveratrol supplement.

If you’re thinking of giving resveratrol supplements a try yourself, a few words of caution are in order. One is to make sure that the company manufacturing the supplement enjoys a good reputation with users and has been in business for a while; this is always a good sign in the dietary supplement industry, since unscrupulous operations don’t tend to stay around for too long.

You should also make sure that the supplement is mostly (or entirely) made up of resveratrol as an active ingredient. Some supplements contain resveratrol as well as other ingredients; at the very least, make sure that you know exactly what is contained in any supplement before you make your purchase. If necessary, ask your physician about the ingredients in this supplement.

Last but certainly not least, be careful about free trials of resveratrol products. There are some suppliers which offer free trials which begin as soon as you sign up, rather than when you actually receive the product.

In fact, many consumers have been billed before ever having a chance to try them! As with anything, let the buyer beware is good advice here. Resveratrol can offer a number of benefits; but make sure that you know what you’re buying – and who you’re buying it from!

In fact, if you’re even reading this article, it stands to reason that you’ve read or heard something about this natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory found in red grapes and wine as well as peanuts, cranberries, blueberries and other fruits.

You’ve most likely heard about resveratrol in relation to its antioxidant properties and maybe you’ve even been thinking about trying a resveratrol supplement to reap the health benefits of this compound.

However, you’ve probably also heard some stories about people having had negative side effects from various nutritional supplements before. So how about resveratrol? Are there any potential resveratrol side effects which you need to be aware of before you give one of these supplements a go? The answer is no… and yes, depending on the particular supplement you’re thinking of using.

If you do some research on the topic, you may find a small number of people reporting having had side effects after using resveratrol supplements including insomnia, dizziness, a “sped up” feeling similar to that caused by caffeine, heart palpitations, acne and even joint pain! However, before you decide that resveratrol is definitely not the supplement for you, consider the following.

First, there is absolutely no evidence from clinical studies which suggests that resveratrol has any negative side effects whatsoever. All of this anecdotal evidence is just that: anecdotal.

Second, many resveratrol supplements contain a wide variety of other active ingredients, some of which are likely (and in some cases, are known) to cause some of the side effects reported above. In other words, it’s almost certainly not the resveratrol which is causing these adverse reactions but one of the other ingredients in the supplement which is at fault.

So how can you avoid resveratrol side effects? It’s actually pretty simple. All you have to do is to exercise the same kind of common sense and caution as you would with any other dietary supplement.

Look for supplements where the only active ingredient included is resveratrol. This ensures that you won’t be getting any other ingredients which could possibly cause unwelcome effects while being able to enjoy the health benefits that resveratrol itself can offer.

If you come across a product which doesn’t state the dosage or quantity of its ingredients, keep looking; there are plenty of other supplements out there to choose from. A manufacturer who produce quality supplements will tell you exactly what’s in their supplements and in what quantities.

In fact, it’s always a good idea to make sure that the manufacturer has a good reputation before purchasing anything from them. This helps you to steer clear of products which aren’t quite what they claim as well as ensuring that you won’t have to cope with the discomfort that can result from the so-called resveratrol side effects that some of these inferior supplements can cause.

This is an age where almost all of us are more concerned with our health – and our looks than ever before. The growing awareness of the importance of a healthy diet which contains the right nutrients and of regular exercise to preserving our health combined with the idea of remaining energetic, vital and attractive as we age has led to people from all walks of life living healthier lifestyles.

Of course, along with this interest in health and near-worship of youth or at least youthfulness has meant that the market has been flooded with different nutritional supplements and other products, all purported to be able to protect your health, make you feel more energetic and even reverse the physical effects of aging.

Out of the many different types of supplements and other nutritional products out there are a large number of different products which contain ingredients which are known to be rich in antioxidant compounds, with a new “miraculous antioxidant” food or supplement seemingly being introduced nearly every week!

While of course the buyer should always beware when looking at these products as they would any other, there are some which can provide some degree of health benefit, available from a variety of manufacturers and ranging greatly in price.

Resveratrol is one such antioxidant compound which has generated a lot of interest among the public. This is a naturally occurring compound found in many plants, most notably red grapes; resveratrol is thought to be partially responsible for the longevity and good health of the French and Spanish, despite diets which are traditionally often high in fat.

It is certainly true that red grapes are a good source of resveratrol, as are cranberries, peanuts and other foods to a greater or lesser extent. However, there are also many excellent resveratrol supplements on the market which can be used to incorporate more of this potent antioxidant into your diet than would be possible to take in through food and drink alone.

The source of the resveratrol in most of these supplements is a plant called Japanese knotweed, a plant which used to be treated as an invasive pest – though this weed seems to be getting the last laugh as science discovers more and more beneficial effects of resveratrol (which this plant is exceptionally rich in) and other antioxidants for preserving health and possibly even reversing some of the physical effects of aging.

Often sold as anti-aging supplements, these products may be able to prevent some of the degenerative effects of aging which are caused by oxidation due to the action of free radical compounds, as well as possibly providing a defense against some forms of cancer. If you’re looking for these supplements, it’s important to shop around. Since there are so many different manufacturers now producing these products, consumers now have a lot of choice when it comes to both quality and price.

Resveratrol may prove to be a very beneficial thing; and you don’t necessarily have to pay a lot of money for this or other health-boosting nutritional supplements if you’re a savvy shopper.

Without a doubt, modern scientific research continues to make human life on Earth better, bigger and brighter in more ways than one.  One of the most notable to come out of this field is resveratrol research, which has yielded its fair share of useful knowledge.

Resveratrol in Plants and as Supplements

We now know that resveratrol is abundant in fruits like nuts, berries and grapes as well as in the Japanese knotweed.  Unfortunately, you have to eat plenty of these fresh foods to secure the most benefits so resveratrol supplements were invented to meet the demands for this new wonder antioxidant.

Furthermore, we now have another answer to the French paradox, which says that the French people can eat the buttery, oily and fatty foods all they want and still suffer lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases than their neighbors.

Well, it is because the French love their red wines.   And red wines are the richest source of resveratrol, which have been proven to be very beneficial to cardiovascular health.

The Japanese knotweed is also a rich source of resveratrol, thus, its role as the primary ingredient in supplements.  Red grapes are not used because of their expensive price tags, not to mention the care that growers must pour into them.

Japanese knotweed grows like weed that requires little to no care before harvesting.  Plus, the Japanese people have been drinking it as itadori tea with the same results as the French, as some resveratrol research can validate.

The lesson: Don’t hate the French and the Japanese just because they are healthier.  Instead, you can eat like them!

Resveratrol in Health

Research into resveratrol has also yielded a wealth of information regarding its health benefits.  At present, more research is being conducted to validate prior findings while searching for more health benefits to be had from this wonder antioxidant.  Among the current findings, the following are the most important for average users:

• Resveratrol has anti-cancer properties due to its strong antioxidant activities.  This is especially true in pancreatic cancer, according to a University of Rochester Medical Center study.  Plus, it also improves on blood circulation that, in turn, promotes faster recovery from traditional therapies like chemotherapy.

• Resveratrol has also demonstrated anti-aging properties especially where mental health is concerned. Research published in the International Journal of Neurochemistry revealed that it helps in preventing the build-up of damaging compounds leading up to Alzheimer’s disease.

• Resveratrol can offset the dangers of a high-calorie diet, which is most often the case in Western and Westernized societies.  To make the long story short, you will enjoy lowered blood sugar levels, enhanced energy levels and improved overall health.

Resveratrol research has yet to find if it is one of the ingredients in the elixir of life.  And even if it is not, you will agree that resveratrol is a must-have in your arsenal of weapons for a longer, healthier and happier life.

Now, that is as close to the elixir of life as man will ever get and that should be good enough.  For now, at least, until such time that modern scientific research and/or Indiana Jones have found Shangri-la.

You can think of resveratrol as the new kid on the block of the nutritional supplements industry.  And yet, for all its newbie status, it is one of the increasingly popular supplements in the market because of its powerful antioxidant benefits.

As such, you can gain benefits in the form of a strengthened immune system, delayed onset of the signs of ageing, and improved overall health.

However, as new as it is on the radar of health aficionados who believe in the power of antioxidants as contained in supplement form, resveratrol sources in nature come from many types of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as in red wine.  Still, you will need to take supplementation through resveratrol capsules and tablets as this article will tell you why.

Red Grapes and Red Wine

Have you ever heard of the French paradox?  No, it’s not related to how well the French can be such snobs and yet their culture is revered even by the peasants of other countries.  Yes, it is about the fact that the French suffer little in comparison with its European and North American neighbors in relation to cardiovascular diseases even when their daily diet is awash with butters, oils and fats.

Most researchers attribute it to the French people’s avid consumption of red wine, which are rich sources of antioxidants including resveratrol. In fact, red wine and red grapes are the richest resveratrol sources in nature, with 832 micrograms per glass of wine.  However, not all wines and grapes are created equal, as any amateur wine enthusiast will tell you.  The richest source for resveratrol is the Pinot Noir and St. Laurent grape varieties. Grape juice is nice, too, except that these lack the potency of red wine.  Plus, the French will turn up their noses at it.

Lest you think that all you need to do to get the benefits of resveratrol is to drink one glass of red wine a day, think again.  Researchers have found that you need to drink at least 100 bottles of red wine a day to equal the potency of one concentrated resveratrol supplement.  Thus, you can drink your wine but make sure that you take your resveratrol supplement, too.

Nuts and Fruits and Japanese Knotweed

Just to name a few resveratrol sources in nuts and fruits, you can have your choice of peanuts, pistachios, soy, mulberries, blueberries, cranberries and strawberries.  However, you have to consume baskets of these fruits a day just to secure maximum benefits from their resveratrol contents.  Just think: peanut butter only has 13.6 micrograms of resveratrol per serving while the berries have lesser amounts on a per serving basis.

If you are thinking of Japanese knotweed, which is the primary source for supplements, keep in mind that it contains oxalic acid that can aggravate arthritis, gout, rheumatism, kidney stones and hyperacidity when consumed as food in large quantities daily.  Plus, you must remember that cooking, storing and processing of these grapes, berries, nuts and vegetable will lead to loss of resveratrol.

With supplements as your primary resveratrol sources, however, your daily dose of this beneficial antioxidant is not compromised.  Plus, it definitely beats having to get drunk or gorging on the same foods on a daily basis.