Getting lots of press attention as of late is the non-flavanoid, resveratrol. Protection against heart disease is one of the many promising benefits that are being seen. The other antioxidants found in red wine, and even the alcohol’s effect itself are known to have benefits of their own, but resveratrol is the key ingredient that has been receiving the most focus lately.

Research involving mice has indicated that resveratrol may be capable of preventing artery blockages, blood clots and damage to blood vessels, as well as reducing “bad” cholesterol. Further studies have also shown that it may help in protection against obesity as well as diabetes.

Since red wine ferments with the skins on longer than white wine does, red wine has more resveratrol. The skins of grapes are where the resveratrol comes from. Unfortunately to equal the dosage levels used in these studies, a person would have to consume between 100 and 1000 bottles of red wine a day! This is obviously not a sensible prescription, so the more logical option has people looking towards supplementation.

Although nothing can be officially endorsed at this time because studies are still being performed, supplements do seem like the best option for resveratrol. Although the substance is also found in foods besides red wine (such as grape juice, peanuts, blueberries and cranberries), the amounts found in these foods can vary greatly, therefore making the dosage levels difficult to track and sustain. It seems to me that a combination of the three would make the most sense: use your one glass of red wine per day to wash down your resveratrol supplement pills and cranberry peanut trail mix. A component of red grape skin to potentially assist in promoting health, who would have thunk it?

Tags: antioxidants, heart disease, resveratrol