Resveratrol Side Effects, Benefits, Dosage, and Research Information - My Resveratrol Experience

Why are Resveratrol Supplements Made From Japanese Knotweed and Not Grapes?

With all of the sources for resveratrol out there (peanuts, grapes, mulberries, etc) I was curious as to why most supplements were made using Polygonum Cuspidatum, other wise known as, "the Japanese Knotweed."

When referring to resveratrol in the news it is almost always associated with red wine.  Why red wine?  Because red wine is made from grapes, another popular source of resveratrol.  Many people search for "Red Wine Pills" only to find a supplement made from a weed!  That just doesn't sound right, or does it?

Well, to answer that question we need to do a little research on Japanese Knotweed and find out exactly what the Resveratrol inside it does.

Japanese Knotweed has the following characteristics:

• An "invasive species," AKA a weed.  Listed in the Top 100 Worst Weeds category!
• A perennial plant, one that lives for greater than 2 years.
• Can be grown in most climates and is found in 39 of the 50 US States.  Also found in great quantities in Japan, China, Korea, Canada, and the UK.
• It is very difficult to kill or eradicate from an area.
• It can survive extreme temperatures both hot and cold. (as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit)
• It's roots can grow up to nearly 10 feet deep! 

(Source: Wikipedia, Japanese Knotweed)

I definitely see a pattern going on here.  Knotweed is one tough plant!  It's hard to kill, grows rapidly, and grows just about any where.

Stem Cells Get Their Chance At The "Big Time"!

Only three days after President Obama was inaugurated the FDA gave clearance for Geron to begin the worlds first human stem cell trial using their drug GRNOPC1. Coincidence? Both sides claim it was just that!

Geron Receives FDA Clearance to Begin World's First Human Clinical Trial of Embryonic Stem Cell-Based Therapy

While the approved trial has little to do with Resveratrol the importance of this event is well worth discussing.

The "Stem Cell" debate has been going on for years now.  However with this approval we are at a cross-roads of sorts.  

• Is the practice ethical?
• What financial benefits or challenges does this create?
• Should the government use tax dollars for stem cell research?

For the sake of my personal sanity and for those of you reading this, I will try not to over complicate my thought processes with regards to the questions above.

First, let us focus on "what stem cells are":

"Stem cells have the remarkable potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. Serving as a sort of repair system for the body, they can theoretically divide without limit to replenish other cells as long as the person or animal is still alive. When a stem cell divides, each new cell has the potential to either remain a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a muscle cell, a red blood cell, or a brain cell."  (Source: The National Institute of Health Resource for Stem Cell Research)

Now that we are all "experts" in the field of stem cell research let us move on to the more pressing matters at hand.

Is it too simple to think with the following thought process?

"If we can take someone who has had a paralyzing injury, treat them with stem cell therapies, and enable them to walk again, then we should be doing everything possible to make this a reality."

Resveratrol, Exercise, & Multi-Vitamins Helped Strengthen My Immune System!

I was conversing with a reader of My Resveratrol Experience who brought up taking resveratrol and how it seems to help build up defenses in our bodies against common illnesses.  After thinking back over the past year I noticed this seems to be true.  Here is why...

Since I can remember I've been a person who was susceptible to all sorts of standard illnesses throughout the year.  The common cold, the dreaded 2 week bouts with the flu, seasonal allergies, and numerous sinus infections always seem to plague me prior to early 2008.  It was a running joke with my family that I would only get the flu during the holidays so I could get out of all of the family functions.

The truth was I was susceptible to getting sick because I hadn't been taking care of my body.  Poor diet, no exercise, and horrible sleep habits had broken down my immune system to a point where the slightest contact with sickness and I got it!

Since deciding to turn-around my health routine I've had nothing more then a short lived common cold.  No flu, no major sinus infections, and my allergies were so minimal I didn't need any medications to get through the spring pollen season.

Now as you all know I am a big proponent of scientific evidence and realism, but when it comes to how I feel, I truly believe making the following proper health adjustments have saved me from another year of stuffy noses, sore throats, and congestion.

If only I knew it wouldn't be nearly as difficult to achieve as previously thought I would have changed my habits years ago.  It wasn't easy, but it wasn't hard either!  Habits, are both positive and negative, something I will post about in the near future.

So back to the changes I made...

10 Months On Resveratrol & A New Human Study is Released!

I know, I know... I promised I would get updated blood work done in January.  The good news is I picked up the prescription form from my doctor, the bad news is I just haven't had a chance to make it to the lab.  With a newborn at home time has been a commodity I've had little of.

I will make it a point (pun intended) to get the blood test completed over the next week or two and post my results on my Cholesterol Page.  I will also be getting my body fat tested in the coming weeks as well.

Since starting the Nitro 250 Resveratrol two months ago I haven't noticed any additional changes other then some weight loss that may or may not be directly related to the resveratrol.  I have maintained  the same diet and exercise routine so there are possibilities the Nitro 250 has helped in regards to weight loss.  I am interested to see the results of my body fat analysis to compare it with previous tests.

The tricky part about analyzing whether resveratrol works or not is that if it is working, it may not be something you can feel.  If your cells are "more" healthy is that something you will notice?  It seems to me the only way to notice definitive, non anecdotal, changes would be with cellular testing, or living to be 120!  Perhaps the scientists studying resveratrol will come up with accurate ways of measuring the benefits and any potential side effects.

New Human Study Released:  Pharmacokinetic and Safety of Trans-Resveratrol in a Rising Multiple-Dose Study in Healthy Volunteers.

More Resveratrol Please! (but don't forget to increase your savings FIRST!)

If all of this "life extension" technology works how will it change the world?

Often we get so caught up in what "could be" that we forget to prepare for what happens if the "could be" is actually obtained.  If human life-span is increased by 20, 30, 50, or more years what implications will this have on our society?

Alex Kantrowitz of The Cornell Daily Sun, recently wrote an Op-Ed piece titled, "Face to Face with the Fountain of Youth," in which he introduces some thought provoking questions about extending life span.  I give Alex credit for thinking outside the box and not just focusing on Resveratrol's end game.

He asked the following questions in his piece as well as a few others not listed,

"What will the effect be of turning 90 into the new 60?"
"Can our planet handle? Do we have enough natural resources?"
"How about the buildup of pollution, poverty, and overcrowding that would occur as a result?"

I commented on the article by stating,

The questions you outlined could be answered in great detail but I've decided to shorten my answers by stating, "As we have in the past, we will adapt to what the future brings." Just as our population has nearly tripled in a short period of time we have created ways to make living with the increase possible. Plenty of things have been done wrong (such as our ignoring of environmental dangers) but it seems we are learning from our mistakes and progressing in a positive way.

Fiscally we will need to prepare ourselves better for living longer. There is no better time to get people into "reasonable" savings mode then after going through the tough economic times we are experiencing today. Some times great fear is a good thing, it puts us back into reality.

Now that I've had a little more time to think about the questions posed above, I want to respond with a little more detail...

Funny Resveratrol Commercial, Good for a Laugh!

Just when I thought I had seen it all!  The other day I was doing my regular search on the web for information on resveratrol and I some how ended up on YouTube.  To my surprise there were hundreds of videos related to resveratrol.  A large majority were some sort of sales video, others were personal reviews, and a few were versions of the Barbara Walters and 60-Minutes specials that have aired in the past.

I of course wasted way too much time watching a bunch of them and actually was surprised by what I learned.  Just because a video is sales related doesn't mean you can't learn something new.  I digress.

A particular video advertisement actually stood out in my mind.  I am very interested in marketing and found this particular video to be quite funny and a step-up from other ads I've seen regarding resveratrol.  At least I felt it was worth the 49 seconds of my life it took to watch it.  (Note: I am not familiar with this company or their products, I just like the video)