Resveratrol supplements sound more like a heart medication than a natural supplement, but don’t let the name fool you. For many who consume red grapes, peanuts, and other types of berries, you’re already getting this very helpful polyphenol.
But what about everyone else, are resveratrol supplements a healthy substitute for natural sources? Are resveratrol supplements as healthy as they say?
Resveratrol, like any other supplement, does have a lot of misleading information surrounding its many benefits. So, to help weed out fact from fiction, let’s jump in and see what the truth is about resveratrol supplements.
What is Resveratrol?
Resveratrol is a type of polyphenol that you can find in certain types of plants such as peanuts, grapes, pistachios, cranberries, bilberries, blueberries, and even cocoa. This compound acts similarly to many antioxidants in mammals.
Resveratrol supplements come from extracts of the Polygonum cuspidatum, otherwise known as Japanese Knotweed. Other sources for resveratrol are from red grapes and red wine extracts.
How Do Resveratrol Supplements Work?
Resveratrol works in the body the same way an antioxidant works. These compounds reduce inflammation, oxidizing compounds, and prevent cell damage from free radicals from occurring. Free radicals are the unstable atoms commonly found in sunlight and pollution.
Free radicals can occur when our bodies are burning fat, which can cause aging, brain degeneration, and can potentially cause cancer. The antioxidant and inflammation-reducing properties of polyphenols are what give you the benefits of resveratrol supplements.
Are There Any Benefits to Taking Resveratrol Supplements?
While there may not be any evidence of resveratrol supplements extending a human’s lifespan, there are many other health benefits to resveratrol supplements. Some of those benefits are:
Resveratrol can help the heart in other ways, such as helping the body produce more nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is what helps the blood vessels relax, and is ideal for those who are aging and have stiff arteries.
As you can see, resveratrol can be a very useful supplement to have in your diet. But before you start using these supplements, you’ll want to look out for potential risks and side effects that can come with using resveratrol supplements.
Common Side Effects of Resveratrol Supplements
While resveratrol supplements do have many wonderful benefits, nothing is ever entirely perfect. The good news is resveratrol has no bad side effects when consumed in fairly high doses. You can get resveratrol’s health benefits by eating at least 2 grams per day.
The bad news, the FDA doesn’t regulate resveratrol supplements, so you may not be getting enough of the resveratrol extract that you need to feel the benefits. After all, most resveratrol supplement capsules only come in 250 and 500 milligrams. You can negate this by choosing to purchase your supplements from reputable manufacturers.
Another factor to consider is the method by which you get resveratrol. The body may not readily absorb the supplements in either capsule or powder form. Which means you may not get enough of the resveratrol extract to see any benefits.
You should try to get resveratrol from natural sources of any vitamin, mineral or micronutrient in place of supplements whenever possible. These supplements may have side effects if taken with other types of medications or drugs.
Can Certain Drugs Affect Resveratrol Supplements?
While resveratrol is fairly harmless by itself, there are certain drug interactions you’ll want to be aware of. Resveratrol supplements can conflict with blood thinners (warfarin) and NSAIDs ibuprofen and aspirin.
People Who Should Avoid Taking Resveratrol Supplements
For some, taking supplements is not always advisable due to their health conditions or prescription medications. Before taking any type of supplementation, always check with your doctor to ensure proper supplement dosing and risks for potential drug interactions.
Final Thoughts
Using supplements can be helpful for many people who aren’t able to eat from natural sources. Resveratrol, while not perfect, does have many health benefits that most can receive with proper supplementation.
All in all, if you want to get the most out of the polyphenol resveratrol, try including natural sources such as red grapes, peanuts, cocoa, dark chocolate, mulberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and bilberries into your diet. And if ever in doubt about whether this supplement is safe for you, it never hurts to get your healthcare provider’s second opinion.
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