Trans-resveratrol – Could It Be the Fountain of Youth?

Resveratrol has become the latest popular miracle cure to have found favor with the general population. Surprisingly though, it seems that the medical profession may agree, even if it first gained popularity as a natural remedy. Most supplements available commercially contain the naturally occurring form of trans-resveratrol.

Trans-resveratrol is the natural form in which this compound occurs in nature, and many claim that it is much more effective than its counterpart, but there have been no scientific studies to indicate whether this is true or not. CIS resveratrol is the result of exposing trans-resveratrol to ultraviolet radiation, be it naturally through photosynthesis or artificially induced.

Resveratrol, in the form of Japanese knotweed extract, has been used in herbal remedies by the Chinese for centuries to treat fungal heart and liver diseases, as well as inflammation. Present-day studies are discovering that this miracle compound is highly effective in treating cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, type II diabetes, and even cancer.

This compound releases a healthy level of nitric oxide which helps to dilate blood vessels and increases blood flow, as well as providing antioxidant support for cardiovascular cells. It seems that many patients with type II diabetes and hypertension have reduced levels of nitric oxide in their system, which can put excessive pressure on the heart.

Resveratrol supplements are also being shown to be effective in treating obesity, as well as increasing endurance. It seems that the two are interconnected, because resveratrol seems to promote an increase of mitochondria within muscle cells. Mitochondria are the energy producers of the body, which means that an increase in their numbers will both help burn fat and provide more energy. A study on rodents has proven resveratrol to be highly effective in improving mitochondrial function and preventing metabolic disease.

Research has shown that by severely restricting the calorie intake of animals, they tend to live longer. Scientists believe that trans-resveratrol may be a potential solution to restricting calories for humans and thus possibly extending our lifespan. It must be noted though that this theory of calorie restriction has not yet been proven effective for humans. Even so, resveratrol is a very efficient weight loss aid, which will promote higher quality of life as well as preventing many diseases associated with obesity.

There are many commercially available supplements that are designed to deliver this nutrient to your bloodstream in sufficient quantities to be effective, as resveratrol is quickly broken down in the digestive system and inadequate doses render it useless. The majority of these supplements contain the natural form trans-resveratrol because it does seem to have one advantage over its counterpart: it is much more stable under the influence of heat, light and air.

In some ways, resveratrol may truly be a miracle compound because of the number of health benefits it provides, as well as the fact that it is a naturally occurring nutrient. It’s highly possible that we have not yet uncovered all the secrets of resveratrol, but even with the little we know it is truly possible that we may have found nature’s fountain of youth.