Resveratrol (50 mg)

Resveratrol may be the answer to the puzzling “French Paradox”—how could the French consume such high fat diets, yet have very low rates of heart disease? Resveratrol, a recently discovered natural compound, has been used for years in Asian medicine and naturally occurs in foods such as grapes, peanuts, Japanese knotweed, and other forms of vegetation. The extent of the benefits of this exciting new supplement are unknown, since resveratrol is newly identified and is still being researched and explored; however, scientists are very optimistic about the health properties associated with this unique nutrient.

Research conducted on mice by Harvard Medical School and the National Institute of Aging discovered that high doses of resveratrol allowed the mice to eat a high fat diet while bypassing the health problems usually connected with obesity. The mice retained healthy livers, and deaths caused by obesity and fat decreased 31% in the mice that consumed resveratrol. The results of a similar study on resveratrol showed that mice taking the supplement had less weight gain, greater physical endurance, and better insulin sensitivity. Mice taking resveratrol even had longer life spans.

Resveratrol is also a powerful antioxidant, referred to by one scientist as “one of the best free radical scavengers.” These potent antioxidant abilities may be the reason for resveratrol’s many healthy effects on the body, as free radicals are harmful and can damage cells, leading to disease. Clinical trials are currently underway that relate to such subjects as diabetes management and cardiovascular disease.