Should you take resveratrol?

Resveratrol has been touted as a miracle antioxidant that can reduce wrinkles, aid in weight loss, protect against disease…the list goes on and on. Resveratrol has been shown to increase estrogen levels which is not good for either gender since it can lead to cancer. Not only are these pills expensive, but a study led by the University of Copenhagen summarized in the October 2013 issue of Nutrition Action Health Letter found that healthy senior men between the ages of 60 to 72 who took 250 mg of resveratrol for eight weeks performed worse when it came to exercise, and may raise triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. Although it was a small study of just senior men, the article states that “there’s no reason to take resveratrol supplements.”

The problem with many supplements is that if you consume too much of a vitamin or mineral, and that number is always changing, it can cause harm. Per the website WebMD, “…experts say they can’t recommend resveratrol supplements for anti-aging or disease prevention.” Forget the supplements and save your money. Just eat organic blueberries, strawberries, red grapes and an occasional glass of red wine to get your resveratrol benefits from natural and safe sources.