Fit and Youthful Life

Guest Author: Valerie Rosenbaum


Research concerning resveratrol and diabetes is still ongoing. The single ingredient supplements that are on the market will not be beneficial for diabetics. There are some specialty supplements on the market that have proven benefits for the disease, as well as multi-nutritional supplements that contain a reasonable resveratrol-dosage. Here’s a look at what may be available in the future and what is available, today.

To have a significant effect on lowering blood sugar, very high dosages were needed. Because risks are associated with dosages this high, research is continuing. In the US, it is illegal to recommend a dietary supplement for the treatment of a disease. If something is used to treat a disease, it is considered a drug.

In order to be a legal drug, there must be safety studies, which usually last for a year or more. Then studies concerning effectiveness may be conducted. Once those studies are completed, the paperwork is submitted to the FDA and the FDA may approve the drug.

So, it will be several years before the resveratrol and diabetes trials are completed, but eventually, there may be a new drug that works better than the ones that are currently on the market. Today, you should follow your doctor’s instructions and make every effort to improve your daily nutritional intake.

If you like, you may consider a specialty supplement designed to protect the organs and nerves of the body from the damage that high blood sugar levels can cause over the years. Some of the better supplements include Banaba, bitter melon, black cumin, green tea and gymnema sylvestre. These can lower blood sugar levels. So, it is important to monitor your blood sugar, if you begin taking them. Low blood sugar levels are dangerous, too.

When it comes to resveratrol and diabetes, a multi-nutritional supplement that contains moderate amounts (20-50mg) is fine. Anything over 100mg can have a laxative effect, possible causing diarrhea. Many diabetics are prone to become dehydrated and diarrhea will, of course, increase that risk.

A 20-50mg dose may provide many protective health benefits, particularly if it is combined with other effective antioxidants and natural anti-inflammatories, like turmeric, green tea, glutathione and carnosine. Oxidative stress and chronic long-term inflammation are two of the causes of cellular aging. They both play roles in the development of cancer and heart disease.

Originally, the research concerning resveratrol and diabetes was done using laboratory animals and cell cultures. One of the many effects that researchers saw was an extension of lifespan in some short lived species. So, you will often see this ingredient in an anti-aging supplement.

If you believe the Methuselah Foundation, humans should live well over 100 years, without developing a chronic or life threatening disease. We are seeing more and more people achieving that age, with minor, if any health problems.

Many of us believe that the key to living a long healthy life is good nutrition. Optimal nutritional intake insures that all of the cells of your body can function, as they should. Now, that you know a little more about resveratrol and diabetes, you might want to learn more about some of the other botanicals and nutrients mentioned in this article.



Longevity and Health Now

Guest Author: Tara Mathews


Most people have never heard of resveratrol let alone know what resveratrol use is all about. In the last few years it has become much more popular because of reports made by various new agencies. There are only a few plants that contain it. It is found in red grapes, red wine and Japanese knotweed root.

Although it is found in red wine, that may not be the best way to consume it. First, you would have to drink a fair bit of wine to get any of the resveratrol benefits. The best way to get the nutrients into your bloodstream is to take a supplement that contains resveratrol along with numerous other vitamins and minerals.

If you are taking a multi-vitamin supplement then you should make sure it has an enteric coating. Stomach acid can break down the nutrients and make them unavailable for use in the body. This is why the enteric coating is very important.

Another reason for the increase in resveratrol use is that it is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help to repair and prevent damage to the skin cells. Antioxidants help to repair damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are chemical molecules that move around the body causing damage to skin cells.

Resveratrol use works better when combined with other nutrients such as grape seed, amino acids, green tea extract, manganese and numerous other very effective minerals and vitamins. All the nutrients and vitamins work in synergy together, which is why it is so effective.

Resveratrol use is recommended for anyone who could be at risk of developing type II diabetes. In addition, people who have already been diagnosed can also benefit from this nutrient. Research is continuing in this field as well.

Try to avoid using synthetic versions of resveratrol or synthetic versions of any drug for that matter. While maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it is important to combine healthy eating, exercise and effective multi-vitamins. The supplement should contain numerous effective nutrients and vitamins that work in synergy together.

If you would like more information on resveratrol use and multi-vitamin supplements that contain this specific nutrient, then please visit my website today.

Guest Author: Ric Hawkins


According to recent studies of resveratrol and diabetes, there seems to be growing excitement about a potential breakthrough, so what is this all about?

We have known for a long time the powers of this super nutrient in stopping cancer and increasing life expectancy, but according to the latest research, an imminent breakthrough is predicted for type 2 diabetes.

It seems that a resveratrol and diabetes connection for helping to cure this disease works in two ways. Firstly, it helps to lower the glucose levels significantly and helps to improve insulin sensitivity.

Secondly, it has been found to increase metabolism, (you may have heard about the weight loss possibilities with this nutrient) which decrease weight gain, a major contributor to type 2 diabetes.

A study by Sirtris Pharmaceuticals is significant because it shows that resveratrol might well be used to treat type 2 diabetes in the near future and that it seems to be well tolerated by patients.

There seems to be no end to what this super nutrient can do, and one of the best methods to avoid diseases is to take preventative action.

Even though a resveratrol and diabetes connection has been made, you can get the many benefits of it here and now. Experts agree that the most effective method is via a natural multi supplement.

When these ingredients are put together they create synergy, which means you get the direct benefits of each nutrient and the benefits from their interaction with each other.

Resveratrol is synergistic with green tea and ginkgo biloba extract, and this will enhance its ability to fight of the aging process and many diseases.

Why wait until the research on resveratrol and diabetes proves what we already suspect, and what the Japanese have known for years (they get theirs from the Japanese Knotweed plant, one of the most potent sources on earth and the source for good quality supplements), that especially when combined, we can have amazing health benefits right now.

We truly live in exciting times with more natural discoveries being made all the time, although the Chinese for example, have long known about the amazing powers of nutrients and herbs.

The whole emphasis is shifting from cure to prevention and the same goes for resveratrol and diabetes, where we can take back the power ourselves, and hopefully live a longer and healthier life.

If you would like to learn more about the synergistic supplements which I personally take, including resveratrol, why not visit my website.  

 

 



Mother Nature’s Magic Pill

Guest Author: Ric Hawkins


You may have read about this recently, how resveratrol and weight loss are connected, and many companies are now touting it as the next big weight loss supplement, but is it true?

From my research I would have to say no, especially as no tests have been done on humans, only mice. However, even if it is not the next big thing, resveratrol and weight loss are connected it seems.

It appears that it can be an appetite suppresser, due to its high antioxidant content, and help to speed up your metabolism, burning off more calories. So it will go a little way to helping as part of a good dieting regime.

 How much resveratrol do you need to lose weight is what I see many people on the internet asking, and why there are many unscrupulous companies telling them they need 300mg or 500mg a day, just to sell them something.

It would be a shame if this amazing nutrient was given the wrong image, as it is currently being thought of as the most promising anti-aging compound ever found. Although relatively new on the scene, high hopes for cancer prevention, diabetes and even Alzheimer\’s are seen as its potential. So don\’t just think of resveratrol and weight loss, think instead of a longer healthier life.

So when people ask how much resveratrol do you need to lose weight, I say instead ask what else can this nutrient do for you!

The most beneficial way to take it is in the form of a multi supplement, combining it with other synergetic ingredients, as so greatly enhancing its powers.

For example resveratrol combines well with green tea extract, which is also known and proven to aid weight loss and also a powerful antioxidant itself. Taking these together with other nutrients would give you better results.

As I said earlier to the question how much resveratrol do you need to lose weight, it is not possible to answer and there really are no quick fixes. Changing your eating habits for the long term and regular exercise is the way most people are successful, resveratrol and weight loss are only a small part of the puzzle.

For example, more than 80% of people who go on a diet, after initially losing weight, end up putting back on more than they originally lost.

In conclusion then it seems that resveratrol and weight loss are connected, but only to a small extent, but that taking it as a multi-supplement can bring you many health benefits, and hopefully help you live a longer and healthier life than you otherwise would have.

If you would like to learn more about the synergistic products which I personally take, including resveratrol, why not visit my website.   

 

 

Guest Author: Ric Hawkins


It seems unbelievable that as a natural cancer cure resveratrol would be the front runner. This wonder nutrient is being hailed as one of the most powerful anticancer compounds ever found.

It is proven to fight cancer at all three levels: initiation, promotion and progression. Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals. Damaged cells are much more likely to become cancerous than healthy cells.

As a cancer cure resveratrol has been shown to actually induce malignant cells to die without disrupting the healthy ones. This is an exciting discovery, as the traditional method of chemotherapy kills the healthy cells too.

The pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has this year put millions of dollars into resveratrol research, so confident is it about this powerful antioxidant.

The variety of cancers that it can fight includes promising results on breast, lung, pancreatic, prostate and leukemia. In leukemia it actually induces the cells to kill themselves.

According to professor Shi from the University of Kentucky, what everyone seeks is an agent that has an effect on cancer cells but leaves normal cells alone, and this shows that as a cancer cure resveratrol fits into this category.

We have had only a glimpse of its potential but the future looks increasingly bright for this nutrient, with many more ground-breaking discoveries to come. Most of the tests to date have been done on mice, and these have generally gone on to be positive for humans.

Another study showed how it can shut off hundreds of genes which are required for tumor growth. This amazing ability caused one researcher to call it a “biologically specific tsunami.” So for a cancer cure resveratrol is already emerging as the heavyweight.

Experts agree the best way we can incorporate it into our lives is through a natural multi health supplement. When combined with other natural nutrients like green tea and turmeric extract, its abilities to fight cancer for example are greatly enhanced due to the synergy of the ingredients.

You will also experience many other benefits including improved memory, increased energy levels and better skin tone as well as potentially preventing many future degenerative diseases.

In conclusion, as a cancer cure resveratrol certainly looks like the frontrunner, showing more potential than any other natural compound, and we can harness its power now, and hopefully live a longer and healthier life.

If you would like to learn more about the synergistic products which I personally take, including resveratrol, why not visit my website.  

 

Guest Author: Steve Smith


There’s now good evidence that it’s not just in fruits and vegetables that health promoting anti-oxidant flavonoids are to be found. These powerful compounds have also been identified in tea, particularly green tea, red wine, beer and even chocolate. So if you’ve ever suspected that many of those who advocate healthy diets are motivated more by denying you your little pleasures than a genuine interest in your well being, now may be the time to take a little revenge.

Flavonoids occur widely in fruits and vegetables and their principal function appears to be to protect these plants from disease and the damage which may be caused to them by extremes of light or heat. It has long been suspected, however, that the well established health protecting and curative properties of the many plants commonly used in folk remedies for humans may also be due to flavonoids. And there is now abundant evidence to support the idea that certain flavonoids, particularly those of the polyphenol type, possess potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.

Two of the biggest premature killers in the affluent Western world, as well as major causes of disability and early loss of independence, are stroke and heart disease. Both frequently follow on the development of the cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, otherwise known as hardening of the arteries, and it is known that the oxidation of low density lipids (LDL), the blood fats known as “bad cholesterol”, is one of the major causes of this condition. The prevention of LDL oxidation is one of the key functions of vitamin E, the body’s most important fat-soluble anti-oxidant, but anti-oxidant flavonoids are also known to play a role. Consistent research findings confirming this benefit of flavonoid anti-oxidants have led successive governments and health agencies to urge the public to consume at least five daily servings of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the evidence indeed suggests that such high flavonoid diets are linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and perhaps even some cancers.

But it’s not just the flavonoids in fruits and vegetables that may have these effects. Much attention, for example, has recently been paid to the so-called “French Paradox”, whereby France boasts a surprisingly low rate of heart disease and related conditions, given the preponderance of saturated animal fat in its national diet. There has been much speculation that the low rate of this disease, by the standards of advanced Western nations, may be linked with relatively high consumption of red wine, and analysis of the anti-oxidants in this drink, also found in red grape juice, suggests that the theory may have some substance.

And at least one major study has suggested that the incidence of stroke is substantially reduced in older people, otherwise a very high risk group for this illness, who regularly drink substantial quantities of tea, which is also rich in anti-oxidant polyphenols, but whose diet tends to be low in fresh fruits and vegetables.

As well as red wine and tea, there is now also evidence that anti-oxidant flavonoids may be found in beer and even chocolate. But in fact this is not as surprising as it may at first appear. The coca beans which are the primary ingredient of chocolate are a good source of polyphenols, and were known to ancient civilisations for their medicinal properties. Broadly speaking, the darker the chocolate the richer it will be in the particular flavonoids derived from the beans, which are powerful anti-oxidant agents not commonly found elsewhere.

The latest research seems to offer good evidence that the flavonoids particular to dark chocolate (procyanidins) may have a useful role in helping to prevent the oxidation of the LDL, “bad cholesterol”, which is, as noted above, a key precursor of serious cardiovascular disease. Procyanidins also appear to work closely with vitamin E, the body’s most important fat-soluble anti-oxidant, sparing the vitamin to work more effectively, and may also help to prevent excessive clotting or “stickiness” of the blood. Procyanidins are readily absorbed by the body following the consumption of dark chocolate and appear to have a significant overall anti-oxidant effect in the cardiovascular system.

But of course it’s not all good news. You’ll be only too well aware of the health reasons why it would be unwise to rely on tea, red wine, beer or chocolate as your principal sources of dietary anti-oxidant flavonoids. De-caffeinated teas are available, however, and dark chocolate is relatively low in sugar and fat; whilst all the evidence suggests that moderate consumption of alcohol may protect against a variety of conditions, including heart disease. Red wine, in particular, is rich in the anti-oxidant flavonoids which appear to offer significantly enhanced protection.

As always, the key is balance; and in the context of an otherwise healthy diet, particularly one rich in fruit and vegetables, there is no reason why these highly enjoyable luxury foods and beverages should not make an important contribution to your overall level of anti-oxidant intake.

Guest Author: Larry L. Taylor


             

You have probably heard some of the news reports about resveratrol.  So, you might be wondering what exactly it is.  You may have heard of grape seed extract, red grapes, ginkgo biloba, green tea and other plants that are good for your health, as well.  But, you might be wondering “why?”. What’s so good about them?  Here are the basics.

Resveratrol- What is it?

Without getting too technical, resveratrol is a chemical produced by plants when they are being attacked by bacteria, fungus, UV radiation, insects or other pathogens.  All of the plants mentioned above, as well as others contain these chemicals. As a group they are referred to as “phytochemicals”.  In the human body, they act as antioxidants, protecting our cells in the same way that they would protect the plant.

Red Grapes Source

Resveratrol is found in the skins of red grapes and sometimes in the seeds, which has been shown to protect against cancer, improve insulin sensitivity, and reduce blood sugar in patients with diabetes.  It also acts as an anti-inflammatory, among other things. 

Grape Seed Extract and Red Wine Sources

The resveratrol-concentration becomes higher in red wines that are allowed to ferment with the skin intact.  Grape seed extract may contain some resveratrol, but its primary components are called proanthocyanidins, a different type of antioxidant, that helps to protect the cells from free radical damage. 

Ginkgo biloba contains flavonoids and terpenes, which are unique phytochemicals that promote circulation and improve brain function.  Green tea contains polyphenols, specifically catechins, which are phytochemicals that have been shown to protect against heart disease and various types of cancer. 

Fruits and Veggie Sources

Fruits, vegetables and botanicals of different colors contain different unique vitamins and antioxidants, which is why you see recommendations suggesting that you “eat a rainbow” every day.  Although most of us try to eat right, it is practically impossible to get all of these different nutrients, without supplementation.

Supplements – A Good Source – Choose Carefully

You could buy a number of different supplements, including resveratrol, grape seed extract, ginkgo biloba, green tea and your basic vitamins, such as A, C and E.  But, you would spend a lot of money and you probably would not get the greatest benefit.  To get the best value for your money, I choose to take a multi-nutritional supplement that contains the basic vitamins and minerals, along with amino acids, phytochemicals, herbal extracts, dietary enzymes and specialty supplements like SAM-e.

Enteric Coating

Manufacturers that provide these supplements should use an enteric coating, to prevent them from being broken down by stomach acid.  The coating protects them until they enter the lower intestine where they can pass through the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream.  SAM-e and resveratrol are particularly sensitive to stomach acid.  Buying supplements that do not have an enteric coating is a waste of money, because they never get into the bloodstream. 

Some of them are too expensive and important to waste.  For example, SAM-e is needed for methylation, a cellular activity that allows your body to produce chemicals in the brain and throughout the body.  SAM-e levels naturally decrease with age.  So, the older you are, the more important that supplement is. 

Hopefully, you’ve learned a little here in this article, but there’s always more to learn about resveratrol and other nutrients that protect our body’s cells from the detrimental affects of time. I expand on this in other articles. -Margaret Bell

Guest Author: Ric Hawkins


Many people are now asking for resveratrol dosage information, as more and more is discovered about this wonder nutrient, and what it can do. So is there a right amount to take and how should you take it?

As you may well know, resveratrol has been proven to fight cancer at all stages, lower cholesterol levels, protect against heart disease and even extend our lives, so resveratrol dosage information and more importantly, the way we take it, are crucial.

Many companies out there are claiming you should take over 200mg a day, and this is primarily to sell weight loss pills. There is no evidence to suggest such high doses will work, and the most fundamental factor about this is delivery.

When I say delivery I mean the coating or lack of it on the supplement. If there is no special coating you are simply throwing money down the drain as most of the effects will be lost due to the actions of stomach acid.

You should instead look for one that has a natural enteric coating which will allow safe passage through the stomach and into the upper intestine where it has the maximum benefit. This is not the cheapest option and why most of the supplements out there are without it, to boost the company’s profits. Check the label carefully.

So you can see that even if the resveratrol dosage information says it contains 50mg for example without the correct delivery method you may get as little as 5 mg into the bloodstream.

From my research 20-40mg a day for adults seems to be the norm. It will perform even better if it is combined with other synergistic ingredients, like olive leaf and green tea extract for example.

When these ingredients are put together they create synergy, which means you get the direct benefits of each nutrient and the benefits from their interaction with each other. A win-win situation, and of more benefit to you than the actual resveratrol dosage information.

If you are serious about staying healthy and keeping healthy for the future, then take resveratrol in a combined supplement and you will soon start to feel the immense benefits from this and the other nutrients, like a sharper memory and increased energy for starters.

It is more important to take the right quality supplement than worry about the resveratrol dosage information you receive, for as you now know, it’s all about how much actually gets into your system.

If you would like to learn more about the synergistic supplements which I personally take, including resveratrol, why not visit my website.  

 

 

Guest Author: Ric Hawkins


Since the widespread health benefits of it have been reported in the media, many people want to try high potency resveratrol and include it in their diets. But what is the best way to take it?

It is being hailed as the most important substance ever found to reverse the signs of aging, and its many other benefits include preventing cancer, diabetes and promoting good heart health.

There are many high potency resveratrol supplements on the market, some giving you over 300mg a day which is excessive. Although there are no major side effects, if taken in very high doses, it can act as a laxative, which if you have no problems to begin with in that area, can lead to dehydration and a loss of nutrients from the body.

A supplement containing around 15-30mg and blended with other synergetic nutrients like green tea and ginkgo biloba extract will have a far more beneficial effect, as you get the direct benefits of each nutrient and the benefits from their interaction with each other.

If the delivery system is not correct much of the high potency resveratrol will be lost due to the stomach acid.

The few excellent ones have an enteric coating which means it can travel untouched through the stomach and into the upper intestine where it delivers the most benefits.

This is not the cheapest form of delivery as you would expect, but absolutely vital if you want to gain all the health benefits to be had. Make sure you check the label very carefully.

The best form is the natural 50% trans type, which is the most active, and comes from the Japanese Knotweed plant, the most potent source on earth.

To promote longer, healthier living is what we all want to achieve through a dietary supplement, so it is worth seeking out the best and most effective high potency resveratrol combined supplement in order to get the maximum effects, and help prevent many of the degenerative diseases in the future, and have more energy and clarity in the present.

If you would like to learn more about the synergistic supplements which I personally take, including resveratrol, why not visit my website.   

 



Turn Back The Clock

Guest Author: Steve P Smith


There’s now good evidence that it’s not just in fruits and vegetables that health promoting anti-oxidant flavonoids are to be found. These powerful compounds have also been identified in tea, particularly green tea, red wine, beer and even chocolate. So if you’ve ever suspected that many of those who advocate healthy diets are motivated more by denying you your little pleasures than a genuine interest in your well being, now may be the time to take a little revenge.

Flavonoids occur widely in fruits and vegetables and their principal function appears to be to protect these plants from disease and the damage which may be caused to them by extremes of light or heat. It has long been suspected, however, that the well established health protecting and curative properties of the many plants commonly used in folk remedies for humans may also be due to flavonoids. And there is now abundant evidence to support the idea that certain flavonoids, particularly those of the polyphenol type, possess potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.

Two of the biggest premature killers in the affluent Western world, as well as major causes of disability and early loss of independence, are stroke and heart disease. Both frequently follow on the development of the cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, otherwise known as hardening of the arteries, and it is known that the oxidation of low density lipids (LDL), the blood fats known as “bad cholesterol”, is one of the major causes of this condition. The prevention of LDL oxidation is one of the key functions of vitamin E, the body’s most important fat-soluble anti-oxidant, but anti-oxidant flavonoids are also known to play a role.

Consistent research findings confirming this benefit of flavonoid anti-oxidants have led successive governments and health agencies to urge the public to consume at least five daily servings of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the evidence indeed suggests that such high flavonoid diets are linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and perhaps even some cancers.

But it’s not just the flavonoids in fruits and vegetables that may have these effects. Much attention, for example, has recently been paid to the so-called “French Paradox”, whereby France boasts a surprisingly low rate of heart disease and related conditions, given the preponderance of saturated animal fat in its national diet. There has been much speculation that the low rate of this disease, by the standards of advanced Western nations, may be linked with relatively high consumption of red wine, and analysis of the anti-oxidants in this drink, also found in red grape juice, suggests that the theory may have some substance.

And at least one major study has suggested that the incidence of stroke is substantially reduced in older people, otherwise a very high risk group for this illness, who regularly drink substantial quantities of tea, which is also rich in anti-oxidant polyphenols, but whose diet tends to be low in fresh fruits and vegetables.

As well as red wine and tea, there is now also evidence that anti-oxidant flavonoids may be found in beer and even chocolate. But in fact this is not as surprising as it may at first appear. The coca beans which are the primary ingredient of chocolate are a good source of polyphenols, and were known to ancient civilisations for their medicinal properties. Broadly speaking, the darker the chocolate the richer it will be in the particular flavonoids derived from the beans, which are powerful anti-oxidant agents not commonly found elsewhere.

The latest research seems to offer good evidence that the flavonoids particular to dark chocolate (procyanidins) may have a useful role in helping to prevent the oxidation of the LDL, “bad cholesterol”, which is, as noted above, a key precursor of serious cardiovascular disease. Procyanidins also appear to work closely with vitamin E, the body’s most important fat-soluble anti-oxidant, sparing the vitamin to work more effectively, and may also help to prevent excessive clotting or “stickiness” of the blood. Procyanidins are readily absorbed by the body following the consumption of dark chocolate and appear to have a significant overall anti-oxidant effect in the cardiovascular system.

But of course it’s not all good news. You’ll be only too well aware of the health reasons why it would be unwise to rely on tea, red wine, beer or chocolate as your principal sources of dietary anti-oxidant flavonoids. De-caffeinated teas are available, however, and dark chocolate is relatively low in sugar and fat; whilst all the evidence suggests that moderate consumption of alcohol may protect against a variety of conditions, including heart disease. Red wine, in particular, is rich in the anti-oxidant flavonoids which appear to offer significantly enhanced protection.

As always, the key is balance; and in the context of an otherwise healthy diet, particularly one rich in fruit and vegetables, there is no reason why these highly enjoyable luxury foods and beverages should not make an important contribution to your overall level of anti-oxidant intake.



Instantly Tighter Skin