The old saying goes, ?Everything old is new again.? When it comes to aging and your health, that's not such a bad thing, is it? The Ancient Romans had a secret weapon in the fight to stay young and healthy. Twenty odd years ago, modern scientists discovered the so-called French Paradox, where despite diets significantly higher in fat and calories, the French had significantly lower rates of heart disease and cardiac arrest than the rest of Western culture. Now, thanks to research into resveratrol and the development of resveratrol supplements, that same secret is available to everyone.

The Secret of Resveratrol

What the French and Ancient Roman diets have in common is red wine. The Romans even had a saying ? In Vino Sanitas ? ?In wine there is health.? That's because red wine contains some of the highest naturally occurring amounts of resveratrol, a powerful anti-oxidant. Grapes, blueberries, cranberries, pomegranates and other fruit produce resveratrol as protection against sun damage and fungal diseases. It helps prolong the life and health of the fruit. Something in the fermentation involved in turning grapes into red wine intensifies the amounts of resveratrol released. This magic of nature provided all those Romans and Frenchmen with a veritable fountain of youth. You simply can't consume enough red wine anymore, however, thanks to pesticides that prevent the grapes from producing large amounts of resveratrol. Naturally derived resveratrol can be found safely and effectively in dietary supplements, providing you with all the anti-aging health benefits of red wine without the hangover.

Resveratrol and Your Heart

Resveratrol will not keep you young and healthy forever. It has been proven, in various studies, that it is good for the heart and circulatory system. And that can help keep you feeling younger and healthier longer. It acts as an anti-coagulant, inhibiting the formation of dangerous heart attack and stroke inducing blood clots. It may even lower blood pressure. Resveratrol has also been proven to slow cardiac aging. It acts on the cells to prevent the damage caused by natural aging. Preventing the damage slows the aging process. Thus, resveratrol leaves your heart younger and healthier than it found it.

Resveratrol and Cancer

Studies have shown that resveratrol may be effective in the treatment of some cancers. Resveratrol targets the cancer cells and makes them more susceptible to the effects of chemotherapy. It may also injure the cells internally, decreasing their ability to function as they would like. Resveratrol has a detrimental effect on the internal energy source of cancer cells, slowing their growth.

Resveratrol and Diabetes

A study released in 2008 showed that resveratrol was significant in improving the overall health of diabetics. Resveratrol prevents damage to blood vessels caused by the high level of glucose in a diabetic's blood supply. By preventing this damage, resveratrol can actually prevent heart and kidney disease, as well as possibly preventing diabetic glaucoma. Resveratrol was shown to not only prevent blood vessel damage in some patients, but to actually mend and reverse vessel damage, as well. Healing this blood vessel damage may end diabetic neuropathy in hands and feet. Early research shows resveratrol may also help lower blood glucose amounts, and further study into this effect/benefit is underway.

Resveratrol and Other Ailments

Resveratrol can act as an anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce the effects of arthritis. Some studies have shown that resveratrol may help prevent or at least aid in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Resveratrol seems to elicit the same effects on the body as a long-term reduced calorie diet ? producing better cardiac and joint health, lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar, and lower blood pressure. Overall, resveratrol may just be one of the most powerful anti-aging anti-oxidants known to man. Most of today's resveratrol supplements are derived from a Japanese plant, knotweed, shown to be almost as high in resveratrol as red wine. It is important when choosing a supplement to ensure that your source of resveratrol contains no ?fillers? ? sugars, gums, colors and the like ? other than those ingredients needed to produce the pill or powder, as these added ingredients can have effects of their own, as well as decreasing the effectiveness of your supplement.

Resveratrol and Side Effects

No supplement, natural or otherwise, comes without some risks or dangers. While studies have shown that resveratrol carries few harmful side effects, a few precautions should be noted. Resveratrol's anti-clotting properties make it vital that resveratrol not be taken with other medications or supplements that also serve as anti-coagulants. Since resveratrol is a plant-based phytoestrogen, women who are pregnant or nursing should not take resveratrol. Those on estrogen-based contraceptives, or hormone replacement therapies should not take resveratrol without first consulting with their obstetrician, as resveratrol may affect the way these other estrogen containing medications work. Likewise, women at risk for or survivors of breast cancer should not take resveratrol, either, as it has been shown to actually increase the risks of breast cancer. Taking high doses of resveratrol (greater than 500 mg daily) has been shown to cause joint stiffness and discomfort, especially in the hands and feet.

Resveratrol and You

Resveratrol, therefore, may not be for everyone. If you, like the Romans and French, want to experience the same anti-aging benefits of resveratrol, scientists recommend a daily dose between 300 and 500 mg. It may not be a fountain of youth, but resveratrol supplements may be the next best thing. And you can stay sober in the bargain.