What is resveratrol, you ask? It is a potent chemical that possesses various health and wellness benefits. Most commonly found in grapes, resveratrol has garnered widespread popularity recently due to increased conversation about its benefits.
However, resveratrol’s isomer, namely trans-resveratrol, is the more biologically active isomer that has faster absorption than resveratrol. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the benefits of trans-resveratrol, unlike resveratrol.
Therefore, this comprehensive guide is going to delve into the wonders that trans-resveratrol holds and its benefits in health and wellness.
What is Trans-resveratrol?
Natural sources of the polyphenol compound resveratrol include peanuts and grapes. Its potential to provide protection against a variety of medical conditions and its supposed anti-aging properties have contributed to its growing popularity.
Trans and cis resveratrol are the two isomers of the plant. They have the same molecular structure while having distinct chemical contents. Since trans-resveratrol is more bioavailable than cis-resveratrol, the body can absorb and utilize it more easily.
Supplements or fortified foods like yogurt drinks and juices are the best sources of trans resveratrol, while red wine and dark chocolate are good sources of cis-resveratrol.
What are The Benefits of Trans-Resveratrol?
There are several benefits of trans-resveratrol. Some of these benefits include:
1. Lower Estrogen Levels
The hormone most frequently linked to muscular growth is testosterone; estrogen has the exact opposite effect. It is linked to decreased strength and muscular mass and increased body fat. Limiting the amount of estrogen produced is essential if getting the most out of your workouts is your main goal.
According to clinical studies, resveratrol may also have an estrogen agonist effect, meaning that it can bind to estrogen receptors and prevent the synthesis of estrogen. In the same vein, aromatase, an enzyme the body needs to produce estrogen, may also be inhibited by resveratrol.
Resveratrol, then, contributes to increased testosterone in two ways: first, by blocking the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, and second, by blocking the aromatase enzyme, which inhibits the creation of estrogen.
2. Combat Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress is essentially an imbalance in the body’s capacity to employ antioxidants to stop the spread of free radicals and the amount of these radicals produced. Studies reveal that resveratrol protects cultured neuroblastoma cells against amyloid peptide-induced toxicity and oxidative stress.
Free radicals are rife with proliferation and are one of the primary causes of neurological illnesses like Alzheimer’s. Strong antioxidant resveratrol contributes to limiting the production of free radicals, protecting brain health in the process.
3. Aids in Caloric Restriction
It has been demonstrated in several studies that calorie restriction can increase experimental animal longevity by up to 60%.
A low-calorie diet in humans is linked to a number of potential indicators of longer life expectancy, including decreased body temperature and insulin levels, as well as less chromosomal damage that is commonly associated with aging.
Resveratrol and calorie restriction appear to have comparable pathways for promoting health and lifespan in a variety of animal species.
“Resveratrol has received a lot of attention in recent years, following a study showing that resveratrol activates molecular pathways involved in lifespan extension, now demonstrated in yeast, worms, flies, fish, and mice, and which possibly bear a relationship to mechanisms underlying caloric restriction,” said Dr. Xi Zhao-Wilson of BioMarker Pharmaceuticals in an interview with Life Extension.
4. Promotes Cardiovascular Health
The prevention of cardiovascular disease is one of the most researched uses of resveratrol. This plant-derived chemical appears to protect the cardiovascular system via a variety of methods. Resveratrol may lessen the chance of lethal blood clots that can lead to a cardiac attack or stroke by preventing platelets from clumping together.
Additionally, resveratrol promotes better blood flow through its positive effects on the endothelium, which lines the inside of tiny blood vessels. This is an important discovery since the development of atherosclerosis is thought to be facilitated by endothelial dysfunction.
5. Protects the Nervous System
Resveratrol has the potential to shield the nervous system and brain from aging-related and hereditary diseases. The antioxidant action of resveratrol has been demonstrated in lab experiments to guard against damage to nerve cells from beta-amyloid peptide, which builds up in Alzheimer’s patients’ brains.
Due to this, resveratrol has been suggested by a number of study teams as a potential therapy for Alzheimer’s. In animal models, resveratrol showed protection against Huntington’s disease, per a recent publication. Huntington’s disease is a hereditary condition linked to diminished mental and physical ability.
6. Relieves inflammation
Chronic inflammation, which is mediated by the body’s natural production of chemicals called prostaglandins and cytokines, is a prevalent cause of heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. Resveratrol may be used as a treatment for any of these ailments by inhibiting the actions of these inflammatory substances.
Researchers have found that resveratrol may be a promising treatment for arthritis in recently published research. Resveratrol prevented the disease’s associated inflammatory cartilage alterations when given to rats with experimentally produced inflammatory arthritis.
Conclusion
Trans-resveratrol holds numerous health benefits that can aid you in your health journey. The better absorption of trans-resveratrol over resveratrol is one of the main reasons that contributed to the popularity of this supplement.
Apart from quick absorption, trans-resveratrol has been shown to demonstrate health benefits like relief from inflammation, aiding the nervous system, and promoting caloric restriction. These benefits make trans-resveratrol the most sought-after supplement on the market for health and wellness.