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A lot of people want to know; what is resveratrol. The interest has been driven by media coverage over the last couple of years. Despite cautions that benefits to humans are unproven, people still want to know about the recommended resveratrol dosage. Here's what I can tell you. Let's start with the basics.
What is Resveratrol, Anyway?
It is a phytochemical. That is a chemical found in plants. Phytochemicals are sometimes referred to as phyto-nutrients. They are considered “non-essential” nutrients, because the lack of them in the diet is not known to cause a deficiency disease, but scientists have confirmed that they are important to human health.
Small amounts of resveratrol are found in grape skins, cooked peanuts, bilberries, blueberries and other foods. It was first isolated in a medicinal plant, known as Japanese knotweed. The ongoing research was sparked by its concentration is some types of red wine. It was believed that the phyto-nutrient might explain the French paradox; a lower than expected incidence of heart disease among people living in Southern France, despite a high intake of dietary fat.
Later research, however, indicates that it could not explain the paradox after finding that a high resveratrol dosage, taken orally, did not greatly increase the amount present in the blood. These findings are always debatable. It may only take a tiny amount on a daily basis throughout one's life to provide the health benefit. Since phyto-nutrients are only present in small quantities in plants, there would be no way to consume a large amount, naturally. But, this small amount may be all that we need.
So, what is the Appropriate Resveratrol Dosage, Then?
Major health organizations make recommendations for intakes of essential nutrients only. These recommendations are based on an amount that is believed to generally prevent a person from developing an acute deficiency disease. There is no standard recommended indicate for phyto-nutrients, because they are non-essential. So, there is no agreed upon recommended resveratrol dosage. But, let's think about some things.
Some supplement manufacturers recommend a very high resveratrol dosage, at hundreds or even thousands of milligrams per day. Other manufacturers recommend 20-50mg, per day. 26mg is twice what you would get from drinking a liter of Spanish red wine on a daily basis. If it is resveratrol that provides the benefit of red wine, 20-50mg is more than sufficient.
There is no way to tell what health problems a mega-dose could cause, if taken on a regular basis. If you know someone that is taking a high dose, encourage them to stop. Normally, the compound extends the lifespan of heart cells, but at high doses, it kills those same cells.
There is no doubt that phyto-nutrients are good for our health and it is worth our while to find a supplement that contains a variety of them. But, when you are comparing supplements, don't assume that a higher dose is better. Do your research, first. Hopefully, this answered the question of what is resveratrol. Now, you might want to learn about some other phyto-nutrients.
What is retirement? The definition has evolved over the last half century. How you view retirement can affect how you plan and invest. The current economic situation also comes into play. By viewing retirement as a process, by starting early and planning, it is possible to reconcile your values and priorities with the available resources to create your own definition.
The notion of retirement is actually a fairly recent phenomenon. In the early 20th century people worked until they were no longer able. By mid century there were too many older workers and high unemployment among younger people. Pensions and Social Security were seen as a way to ease older adults out of the workforce, making way for the young.
The early version of "retirement" was not pleasant for many people. They were relegated to a view of life from the porch. Suddenly no longer needed, their self-identity was called into question. The event called retirement was not necessarily something people looked forward to.
It was not until the 80's that people started to look upon retirement as something more than idleness without purpose. The notion of the "golden years" came into being. Retirement was to be a time when people could count on Social Security and a pension for a life of travel, sunsets in faraway lands, and cocktails with umbrellas on a tropical beach. This view seems the equivalent of going out to eat with nothing but desserts on the menu. How could life get any better than that?
Have you fallen into the trap of seeing retirement as an event, where suddenly your life will transform for the better? Retirement beckons as a time of change and new opportunity, particularly if you have been unhappy in your job. You may find yourself working too hard and, without realizing it, sacrificing joy in the present for some imagined future that you hope will be better (I confess, I fell for this one.)
The idyllic, golden years view of retirement, may not be your ideal retirement; and pensions are becoming a thing of the past. Not to mention changes that may occur with Social Security in the coming years. If we have not spent considerable time thinking about and planning for the transition to retirement, it could be an event filled with disillusionment. Our idealistic and fanciful expectations may clash with a very different set of economic realities.
So how do we begin to figure out what retirement is, or should be? I found the following exercise enlightening, and I suggest you try it: write down your ideal day, from start to finish. What is really important to you? Look to those activities that bring you joy and satisfaction. What are the things you want to do more of or could not see yourself living without? Your menu for the future starts here, with what you value most.
I want to emphasize the focus on what you actually see yourself doing – what you want to be doing – in retirement, because we are a nation of "doers." We don't just sit around on a beach. We multi-task, we get stuff done. We are also concerned that we will have to work longer than the previous generation. But we are good at it. And how we define ourselves is tightly interwoven with what we do.
The menu of choices available to us is wide. I am willing to bet there are a number of you who have dreamed of starting a small business. Or you have a hobby that you would like to share with young people. There are so many ways to contribute to our communities that can provide a sense of meaning and purpose, as well as potential income. We have the opportunity to make choices about what we do in ways our forefathers never did. Few of us will inhabit a rocking chair on the front porch, unless it is by choice.
And what about economic reality? Now is a bad time to ask that question, but if you have been investing for a number of years you know that markets have their ups and downs. The present time is our cold, slap-in-the-face reminder that we need to pay attention to our investments. It is a reminder that our retirement funds are important and we should be careful stewards of these nest eggs. The bottom line is that by starting early with planning and investing there will be more time for your vision and your economic situation to converge, more time to make decisions that bring you closer to your definition of a well-lived retirement.
The definition of retirement is changing. Clinging to past assumptions or pre-conceived ideas will only hinder us from creating a future that reflects our values. If we see retirement as a process, it becomes clear we need to focus our attention on that process now. This does not mean that we sacrifice the joy and meaning of the here and now. Our futures may unfold in wonderful ways we haven't even thought of. We can take charge of the future by creating our own unique vision. We can accomplish this by taking steps now, and consistently along the way. The result will be a sense of comfort that we are creating a retirement based upon our choices and values.