Resveratrol, so much new info….

But this one, the one from Winona Daily News, gives me something to talk about. In his post Dr Frank Bures’ first statement started out “Resveratrol is an antioxidant supplement…”. So I agree with him so far. Then he points out that word Resveratrol “seems to” come from two words “resinous” which Webster’s on line dictionary defines as:
link to definition for those who really want to know. And “Veratrum grandiflorum” which he defines as a “poisonous herb”. Even though only some parts of this plant are considered “poisonous” and it may be a viable source of Resveratrol from the non-poisonous parts. I personally would not use a product that had Veratrum grandiflorum as one of its ingredients. It’s not the best way to obtain Resveratrol and I don’t know of any reputable company that would use it. I have been taking Resveratrol daily for over a year now that comes from European Elderberry extract, Muscadine Grape extract, Purple Carrot extract and Polygonum cuspidatum root and the most noticeable side effect I have seen is a dramatic decrease in sickness, only one minor cold in over 14 months.

He goes on to give some back ground and then states the obvious in that on the containers of supplements sold by Walgreens the small print reads, “The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.” That is because this statement is required by Law and last time I heard, when a person dies of “old age” it is reported as dying of “natural causes” not from a “disease”. So supplements are not trying to “cure or prevent any disease” but they are meant to promote health and longevity in a “natural” way without drugs which are meant “to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease” but in more cases than should be drugs can cause a lot of problematic side effects.

Next this Doctor talks sarcastically about the research done by others in the field of Resveratrol. Maybe he doesn’t realize that first experiments are done on non-human subjects, at least most of the time. Then he points out that Resveratrol extended the life span of “obese” mice. Now let me think here……. What is the largest epidemic in America now? OBESITY! Do you think some people might be just a little interested in a study that increases the life span in “obese” mice? He goes on to report that Resveratrol “did suppress the growth of tumors of the skin, breast, gastrointestinal tract, prostrate and lung.” A pretty good start for such a relatively new member to the spotlight of natural supplements considering that cancer is projected to become the leading cause of death worldwide in the year 2010.

He calls it curious that Resveratrol “improves the function of all cells’ power plants, called mitochondria” when the same results can be achieved through a calorie-restrictive diet in mice. If only mice could talk. I’d like to give them a survey. Which would you prefer; a dose of great tasting Resveratrol every day or a calorie-restrictive diet? What do you thing they would say? For me, I’ll take the Resveratrol thank you.

I think this Doctor really likes Resveratrol because he points out so many good qualities in his post, like this one: “To date, nothing reported is detrimental, even in the few human studies with ‘large doses.’” That sounds like a supporter of Resveratrol to me.

But then he is beguiled by the fact that a “natural substance” is “able to inhibit our ailments“. I venture to guess that there are many thousands of people that are not beguiled by that fact at all. In fact let me take one last quote from our good Doctors post; “One reader told me she has taken it for a few months, and has seen results on her trips to the scale that are far better than average.” I can only suppose that the “it” referred to here is Resveratrol since that is what we have been writing about here and that this lady is not beguiled either.

Finally our Doctor friend ends with some very good advice, “Just remember not to replace good old grub with too many supplements.” Since “Supplements” are not food, or “good old grub” and by their very definition, “a product taken orally that contains one or more ingredients (as vitamins or amino acids) that are intended to supplement one’s diet and are not considered food” I wholeheartedly agree with our learned Doctor here as well, we should all add to a good diet, quality, proven and guaranteed supplements not “replace” it.