Health Benefits of Resveratrol Dietary Supplements

Resveratrol dietary supplement capsules have been becoming increasingly popular since they were reported on 60 minutes in January 2009. Why have they become so sought after and what can they do for you?

Resveratrol is a polyphenol antioxidant that comes from grapes, peanuts, berries and cocoa beans. Most of the resveratrol dietary supplements that are made today come from the Japanese knotweed. They have been used in Japan and China for several decades as a treatment for a wide range of conditions such as heart and liver diseases, inflammation, lethargy, infections and for weight loss.

Today, scientists have been researching resveratrol extensively and have found that it can benefit our health in many ways that were never even considered.

Resveratrol dietary supplement is probably most commonly known for its anti aging properties. They do this by an attack on more than one front.

1. It activates longevity genes called sirtuins. Sirtuins help protect our cells from deterioration and also helps with restoring damaged cells.

2. The antioxidant prevents the formation of free radicals that damage our cells and also kills free radicals that do develop.

Another way that resveratrol dietary supplements can benefit our health is by reducing our weight.

Those longevity genes called sirtuins can help in other ways apart from anti aging. When resveratrol activates the sirtuins, it is activating the same gene that a reduction in calories, or fasting, activates. When fasting occurs, our cells start to burn off the excess fat in our body. This burning of fat in itself uses extra energy and more weight is lost.

The other major disease that resveratrol is being researched for is cancer, in which it seems it has potential to prevent different cancers in several ways. Although these are some promising results the research is at a very early stage.

Because resveratrol dietary supplements can protect our cells and therefore prolong their life, this can have a knock on effect of protecting our bodies from many other ailments such as heart disease, neurological complaints, Alzheimer's, rheumatoid arthritis and can improve energy levels, immune system and respiratory problems.

Resveratrol is a completely natural product and has a low degree of side effects. It's true potential has yet to be revealed but it certainly has made a good start.