Red Wine and Grapes: Amazing Natural Sources of Resveratrol

Resveratrol supplements are quick becoming a must-have for many health-conscious individuals. Many pharmaceutical companies and health product manufacturers have developed their own brand of Resveratrol pills, powders, or liquids containing varying concentrations of the compound. Along with supplements, you can receive your doses of Resveratrol by adding red wine and grapes to your regular diets.

Red wine (made from red grapes) is among the most popular sources of Resveratrol, perhaps because they are treats a hundred times tastier than a single capsule of Resveratrol. Red grapes of the varieties Vitis vinifera and Vitis labrusca and Muscadine grapes contain the highest concentration of Resveratrol. Grapes found in colder regions, particularly of the Vitis labrusca varietal, contain more Resveratrol because they need this compound to serve as protection against the harsh elements of their environment.

This should give you an idea of the function of Resveratrol in grapes and in other plants that produce this compound. Resveratrol is a phytoalexin, a kind of antibiotic that shields the plants from extreme cold during the winter and plagues of grape diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, and viruses during the summer. Resveratrol also protects the grapes from overexposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. It can also be found in mulberries, blueberries, peanuts, and other plants like spruce, lily, and eucalyptus.

Resveratrol in grapes is found in the roots, seeds, stalks, and vines, but it is most abundant in the skin, with about 50-100 micrograms depending on the grape variety. When vintners make white wine, they remove the skin of the grapes early on during the process. This is why white wine contains much lower levels of Resveratrol than red wine, which keeps the skin, stems, and seeds until late into the wine-making process, thus allowing more time for all the Resveratrol in the grapes to seep into the wine during fermentation. Grape juice, which is made from the flesh of grapes, is not a very good source of Resveratrol.

In studies conducted on the diet of the French people, the addition of red wine into their daily meals seems to be the best explanation for why the French have lower risks for heart disease and cancer. This phenomenon was dubbed the French Paradox and has spurred a lot of consequent scientific studies concerning the Resveratrol content found in red wine and grapes. Later on, it was discovered that Resveratrol really does have anti-heart disease and anti-cancer properties that significantly reduced the health risks of the French people and other red wine-consuming populations.

For one thing, Resveratrol helps prevent blood-clotting, a condition that often results in thrombi, where coagulated blood platelets aggregate in the arteries and block the regular flow of blood, leading to myocardial infarction, or heart attack. It also protects the body against low-density lipoproteins, or bad cholesterol, that also lead to various heart diseases. Resveratrol is also a powerful antioxidant that protects normal, healthy cells from being damaged by free radicals. Free radicals are what often cause abnormalities in the cells, leading to tumors and cancers.

While drinking red wine and eating lots of grapes often may be good for you, it may still pose setbacks. For one thing, red wine contains alcohol, which has no proven benefits to your health. Therefore, you can only drink so much of red wine (just a glass a day) for you to receive your own dose of Resveratrol for the day. Taking in Resveratrol supplements (the authentic ones, at least) is still the best and safest way for you to enjoy the maximum benefits that this compound has to offer. Scientists and researchers attest to this and recommend 200 mg of Resveratrol. This is surely more beneficial than what a glass of wine or a small bunch of grapes can give you any day of the week.

Based on research, the top recommended resveratrol supplement is Resveratrol Select