The list of conditions that might potentially be helped by adding resveratrol and other supplements to your diet continues to grow.  Many benefit from the ability of anti-oxidants to combat and inhibit free radicals.  Here’s a look at some of them:

  Diabetes, which is marked by high levels of blood glucose caused by an inability of the pancreas to properly regulate the production of insulin, affects over 20 million Americans.  Among the steps that people can take to control the disease and reduce the risk of it’s many, devastating complications can include taking a resveratrol dietary supplement.  There is an enzyme called SIRT1 which may improve insulin sensitivity and therefore improve the ability to regulate insulin production.  Resveratrol is known to activate that particular enzyme.  Another product that can support the health of the pancreas is the Pancreas System Blend.

  Pulmonary fibrosis affects about 5 million people around the world and is caused by scarring of the lung.  This scarred tissue eventually creates an irreversible loss of the ability of the affected lung tissue to transfer oxygen from the lung to the bloodstream.  Because it is an antioxidant, Resveratrol can help restructure oxidative injury and fibrosis.  Many herbs are traditionally credited with properties that are valuable to the respiratory system including anise seed, beet root and lemon grass.

  Joint pain is a condition that all too many of us are familiar with and many people use the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin to improve their joints.  Given its established anti-inflammatory properties, it isn’t surprising that Resveratrol has been examined to determine its value as a treatment for Arthritis.  Researchers at a university in Turkey conducted a study in which rabbits with arthritis in the knees were found to have no inflammation after being given resveratrol.  The study concluded that resveratrol could potentially protect cartilage against the development of inflammatory arthritis.

  The same properties also make it helpful for people who have spinal injuries or have suffered from a stroke. When there are serious injuries to the brain – like a stroke- your body’s natural response will actually create more damage and inflammation.  A study was conducted by researchers in China which showed that resveratrol could reverse the inflammatory response because its anti-oxidant properties block free radicals and because it affects specific enzymes and the cellular responses they control. The conclusions drawn from this study suggested that those concerned about strokes or brain injuries should consider taking resveratrol supplements. For those interested in improving memory and keeping the brain sharp, focused and alert ingredients like ginko biloba and bacopin have been used.

  There are many things that people can and will do to promote longevity.  It is an outcome that we’re all rather attached to.  We can do our best to drink clean, chemical free water and supplement our diets with products like digestive enzymes to help our bodies utilize the nutrients in our food and better manage the digestion of carbohydrates,  fat and protein.  We can ensure that our body is supplied with vitamins and minerals.  We can also avoid becoming junk food swilling couch potatoes (and easy cure that anyone can do at home!)  The properties of seaweed have been used for centuries to prolong life and improve health.

  And we can consider some of the research on resveratrol which indicates that it can promote longevity because of the way it affects DNA.  As we age, our DNA loses the ability to replicate properly instead creating debris that eventually prevents our cells from functioning.  Resveratrol can reduce the incidence of this debris.  Resveratrol is also of interest for its potentially beneficial effects on cancers including breast, prostate and thyroid cancer.

  Resveratrol has not been tested extensively on humans and so the full range of benefits, side effects and interactions is not known at this time.   Some studies have indicated that women with a history of estrogen supported breast cancer or pre and post-menopausal women on hormone replacement therapy might suffer negative effects from drinking red wine, because resveratrol is also a plant estrogen.