Resveratrol is one of the most popular health supplements within the health and wellness community. In fact, it is one of the most positively reviewed supplements on reputable health product websites such as health energy guru. Despite all the positive reviews, however, resveratrol supplementation canβt seem to get enough traction to give it the recognition that it rightly deserves. This can be attributed to the lack of enough data and research on human subjects.
Countless studies on lab animals indicate that resveratrol supplementation have a number of potential health benefits. Things may also be looking up for resveratrol as more research on its supplementation both on animal and human subjects are currently underway.
So what exactly is resveratrol?
Resveratrol 101
Resveratrol is a polyphenol compound that is found in grapes, particularly in their skins. The substance was first mentioned in 1939 in a Japanese article when it was first isolated. Interest in resveratrol supplementation peaked sometime in the early 2000s when researchers observed that those who regularly drank red wine are relatively healthier, tend to live longer and have a better quality of life.
Early researchers hypothesized that it was the resveratrol in red wine that is benefiting the regular wine drinkers. This theory is further supported by follow up studies that showed more positive effects of resveratrol administration on the test subjects. Even before more research can be conducted on the compound, enterprising manufacturers began isolating resveratrol to market it as a health supplement.
For nearly two decades since resveratrol was marketed as a health supplement, users have been reporting positive results. The following are some of the more notable benefits from resveratrol supplementation as reported by users.
It May Lower Blood Pressure
Users have long touted the anti-hypertensive properties of resveratrol. A scientific review concluded that resveratrol supplementation may reduce the pressure that the blood exerts on the arterial walls with each heartbeat, thus easing the systolic blood pressure. The review indicates that this may come from the increased nitric oxide production due to high-dose supplementation.
It May Promote Insulin Sensitivity
Those who are suffering from type 2 diabetes and those who are at pre-diabetic stage may benefit from the ability of resveratrol to increase the bodyβs sensitivity to insulin. A high carbohydrate diet is one of the leading causes of type 2 diabetes as it increases the body’s production of insulin. Over time, the cells in the body become desensitized to insulin, which in turn requires more of it for the body to properly absorb glycogen. Resveratrol supplementation, coupled with a low-carb diet just may be enough to manage and even reverse type 2 diabetes.
It Has Neuroprotective Properties
The neuroprotective property of resveratrol, as observed in animal test subjects, is what makes the substance a popular supplement for life extension advocates. Research into the benefits of resveratrol supplementation also show that it can help stave off cognitive degeneration that is associated with ageing. This ability may be due to the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol.
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