Originally published October 2 2009
Resveratrol, the miracle nutrient to prevent heart disease
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
(NaturalNews) You've probably heard a lot of the good news about resveratrol and its ability to help prevent heart disease. Here, we've posted a collection of valuable quotes about resveratrol from some of the world's best-known authors. Read and enjoy!
Hu zhang {Polygonum cuspidatum) is a Chinese herb (actually a weed) that is the world's richest source of resveratrol, the phytochemical also found in red wine that has generated a huge buzz for its disease-preventive actions in the body. A large body of research supports the role of resveratrol in resisting cancer, inflammation and heart disease. Resveratrol has been found to suppress the activation of inflammatory cytokines and COX-2, and shows special promise in preventing and slowing the progression of breast cancer. Resveratrol is also a potent antioxidant.
- Your Prostate, Your Libido, Your Life by James Occhiogrosso, N. D.
White wine also contains resveratrol, but the seeds and skins are removed early in the white wine-making process, reducing the amount of resveratrol in the final product. Antioxidants like resveratrol are beneficial in preventing harmful elements in the body from attacking healthy cells. The antioxidant properties of resveratrol also offer certain health benefits in the prevention of heart disease and the reduction of lung tissue inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What You Should Eat and Why by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
Resveratrol reverses tumor-promoter-induced inhibition of gap-junctional intercellular communication. The red wine phenolics trans-resveratrol and quercetin block human platelet aggregation and eicosanoid synthesis: implications for protection against coronary heart disease.
- PDR for Nutritional Supplements by Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik
Several plants, including grapevine, produce the stilbene-type phytoalexin resveratrol when attacked by pathogens. This compound appears to be one of the health-promoting factors of grapevine, which are associated with reduced risk of heart diseases (popularly known as "the French paradox") and long recognized by folk medicine. Clinical studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of resveratrol, isolated from red wine, on cardiovascular disease and confirmed the involvement of resveratrol in fighting arteriosclerosis and vascular tissue diseases.
- Handbook of Medicinal Plants by Amarjit S. Basra
At the time that book was written, Japanese researchers had just discovered an antifungal compound in grapes called resveratrol, which lowered cholesterol levels in rats and showed promise of doing the same in humans. Since then, researchers at the University of Illinois, under the direction of Dr. John Pezzuto, have uncovered new and exciting information about resveratrol. Studies have shown that resveratrol may prevent heart disease in two important ways. First, it inhibits the formation of blood clots, which can trigger both heart attack and stroke.
- Earl Mindell's Supplement Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to Hundreds of NEW Natural Products that Will Help You Live Longer, Look Better, Stay Healthier, ... and Much More! by Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
Preliminary studies have found that people who drink red wine, which contains resveratrol (page 581), are at lower risk of death from heart disease. Because of its antioxidant activity and its effect on platelets, some researchers believe that resveratrol is the protective agent in red wine. Resveratrol research remains very preliminary, however, and as yet there is no evidence that the amounts found in supplements help prevent atherosclerosis in humans.
- The Natural Pharmacy: Complete A-Z Reference to Natural Treatments for Common Health Conditions by Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D.
A recent report published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry indicates that a grape compound, known as resveratrol, may be more effective than common drugs, such as aspirin, in reversing or preventing arthritis, heart disease, cancer, and even Alzheimer's disease. The compound completely blocked the toxic reaction which precipitates these diseases. What's more, researchers believe that this effect may explain why individuals living in regions where fresh grapes form a large part of the diet have a much reduced incidence of heart disease and cancer.
- Dr. Cass Ingram's Lifesaving Cures by Dr. Cass Ingram
In one small, short-term study, 24 healthy human subjects aged 26-45 consumed red wine, white wine, commercial grape juice and the same grape juice fortified with resveratrol over periods of 4 weeks. Results were mixed and conflicting, suggesting some positive benefit from resveratrol while also suggesting lack of activity in other measures related to coronary heart disease. The researchers themselves acknowledged multiple weaknesses in their study design.
- PDR for Nutritional Supplements by Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik
CANCER: The pistachio is second only to wine as a tremendous source of the plant chemical resveratrol. This substance may play a role in fighting cancer and heart disease. HEART HEALTH: Because of pistachio's "quad-combo" of heart-healthy substances - high phytosterol (279mg/100g), gamma tocopherol, arginine, and high monounsaturated fat content - they are an excellent addition to the diet to help fight heart disease and improve circulation.
- 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life! by David W. Grotto, RD, LDN
It has been suggested that this low rate of heart disease is due to the consumption of red wine, which is rich in resveratrol and other flavonoids, and that the presence of these antioxidant compounds is cardioprotective. This phenomenon is known as 'the French paradox' and cardiologists advise patients who have a history of heart disease to consume a glass of red wine per day. Another group of stilbenoids of current interest are the combretastatins.
- Fundamentals of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy by Dr. Michael Heinrich, Joanne Barnes, Simon Gibbons and Elizabeth M. Williamson
And if you're looking for resveratrol, the plant estrogen that works like an antioxidant to combat heart disease, the Peanut Institute says to look no further than a handful of peanuts. One ounce, they say, contains about as much resveratrol as 2 pounds of grapes. But what about your waistline? Peanuts are still high in fat, even if it is heart-healthy fat. Experts say, however, you don't have to give up these crunchy tidbits. They are full of protein and fiber and give a lot of energy bang for the buck.
- Eat and Heal (Foods That Can Prevent or Cure Many Common Ailments) by the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing
Red wine also has a number of phenolics, the most important being resveratrol and quercetin, which alter gene expression and enhance phenotypic expression to protect against blood clot formation as in heart disease. Resveratrol also has certain anti-aging qualities that are recently being touted to mimic the calorie restriction effect. However, red wine also has the downside of being alcohol. Alcohol does many things to deregulate and undermine healthy gene expression, particularly in the neurotransmitter systems, as well as other systems in the body.
- Spiritual Nutrition: Six Foundations for Spiritual Life and the Awakening of Kundalini by Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
Grape seeds also contain proanthocyanidins (PCOs), another miracle-class medicine from nature that should be required eating for those suffering from Coronary Heart Disease.
- Natural Health Solutions by Mike Adams
These benefits appear to be linked with polyphenolic compounds found in alcohol (see page 35) - flavonoids such as quercetin and resveratrol in red wine, for example. In fact, most experts agree that red wine is probably the "healthiest" alcoholic drink to take (more potent than others because of the concentration and type of polyphenols in the grape skins), but that all alcohol in moderation incurs protective effects against coronary heart disease, by reducing the levels of "bad" blood cholesterol LDL and increasing the "good" kind, HDL. However, what do you do if you don't WANT to drink?
- The Food Bible by Judith Wills
A pound of home-grown grapes, however, can have as much resveratrol as two cups of red wine, says Dr. Creasy. Regular intake of red wine, in moderation with meals, seems to promote anti-thrombotic activity, discouraging heart disease. Heavier drinking and binge drinking can encourage blood clotting and cardiovascular damage. It's important to drink the red wine with meals so it can directly cancel out clot-promoting factors in the rest of the meal. DRINK TEA FOR HEALTHY ARTERIES: Curious as it may seem, drinking tea gives your arteries an antithrombotic infusion.
- Food Your Miracle Medicine by Jean Carper
Epidemiological, in vitro and animal studies suggest that resveratrol has anti-atherosclerotic activity and that it might have some immune-stimulating and anti-cancer effects. Human studies are few in number and inconclusive due to short duration and poor design. There has been a suggestion from epidemiological data for some time that moderate consumption of red wine is associated with a reduced incidence of mortality and morbidity from coronary heart disease.
- PDR for Nutritional Supplements by Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik
In vitro and animal work has strongly suggested that resveratrol and other polyphenols found in grapes and wines are at least partially responsible for often-observed anti-platelet aggregating anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. Red wine has been shown, in some experiments, to be more effective than other alcoholic beverages in decreasing some of the risk factors of coronary heart disease.
- PDR for Nutritional Supplements by Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik
These cardioprotective phenols included flavonoids, resveratrol, and curcumin. A daily 25 ml dose of any type of olive oil has been shown to reduce lipid cardiovascular risk factors by decreasing oxidative damage on lipids, increasing HDL cholesterol levels, and improving the glutathione balance that protects against oxidative stress. Hydrogenated oils (an unsaturated oil that has been made into a saturated fat) should be avoided for cardiovascular health. Hydrogenated oil raises LDL, lowers the protective effects of HDL, and can in fact increase the incidence of heart disease.
- Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness by Tori Hudson, N.D.
Wine is, after all, a rich source of two very important anticarcinogens - PCOs and resveratrol. Although smoking is not dietary, it often is associated with food and drink. The numerous deleterious effects of smoking and its links to cancer and heart disease do not need to be reemphasized here. Countless studies show significant increases in risk for cancers of the lung, bladder, esophagus, stomach, and pancreas in smokers as compared to nonsmokers. The relative risk factor of lung cancer for smokers versus nonsmokers is 13.6.
- Herbal Medicine, Healing and Cancer: A Comprehensive Program for Prevention and Treatment by Donald R. Yance, j r.,C.N., M.H., A.H.G., with Arlene Valentine
The fermentation process in winemaking draws beneficial antioxidant nutrients like resveratrol and quercetin from the skin of the grape, and then the bottling process goes a step further in preserving the extracts in a dark, airtight bottle. Recognize how powerful the red wine effect is. The red-wine drinking French consume 3.8 times more butter and 2.8 times more lard, and exhibit higher serum cholesterol levels and higher blood pressure than do Americans, yet have a 2.5-fold lower death rate due to coronary heart disease.
- You Don't Have to be Afraid of Cancer Anymore by Bill Sardi
Ellagic acid is believed to reduce damage caused by carcinogens in tobacco smoke and air pollutants, while resveratrol has shown powerful antioxidant action, potentially offering protection from heart disease. Flavonoid phytochemicals are thought to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, possibly by reducing blood pressure and strengthening the antioxidant defense systems that protect the heart.
- Food Synergy: Unleash Hundreds of Powerful Healing Food Combinations to Fight Disease and Live Well by Elaine Magee
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