Resveratrol
The nutrient in red wine called resveratrol is not a new finding — there’s been chatter about this one for years. But sometimes the most effective and recommended supplements are not brand new discoveries and require revisiting what we already know to determine which nutrients are truly worth it.
Love credits Dr. David Sinclair, a geneticist from Harvard, for his research into resveratrol and for discovering that mice given this nutrient actually lived longer.
Reveratrol works by helping to increase the activity of an enzyme called SR 2 and ONE, or “silent information regulator one.” This enzyme helps enhance the repair of DNA, which helped prolong the lives of the mice that were tested.
You can find this nutrient in red wine, but also fasting, which can help increase the activity of Sirtuin 1. Here’s what’s really interesting: Sinclair found that more isn’t always better when it comes to resveratrol. In fact, the mice that were given this supplement every other day, as opposed to every day, lived longer. Love concludes that if you want to get the maximum benefit of resveratrol, it’s a good idea to take it only 3-4 times each week.
This all sounds like positive news so far, so it’s time to throw in a bit of reality. For starters, studies are showing that one or two glasses of red wine do not contain the amount of resveratrol you’d need to experience significant health benefits from this nutrient. And, of course, the negative effects of alcohol far outweigh any push to get people to drinking copious amounts of red wine just to reap the benefits of resveratrol.
The jury is also still out (as far as studies go) on whether any supplement boasts enough resveratrol to make significant health gains. The proper dosage of this nutrient is still unclear, with some experts saying it’s safe to take resveratrol in doses of up to 5 grams per day. Keep in mind that taking more than 2.5 grams of resveratrol per day puts you at a greater risk of developing side effects like an upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, or even liver dysfunction.