Grapes Contain Resveratrol - But is That the Best Way to Get it?
There’s a lot of fuss in the medical world about an antioxidant called Resveratrol. It is touted as having properties which help to prevent the development of cancer, strengthen your immune system and protect against heart disease. There are several foods, such as grapes, which contain the nutrient - but what is the best way to get Resveratrol into your system? This article will cover the benefits of the nutrient, remove any confusion about it, and explain the best sources.
The benefits of Resveratrol in fighting cancer cells have been proven by research. Researchers have showed that it is effective in fighting prostate, pancreatic and skin cancers. The process involves the nutrient fighting the Mitochondria in cancer cells, which provide the energy the cells need to survive.
The nutrient also improves blood flow, which helps to prevent complications that lead to heart disease such as artery blockages and damage from the oxidation process. Other benefits include boosting the body’s immune system.
This explains why so many people want to include it in their diet. But there’s a lot on confusion surrounding the best way to achieve this.
Red wine and grapes are often cited as the best sources. While you can derive the nutrient from these foods, the amount you take in is not consistent when you are relying on natural food sources, so it’s hard to maintain a regular intake.
The nutrient can be damaged by exposure to light and oxygen. Some food sources, such as peanuts and grapes, are exposed to air and sunlight for long periods. That means the amount of Resveratrol in these foods diminishes and becomes hard to quantify. Also, foods from different areas have been shown to have lower or higher levels of the nutrient – but still, the amount is not consistent.
Studies have shown that dark colored grape skins contain about .75mg of Resveratrol and wines contain around .3-.85mg. But additives and preservatives to the wine, as well as chemicals such as pesticides, can affect the level of concentration of the antioxidant in any given batch of wine.
So grapes contain Resveratrol, but how do you get around this issue? How can you get a consistent and regular source of the antioxidant?
The obvious solution is to get it into your body via a supplement. Scientists have developed the technology to separate this ingredient from food, maintain the potency throughout storage, and make sure the concentration levels can be measured.
To sum up, wine and grapes contain Resveratrol, however it’s difficult to determine how much and how potent the Resveratrol is in these foods.
The best way to get it into your body is through supplementation. Try to take 20mg of the antioxidant each day and try to ensure it is 50% derived from the natural trans type for the most effective results.
Now that you know the best method to get it into your body, you can start to enjoy the benefits.
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