Resveratrol: A Fountain of Youth in Your Red Wine?
The quest for longevity is nothing new. Researchers of all time periods have been trying to find a cure for aging. The legends of the Philosopher's Stone and the Fountain of Youth fascinated many who wished to live longer and healthier.
Today, we are as passionate as our ancestors about finding the secret of longevity. The difference? We have access to much more scientific knowledge and technology. Although we still do not know how to stop aging, we might have found a way to slow it down significantly.
Groundbreaking research has highlighted the role of one molecule in particular: resveratrol. You might have heard of it because there was a lot of buzz in the last few years surrounding the benefits of red wine due to its resveratrol content.
If the word is new to you, or if you want to learn more, you've come to the right place. We'll discuss everything there is to know about resveratrol, including its mechanisms, benefits, and where to find the best resveratrol in Australia. We'll also discuss Dr. Sinclair briefly, one of the main researchers responsible for discovering the roles and benefits of resveratrol in aging.
What Is Resveratrol and How Does It Work?
Resveratrol belongs to the family of polyphenols, a plant compound that acts as an antioxidant. This compound is naturally found in grapes, berries, peanuts, and red wine.
To explain the role of resveratrol, we first need to go over some background information. Let's start with sirtuins.
Sirtuins are a group of genes responsible for protecting the organism against aging and diseases. These genes are found in yeast as well as in humans. Activation of the sirtuin genes induces processes beneficial to cardiovascular and metabolic health, ultimately leading to a longer life (1).
For the sirtuin genes to work correctly, they need a molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is one of the most important compounds in the body, and without it, you'd be unable to produce energy. As you get older, your levels of NAD drop. This process is, in part, responsible for aging (2). Therefore, one way to extend lifespan is to increase NAD levels in the body (2).
One way to increase NAD in the body is to take an oral nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplement. Once absorbed, NMN is rapidly converted to NAD (2). Therefore, some of the benefits of NMN supplementation include less body inflammation, improved neural function, and, of course, slower aging (2).
And all this takes us back to resveratrol! Resveratrol boosts NAD's functions in the body, which, in turn, enhances the function of sirtuin genes.
If all these explanations seem a little complicated, do not worry. We have the perfect analogy for you. Although brilliant, we cannot take credit for it. Dr. David Sinclair, one of the leading researchers in resveratrol and its anti-aging role, gave this analogy when he was a guest on Joe Rogan's podcast discussing supplements. He said: "You can think of resveratrol as the accelerator pedal for the sirtuin genes, and NMN as the fuel. Resveratrol steps on the accelerator pedal of the sirtuin enzymes" (3). But, for the accelerator to work, you also need the fuel, which is NMN.
We hope that clarifies things a little bit. Now, let's properly introduce Dr. David Sinclair!
Dr. David Sinclair and His Research Contributions
We believe that Dr. Sinclair deserves a proper introduction because he is such an important name in aging and resveratrol research.
Dr. David Sinclair is a Professor in the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, and probably one of the main reasons for the increase in popularity of resveratrol supplements. His area of expertise is aging and longevity. More specifically, he wants to understand how humans age and what we can do to slow down the process.
His life work led to the publication of his New York Times bestseller "Lifespan: Why We Age -And Why We Don't Have To" in 2019. In this book, he explains the most recent developments in the field of aging, how it causes diseases, and how we can slow it down. And he introduces the world to the role of sirtuins, NAD, NMN, and resveratrol.
His work gained attention worldwide because who does not want the secret to longevity? As mentioned earlier, David Sinclair and Joe Rogan discussed resveratrol and aging on Rogan's podcast. His appearance made quite the impression and left many people wanting to learn more about resveratrol and its benefits.
If we piqued your curiosity and you want to learn more, you'll be happy to know there is a David Sinclair podcast where he discusses aging. He has an episode dedicated to NMN, NAD, and resveratrol. Other episodes discuss topics like the role of diet in aging and medical interventions for longevity.
The Benefits of Resveratrol Supplements
Now that you know its role in the body, let's discuss the benefits of taking resveratrol supplementation.
There is evidence that resveratrol supplements increase the lifespan by activating genes, like sirtuins, that prevent aging. Human studies are still ongoing, but preliminary results on animals are impressive. A review of multiple studies performed on animals found that resveratrol could increase the organisms' lifespan by as much as 60%! This effect was the strongest on fishes and worms. We still don't know how these results translate to the human population, but they sure are exciting! (4).
Resveratrol could also slow down cognitive decline, a consequence of aging that many of us dread. It does so by preventing the formation of amyloid plaques, one of the main causes of Alzheimer's disease (4, 5). Moreover, because it is a powerful antioxidant, it protects brain cells from damage, lowering the risk of neurocognitive conditions.
Resveratrol is also good for your heart and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It does so by decreasing inflammation, lowering cholesterol levels, and reducing the risk of blood clots that cause heart attacks (4, 5, 6).
Finally, resveratrol supplements prevent insulin resistance, a condition that ultimately leads to type 2 diabetes (6).
How to Take Resveratrol Supplements
If you want to start resveratrol supplementation, you might be wondering what's the best way to take it. We mentioned earlier that red wine has resveratrol in it. So, should wine be among your health resolutions? Unfortunately, although red wine is a source, you would have to take way too much in order to benefit from the anti-aging benefits of resveratrol. The same goes for other food sources.
That is why supplements are the best way to increase your resveratrol intake. According to Dr. David Sinclair, you should also privilege a powder over a capsule supplement for maximal absorption.
If you want to follow Dr. Sinclair's supplements regimen, you should take 0.5 grams of resveratrol every day. You need to know that the molecule is fat-soluble. Therefore, to be absorbed in the body, it needs to be taken with a fat source. One way to do so is to add resveratrol powder to your yogurt in the morning (careful not to use fat-free yogurt).
For ultimate anti-aging benefits, you should combine resveratrol with an NMN supplement, the famous NAD-boosting molecule. On Joe Rogan's podcast, Dr. Sinclair said he takes 1 g of NMN every morning, which he mixes with his resveratrol powder in his yogurt.
Finally, remember that every good supplementation regimen needs to be paired with a healthy diet and regular physical exercise to be as effective as possible. Dr. Sinclair recommends limiting red meat and carbohydrate intake. Your main protein sources should be fish, legumes, and occasionally chicken. You should also try intermittent fasting if that is safe for you to do. Finally, do not forget to include moderate and high-intensity training in your lifestyle.
Where Can You Get the Best Resveratrol Supplements in Australia?
Are you wondering where to get resveratrol powder? You're in luck because we just so happen to offer one of the best resveratrol supplements in Australia.
Our resveratrol comes from Japanese knotweed, also called Polygonum cuspidatum, and comes in powder form. We are proud of our formulation since it has 99.9% pure resveratrol, unlike other brands whose powders are only 95 to 98% pure. The purity of our powder makes it one of the best anti-aging products in Australia.
Since resveratrol and NMN are best when taken together, we also offer an NMN supplement of the highest quality. Head to our shop to get your hands on one or both products.
References:
1) https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.312498
2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7238909/
3) https://podcastnotes.org/joe-rogan-experience/sinclair/
4) https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/resveratrol#TOC_TITLE_HDR_5
5) https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/resveratrol
6) https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/resveratrol-supplements
