Resveratrol (trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) is a substance found in the skins of certain red grapes, in peanuts, blueberries, some pines (Scots pine, eastern white pine) and the roots and stalks of Japanese knotweed (hu zhang in China) and giant knotweed. It is now being sold as a mass-produced nutritional supplement. The supplement, first sourced as ground dried red grape skins, has shifted somewhat to include certain of the knotweeds as a raw material.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resveratrol
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Gary Moller comments:
This nutrition supplement is promoted as being beneficial for everything from obesity, heart disease, blood pressure, anti-ageing, multiple sclerosis, ovarian cysts, low energy and high cholesterol!
I am naturally cautious of any new nutritional substance that has been mostly tested on mice and which makes sweeping and dramatic health claims. I have seen it all before.
While I have no doubt that this antioxidant is beneficial, it is far too soon to say just how effective it is and working from anecdotal feedback by users and a few mouse studies is dodgy at best. Over-pricing is usually an issue with these new wonder supplements and it may be better value and better nutrition to stick to the more broad spectrum anti oxidant supplements that have been around a while and to concentrate one's efforts on establishing a consistent nutrient dense basic diet and keeping to it.
Nice observation, thanks.
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