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Health See other Health Articles Title: Resveratrol Some Harvard-educated researchers believe they’ve discovered a proverbial ‘fountain of youth’.* They’re talking about resveratrol, calling it a miracle ingredient, and the greatest discovery since antibiotics.* Resveratrol is a compound found in the skin and seeds of grapes. Researchers have been mystified for years about how the French can smoke cigarettes and eat high-fat foods, yet still have extremely low rates of cancer and heart disease. They call it the French paradox. Harvard researchers Dr. Christoph Westphal and David Sinclair conducted genetic research to investigate the French paradox. Until now, scientists believed drinking red wine had health benefits*... but couldn’t put their finger on exactly why. Now they believe the resveratrol in wine activates cells into behaving more youth-like in a number of ways.* The biggest hurdle with resveratrol is finding a way to consume the large concentrations required to provide you with a benefit. You’d need several bottles of wine per day to get the anticipated benefit from resveratrol. Drinking large amounts of wine or other alcoholic beverages will increase your insulin levels, which will eventually have a negative impact on your health in a number of ways. I’ll tell you in a minute how you can get your highly-concentrated resveratrol without the alcohol, sugars and calories of red wine. But first, let’s discuss how to control your free radical levels... Neutralizing the Free Radical Threat 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 (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. sidebar An All Natural Source of Resveratrol Purple Defense contains 50 mg of Resveratrol per serving. With an overall 3,500 ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) value per capsule, Purple Defense capsules provide a powerful natural antioxidant blend. The ORAC value for Purple Defense is achieved by using the most sophisticated and accurate equipment possible. The machine is a fluorescence microplate reader (Fluoroskan Ascent FL). ORAC values can easily be inflated with any machine though. Using an ethanol solvent will artificially inflate the ORAC value. That's why each batch is tested using an acetone/water solvent. So you can rest assured that you're actually getting 3,500 in each dose. sidebar But as part of normal functioning, your body is capable of keeping free radicals in check and naturally neutralizing them, unless you... Eat a diet consisting mostly of processed junk food Cut corners on getting enough sleep on a daily basis Ignore your need for regular exercise Find yourself under a great deal of stress Expose yourself to a 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. So what can you do? Well, first of all, it would be helpful to address the unhealthy habits listed above. Additionally, consider going the next step and find ways to fortify your healthy diet with antioxidant rich food. I’m sure you’re well aware of the benefits of antioxidants from all the discussion on my site. I’ve spent literally decades researching this topic and cannot stress their importance to you enough. Antioxidants provide your body with natural protection against free radicals and help you neutralize and keep them under control. Two Different Types of Antioxidants You Need to Fight Pesky Free Radicals Antioxidants are generally classified into two broad categories... lipid soluble (hydrophobic) and water-soluble (hydrophilic). Your body needs both types of antioxidants because each one targets different types of cells and tissues for free radical scavenging... Lipid soluble antioxidants - These are localized to cellular membranes and lipoproteins. They protect cell membranes from lipid peroxidation.* Examples of lipid-soluble antioxidants include... vitamins E, A, and beta carotene. Water soluble antioxidants - These are present in aqueous fluids, such as blood and intracellular and extracellular fluids. They react with oxidants in the cell cytosol (fluid portion of cytoplasm) and the blood plasma. Examples of water-soluble antioxidants include... vitamin C, glutathione, and catechins. The bottom line... to fight and help neutralize pesky free radicals, you need both types of antioxidants from as many sources as possible.* When taken together, the efficacy of lipid- and water-soluble antioxidants is enhanced even more.* When it comes to a lipid-soluble antioxidant, I believe I’ve identified a super-nutrient like no other in astaxanthin. You can check out my site for more info on Astaxanthin with ALA and all its phenomenal benefits.* And next, I’ll have more coming up on why I feel resveratrol is one of your best sources of a water-soluble antioxidant, but first here's... Why Organic Food is Your Best Choice for Natural Free Radical Protection grape fruitsThere are many sources of antioxidants available to help boost your health. Most of these sources come directly from consumption of high quality, fresh, organic and preferably locally grown vegetables and fruits. But there is a catch. The catch is that, to get the most potent antioxidant content from the fruits and vegetables - they need to be organically grown and processed. Here’s why. Research shows that certain organically grown fruits and vegetables have significantly higher levels of potent antioxidants than traditionally grown foods. The key to all this is a large family of natural antioxidant compounds called polyphenols. Polyphenols exist in plant floods and their contribution to the antioxidant capacity of the human diet is much larger than even that of vitamins. And a subclass of this antioxidant-rich family found in fruits and vegetables is flavonoids. In response to environmental stressors like insects and other competing plants, plants produce flavonoids with potent antioxidant activity. Unfortunately, conventional growing methods that use pesticides and herbicides hamper the production of flavonoids. Plants exposed to pesticides and herbicides have less of a need to produce such compounds. And therefore, these plants produce fewer antioxidants than organically grown food. You don’t want to miss out on polyphenol flavonoids because they can: Improve your memory and concentration Boost the effectiveness of vitamin C in your antioxidant network Regulate nitric oxide - a potent free radical that regulates your blood flow Help promote your healthy heart Bolster your immune system So, to take advantage of the highest potency flavonoids and rich antioxidants, always choose organically grown fruits and vegetables. Fresh organic foods are important not only for what they give you, higher levels of antioxidants and nutrients, but also for what they don’t give you... exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and non-organic fertilizers. Now let’s take a closer look at some common and not so common food sources of antioxidants - keeping in mind that for you to receive the highest antioxidant potential, organic is best. Consumer Alert: Berries are a Great Source of Antioxidants, but Watch Out for the Sugar sidebar fresh pricked grapes sidebar A specific polyphenol flavonoid compound called quercetin is a potent dietary antioxidant found in certain berries: lingonberries, cranberries, bilberries, and black currants. Not only do berries contain many flavonoids like quercetin, but also fiber... vitamin C... and other nutritious antioxidant-rich polyphenol compounds. Ideally, berries should be eaten raw and as you already know - organic is best. Another great source of water-soluble antioxidants in berries is from blueberries. In fact, Europeans recognize their bilberries as blueberries. Only a few years ago, the USDA Human Nutrition Center (HNRCA) ranked blueberries #1 in antioxidant activity. This research compared 40 other fresh vegetables and fruits. This is all great but there is a red flag I have to raise - watch out for too much sugar. If you overdo your fruit consumption, even berries, you risk releasing too much sugar into your system. This could cause your insulin levels to rise and eventually your health could worsen instead of improving. So, moderation is the key when eating fruit. Choosing fruit relatively low in sugar, like blueberries, should not only boost your antioxidant intake but help keep your insulin levels in check as well. Eat Your Veggies for Healthy Antioxidants - but Which Ones? Broccoli, greens, beans, artichokes, and onions, to name a few, are good sources of polyphenol flavonoids. And of course, raw organic vegetables help you maximize the antioxidant benefits. However, just like you need to be careful on how much and the types of fruit you eat, the same holds true with vegetables. For example, from the USDA Human Nutrition Center research, potatoes ranked high on the list of vegetables with potent antioxidant content. But they are not necessarily your best choice because they may cause increased insulin levels. In order to determine the amount of fruits and vegetables your body requires, I recommend you first determine your Nutritional Type™ (NT). You see, foods and individual nutrients do not behave the same way in two people with different Nutritional Types. Your Nutritional Type determines your individual nutritional requirements and dictates your individual responses to what you eat and drink. Please check my site for more details on how to determine your NT. It’s well worth your time. Here’s a great table showing examples of fruits and vegetables along with their polyphenol content. Remember, polyphenols are natural antioxidant compounds that help you neutralize free radical damage. This table also shows another beneficial subclass of polyphenols called phenolic acids. Polyphenol Content in Selected Vegetables and Fruits Polyphenol Polyphenol Content Range Source (serving size) Subclass per Serving size (mg/serving) Vegetables: Yellow onion (100g) Flavonoids 35-120 Broccoli (200g) Flavonoids 8-20 Leek (200g) Flavonoids 6-45 Artichoke (100g) Phenolic acids 45 Potato (200g) Phenolic acids 20-38 Fruits Blueberry (100g) Flavonoids 25-500 Black Currant (100g) Flavonoids 130-400 Blackberry (100g) Flavonoids 100-400 Strawberry (200g) Flavonoids 30-150 Plum (200g) Phenolic acids 28-230 Note: Table adapted from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Why Not Add a Little Spice to Your Life and Health? spices and gingerA bountiful source of antioxidants that many people don’t know about is herbs and spices. Researchers within the U.S. Department of Agriculture discovered that herbs are an abundant source of antioxidants - not to mention how they make your food tastier. According to the research, on a per gram fresh weight basis, oregano and other herbs ranked even higher in antioxidant activity than certain fruits and vegetables. In comparing antioxidant activity against a few selected fruits and vegetables, oregano came out on top with: 42 times more antioxidant activity than apples... 30 times more than potatoes... 12 times more than oranges And there are other herbs and spices that pack an antioxidant punch as well: cloves... turmeric... cinnamon... garlic... basil... and curcumin... to name a few. Herbs and spices have emerged as a quick and convenient way for you to get a concentrated source of antioxidants - without all the extra calories of many foods. Now, your key to taking advantage of the antioxidant activity from herbs and spices is to find an organic source and consume them fresh and raw. For example, the antioxidant activity of fresh garlic is 1.5 times higher than dry garlic powder. Just as consuming too much of any food product can carry health risks, herbs should be used with moderation... and only as a complement to your healthy diet. So, add a little seasoning and spice to your life and feel good about the antioxidant benefits they provide you. Maybe All You Have to do is Drink a Glass of Red Wine Every Day? Many folks believe that a good way to promote your health is to drink a glass of red wine on a regular basis. Certainly there’s the “French Paradox” theory... the observation that French people with poor diets who drink wine have better cardiovascular health than you might expect. This opinion happens to be based on a potent polyphenol found in red wine and grape skins called resveratrol. This powerful water-soluble antioxidant potentially: Helps improve the overall health of your cells as a component of your cardio and neuro protection* Aids you in protection against age-related health disorders* Provides therapeutic support for your immune system against abnormal cell activity* Researchers also believe that resveratrol helps keep your cholesterol within its normal range while promoting your healthy heart.* sidebar couple drinking red wine sidebar However many experts are now questioning the value of drinking wine for health reasons and believe much of the evidence supporting this was based on very weak epidemiological observations. You of course know that wine contains alcohol. And too much alcohol isn’t a healthy choice for anyone and it may outweigh the benefits of the resveratrol content But, with all this said, resveratrol is such a powerful water-soluble antioxidant that there must be a way you can benefit from it without taking undue risks. This potent antioxidant is somewhat different from the rest. It not only helps you neutralize free radicals, it can cross the blood-brain barrier to help protect your brain and nervous system as well. Studies show that resveratrol may increase the lifespan in human cells.* So, it could be a determining factor in extending your longevity.* Resveratrol helps reduce oxidative stress damage to your cardiovascular system by neutralizing free radicals.* And it helps support your body’s natural defense system.* Plus, resveratrol benefits you by how it... Protects your cells from free radical damage* Helps you keep your blood pressure within the normal range* Keeps your heart healthy and helps improve blood vessel elasticity* Boosts your protection against the spread of abnormal cell activity* Helps you better control the aging process* Why Eating Grapes May Not Be Your Best Approach Now that I’ve clearly identified resveratrol as one of your best water-soluble antioxidant sources, there’s still an open issue... what’s the best way to make sure you consume enough of this antioxidant? To me, one of your best sources of resveratrol is from grapes themselves. sidebar grapes sidebar But, just like there are issues with other fruits, vegetables, nuts, and red wine, such is the case with grapes. See, the skin and seeds of the grapes provide you with the most potent supplies of resveratrol... not the fruit itself. The meat of the fruit contains sugary fructose which could raise your insulin levels. There’s not really an issue with eating the skin - as you consume it when eating the fruit. But the seeds are another issue. Most people don’t like to eat the seeds as they tend to be tough and have a somewhat bitter taste. And some grape processing actually removes the seeds prior to distribution at your local store. So, now what can you do? Well, if you cannot find a good source of grapes with the seeds still intact, or even if you do locate a source but you don’t want to eat the seeds, I have another alternative for you. It’s called Purple Defense. Major Advantages to You from This Grape Seed Formula Even if you find a raw source of grapes, there are major advantages in store for you when using Purple Defense grape seed. See, it’s almost impossible for you to chew the seeds enough to get the equivalent benefit you can from the pulverized seeds in Purple Defense. Why? Pulverizing the seeds makes them more digestible.* This process increases the surface area while leaving the product nutrients intact. Plus, here are additional reasons why Purple Defense should be your #1 water-soluble antioxidant source: Purple Defense Bottle Available all year round - Long after fresh grapes have disappeared from local fruit stands and produce departments, Purple Defense grape seed is available. Longer shelf life - Since this grape seed lasts a full 12 months from the date you receive it, you’ll cut back on the amount of fruit you waste. No refrigeration required for Purple Defense. Avoid chewing bad-tasting seeds - Remember, it’s the pulverized seeds that provide you the greatest antioxidant benefit.* So, using this convenient grape seed powder in capsule form provides you a great solution.* Plus, it means you don’t have to chew any bad-tasting and tough seeds. Higher concentration of polyphenols - Purple Defense grape seed powder delivers you a potentially higher concentration than the fruit itself.* Smarter than drinking red wine - Although some people drink wine to get the grape-related benefits, there are many downsides I mentioned above. You can avoid these downsides... such as over-consumption... sugar content... and other alcohol-related issues by simply using Purple Defense grape seed.* So, now you see some of the reasons why I highly recommend Purple Defense as one of your best antioxidant sources. And of course, as I continually stress on my site, no supplement replaces a healthy diet of wholesome, unprocessed foods. But this grape seed powder is an excellent complement to your healthy diet in providing you free radical protection. Whole Food Complex glass of wineEach capsule of Purple Defense contains the amount of resveratrol that is in thirty nine 8oz glasses of wine. But more importantly it is there as a whole food complex along with other fruit complexes that allow the synergistic combination of all the micronutrients to give you the full benefit that the food would give you if you ate it naturally. You see I am somewhat skeptical of scientists that isolate single nutrients with the belief that the isolated nutrients are providing all the benefits. In my mind the whole food complex is nearly always superior. How the Power of Purple Takes Your Antioxidant Benefits to Another Level sidebar Purple Defense is A Natural Whole-Food Product Purple Defense is rigorously tested for quality, potency and purity. Purple Defense grape seed does not require refrigeration. When stored properly, you'll find it will last up to one year. No known drug interactions (however, those allergic to grapes should not take grape seed). sidebar Believe it or not - you have quite a few choices for grape seed out there today. So, what makes the Purple Defense grape seed formula stand out from the rest? First of all, I chose a formula with a proprietary process called OxyPhyte®. This unique process concentrates the antioxidant power of specific compounds. It does this by extracting the phytonutrients responsible to provide you maximum antioxidant activity. The bottom line - the OxyPhyte process used to formulate Purple Defense helps provide you with very high potency water-soluble antioxidants from the grapes. Not all grape seed formulas use this process. And this formula even goes beyond grapes. Take a look at why this grape seed formula is so unique. OxyPhyte grape seed extract - The nutrient potency of the seeds cannot be stressed enough. And with the advanced OxyPhyte process, you’ll get help maximizing their potential benefits. This grape seed extract comes with a potent 90% polyphenol formula for amazing antioxidant potential.* OxyPhyte grape skin extract - Along with the grape seed, combines to deliver a potent formula of 10% resveratrol... the one polyphenol I insisted needed to be in the formula. Organic black currant - This organic powder provides added healthy nutrients and quercetin, a polyphenol compound with potent antioxidant activity* (mentioned above). Organic plum extract - This powerful extract rounds out the formula with a great source of fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and other nutrients that help promote your healthy vision.* So, the Purple Defense formula even goes beyond nutritious grapes in providing you additional sources of water-soluble of antioxidants and nutrients. But, how do you know how well these antioxidants work against free radicals? Comparing Antioxidant Capabilities Over a 138-year timeframe, the U.S. Agricultural Research Service (in-house arm of the USDA), developed a method to determine free radical scavenging activity against the peroxyl radical for both water-soluble and lipid-soluble substances. This methodology, called Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC), evolved over the years and today is a good indicator for measuring the antioxidant capacity of foods. The higher the ORAC value, the more antioxidant squelching capacity the food or supplement has. For example, here’s a chart showing Purple Defense nutrients and their potent Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) values (on a per gram basis). Purple Defense OxyPhyte Nutrients ORAC Values Compared to other Fruits and Vegetables OxyPhyte® Grape Seed Extract OxyPhyte® Apple Extract OxyPhyte® White Tea Extract Whole Blueberries (1 cup serving) OxyPhyte® Green Tea Extract OxyPhyte® Ultra Blend OxyPhyte® Grapeskin 10% Resveratrol OxyPhyte® Black Currant Extract OxyPhyte® Guava Leaf Extract OxyPhyte® Yerba Mate Polyphenol Extract Fuji Apple (1 medium) Spinach (1 cup serving) Vitamin C (100% RDI - 60mg) It should be clear from the above chart as to the antioxidant potency of the grape seed extract in Purple Defense... even more potent than whole blueberries. And with the total combination of grape seed extract, grape skins, black currant extract, and plum extract, Purple Defense is certainly up to the task. So, when choosing an antioxidant source, make sure to compare its ORAC values to determine just how well it scavenges free radicals. There should be little doubt in your mind about how well Purple Defense does this! Don’t Wait Until Free Radicals Rule Your Body and Your Health You’ve discovered many choices when it comes to protecting yourself from free radical damage. There are many foods that provide you very good sources of polyphenols and potent antioxidants to help you neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals. So, I recommend you consume these foods in moderation due to the health risks described above. And your preference should always be for fresh, organic, and raw sources. At the same time, complement your wholesome diet with Purple Defense, your #1 source for water-soluble antioxidants. And just so you know, my NEW and IMPROVED Purple Defense formula now provides higher levels of resveratrol content and ORAC value... you now get 20% more resveratrol and double the ORAC value. So, don’t wait until free radicals rule your body and your health, order Purple Defense today. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
Okay, so what they are implicitly claiming is the *average* Frenchman drinks several bottles of red wine per day?? And that this amount would be counterproductive for others to drink? What's wrong with this sales pitch? This is older news at this point. The benefits of resveratrol has been known for 5-6 years or something. But the benefit is probably obtainable with just a glass or 2 of red wine per day. Concentrations of the chemical are highest in grapes that have had to fight off fungus.
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