Today, I would like to discuss about the relation between free radicals and resveratrol. I've explained a bit about oxidative stress in my 'sugar' post earlier, but this discussion concerns more on resveratrol, a potent antioxidant.
Aging is a natural process that reflects the free radical damage that accumulates in your cells over the years. When your body uses oxygen, it naturally produces free radicals that attack your cells. Even breathing produces free radicals. This means your very cells are constantly under attack from free radicals, and sooner or later, you will begin to experience the first signs of aging.
Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant found in certain fruits, vegetables and cocoa that is emerging as a modern-day fountain of youth. Resveratrol is typically associated with grapes and red wine, and was originally believed to be the reason for the so called 'French Paradox', the tendency for French people to have great cardiovascular health and love for wine.
Much of the well deserved fanfare surrounding resveratrol has centered on its role in enhancing longevity, but new research is expanding this focus and showing this potent antioxidant may influence many aspects of your health, including that of your brain. Resveratrol is unique among antioxidants because it can cross the blood-brain barrier to help protect your brain and nervous system. Studies show that its benefits are wide reaching, including:
- Protecting your cells from free radical damage
- Inhibiting the spread of cancer, especially prostate cancer
- Lowering your blood pressure
- Keeping your heart healthy and improving elasticity in your blood vessels
- Normalizing your anti-inflammatory response
- Helping to prevent Alzheimer’s disease
Every day of your life you face exposure to dangerous free radicals. No matter how healthy a lifestyle you lead or how healthy your diet is, this is simply a fact of life. Fortunately this is not all bad, as your normal bodily functions such as breathing, metabolism, and physical activity naturally generate free radicals. Your immune system also generates free radicals to help neutralize viruses and bacteria. But some free radicals are the result of environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, pesticides, and cigarette smoking.
The problem starts when these free radicals attack your healthy cells and cause them to weaken and become more susceptible to health disorders. Plus, this can also have a profound effect on how you age. But as part of normal functioning, your body is capable of keeping free radicals in check and naturally neutralizing them, unless you eat diet consisting of processed junk food, cut corners on sleep on a daily basis, ignore your need for regular exercise, find yourself in great deal of stress and expose yourself to high number of environmental free radicals. Exposing your body to these types of conditions may overwhelm it with free radicals and cause damage.
Plus, free radical damage accumulates with age. So, the longer your lifestyle and environment expose you to this damage, the greater your consequences as you age, the greater potential consequences to your overall aging process.
Because resveratrol appears to be so effective at warding off many diseases associated with aging, it is often referred to a 'fountain of youth' that can extend lifespan. It has even been found to increase the lifespan of human cells.
Resveratrol also seems to produce many similar benefits as exercise, as excess exercise or workout will generate high levels of free radicals as well. Marathon runners and long distance cyclist are some of the sports which can enable high levels of free radicals. I'm sure some of you heard of Lance Amstrong? He had testicular cancer for someone who 'look' to be fit and healthy.
How is it that resveratrol may help to boost brain and heart health, while slowing down the aging process? One is through its ability to modify inflammation in your body. Resveratrol helps prevent your body from creating sphingosine kinase and phospholipase D, two molecules known to trigger inflammation. While inflammation is a natural bodily response, it’s possible for your body to exist in a chronically inflamed state. Chronic inflammation is not beneficial, and in fact has been linked to numerous chronic diseases including heart disease.
Resveratrol also seems to produce many similar benefits as exercise, including lowering insulin levels, which is a key to fighting disease and staying young. Insulin resistances speed up the aging process, while keeping insulin level resistance normal has the opposite effect.
Now, some of my colleagues and friends asked me, "Should I drink red wine regularly?". The answer is NO. Why? I think you know the answer. Yes, alcohol. I would recommend cocoa or organic dark chocolate and raw nuts.
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