The Overlooked Connection Between the French Paradox and Resveratrol
Have you ever wondered if there is a connection between the French paradox and resveratrol?
The French paradox has been discussed on 60 Minutes and in numerous other media outlets. For years, people have been trying to understand why anyone in France lives past middle age. After all, a typical meal is both high calorie and high fat usually washed down with 1-2 generous glasses of red wine. They should be collapsing daily on the Champs Elysees from cardiac arrest but somehow, they manage to survive. In fact they live longer and have less heart disease than anybody in the entire Western world.
All sorts of theories have been proposed but in 1992 it was discovered that red wine contained a substance called resveratrol.
A brief diversion is needed here. There are unstable oxygen atoms called free radicals that are part of our immune system and are created as part of the bodies natural oxidation process. Unfortunately, pollution, chemicals in food, ultraviolet light and pesticides also stimulate the creation of free radicals. Excess free radicals speed the aging process, raise blood pressure and cause DNA to mutate into cancer cells.
Resveratrol is a member of the flavonoid family which is a group of powerful antioxidants derived from plants. Antioxidants are natures scavengers in that they prey on excess free radicals. Scientists thought for years that the flavonoid component of red wine was the chief solution to the French paradox but in 2006 a Harvard study added a new twist.
Back to our story. It has been practically common knowledge that mammals on calorie restricted diets age more slowly and are, in general, healthier than their brethren on a higher calorie regimen. What happened at Harvard was that mice on high fat, high calorie diets were given large doses of resveratrol. What wasn't supposed to happen was that the high calorie mice had similar health tests as the normal calorie group.
Further research has shown that there is an enzyme called Sirt 1 [from the Sirtuin group] that is linked to better cardiovascular and neurological health, reduced cancer rates and an overall improvement in the anti-aging process. Sirt 1 is activated by calorie restriction but in the Harvard study there was no calorie restriction. What happens is that resveratrol mimics calorie restriction and Sirt 1 is gullible enough to believe it.
In other words, the solution to the French paradox and resveratrol is that we get the benefits of calorie restriction even with high calorie diets.
However, there are still a few issues about resveratrol.
1] Additional studies have shown that smaller doses achieved the same effect as the Harvard study.
2] It is chiefly found in red grape seeds and skins. Modern farming methods have reduced the nutrient value of almost all antioxidants. Unless you are prepared to drink 10-15 bottles of red wine per day, you will probably not get enough to make a difference.
3] Supplements are a good alternative but they should be natural [look for the word trans], high potency [50% of active ingredients] and be less than 100 mg/day.
The French paradox has been discussed on 60 Minutes and in numerous other media outlets. For years, people have been trying to understand why anyone in France lives past middle age. After all, a typical meal is both high calorie and high fat usually washed down with 1-2 generous glasses of red wine. They should be collapsing daily on the Champs Elysees from cardiac arrest but somehow, they manage to survive. In fact they live longer and have less heart disease than anybody in the entire Western world.
All sorts of theories have been proposed but in 1992 it was discovered that red wine contained a substance called resveratrol.
A brief diversion is needed here. There are unstable oxygen atoms called free radicals that are part of our immune system and are created as part of the bodies natural oxidation process. Unfortunately, pollution, chemicals in food, ultraviolet light and pesticides also stimulate the creation of free radicals. Excess free radicals speed the aging process, raise blood pressure and cause DNA to mutate into cancer cells.
Resveratrol is a member of the flavonoid family which is a group of powerful antioxidants derived from plants. Antioxidants are natures scavengers in that they prey on excess free radicals. Scientists thought for years that the flavonoid component of red wine was the chief solution to the French paradox but in 2006 a Harvard study added a new twist.
Back to our story. It has been practically common knowledge that mammals on calorie restricted diets age more slowly and are, in general, healthier than their brethren on a higher calorie regimen. What happened at Harvard was that mice on high fat, high calorie diets were given large doses of resveratrol. What wasn't supposed to happen was that the high calorie mice had similar health tests as the normal calorie group.
Further research has shown that there is an enzyme called Sirt 1 [from the Sirtuin group] that is linked to better cardiovascular and neurological health, reduced cancer rates and an overall improvement in the anti-aging process. Sirt 1 is activated by calorie restriction but in the Harvard study there was no calorie restriction. What happens is that resveratrol mimics calorie restriction and Sirt 1 is gullible enough to believe it.
In other words, the solution to the French paradox and resveratrol is that we get the benefits of calorie restriction even with high calorie diets.
However, there are still a few issues about resveratrol.
1] Additional studies have shown that smaller doses achieved the same effect as the Harvard study.
2] It is chiefly found in red grape seeds and skins. Modern farming methods have reduced the nutrient value of almost all antioxidants. Unless you are prepared to drink 10-15 bottles of red wine per day, you will probably not get enough to make a difference.
3] Supplements are a good alternative but they should be natural [look for the word trans], high potency [50% of active ingredients] and be less than 100 mg/day.
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