French people eat a diet high in calories and saturated fat, and yet their rate of cardiovascular disease is surprisingly low. This is known as the French Paradox.
Scientists put it down to the large amounts of red wine quaffed with each meal.
Traditionally French red wine has contained high amounts of the super antioxidant compound resveratrol, which most likely explains the “French Paradox”.
Resveratrol is a kind of natural antibiotic produced by some plants when they are growing in stressful conditions, and under attack from harsh sunlight and fungus.
Red grapes, berries and peanuts all produce this natural pesticide. Before the widespread use of horticultural sprays, French red wine contained 30mg of resveratrol per litre.
Since sprayed grapes no longer need to wage war on fungus, French red wines now contain a mere 2 – 3mg per litre...and French cardiovascular disease is on the rise.
Resveratrol is a health superhero, an antioxidant many times more powerful than antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin C, E, selenium and zinc. Antioxidants protect our cells from the destructive effects of unstable molecules called “free radicals”.
We are constantly exposed to these troublemakers, which are constantly being produced in our body.
Exposure to the sun; cigarette smoking; extreme exercise; and consuming a high fat diet also increase our exposure to free radicals. Free radicals are strongly implicated in a number of chronic degenerative diseases including heart disease and cancer; and premature aging.
Super antioxidants such as resveratrol literally knock out free radicals, and in so doing, protect our cells from premature destruction, inflammation and chronic disease.
As the French know well, resveratrol protects our cardiovascular system in a number of ways. It makes the platelets in our blood less sticky, reducing the risk of blood clots, strokes and heart attacks.
Resveratrol protects our “bad” LDL cholesterol from being oxidised by free radicals. It's only once it's oxidised that this fat can clog up arteries.
In human trials the effects of resveratrol are still inconclusive, however animal studies show that in rats, fleas and worms at least, it is a powerful life extender.
Until now the most effective way of extending life expectancy has been extreme calorie restriction. Studies have shown that rats live 60% longer on a very low calorie diet, and it's suspected the same is true for humans.
Harvard researchers have shown that the same dramatic life extension can be seen in rats consuming normal calorie diets, supplemented with resveratrol.
Even rats on super high calorie diets (equivalent to that consumed by many humans), lived 31% longer when they were supplemented with resveratrol. The antioxidant compound protected them from the liver and cardiovascular damage usually seen with such a high calorie diet.
Still not convinced of the need to boost your resveratrol intake? What about the fact that it is a natural anti inflammatory; stimulates energy production; lowers blood sugar and increases insulin sensitivity; and in test tubes at least, has shown a dramatic ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Where do you find this super nutrient? You don't have to drink gallons of wine in order to boost your resveratrol. A much safer option is black grapes and grape juice; blueberries, bilberries, cranberries and peanuts. Resveratrol is also available in supplemental form.
Lynda Wharton is a health and wellbeing writer, columnist and author. She also practises as an acupuncturist and naturopath.
lynda@lyndawharton.com
www.lyndawharton.com
