Anti-Aging Supplement Can Turn Back The Clock 

Article by Dr. Michael Heim, Tampa Health Center 

In my last blog on caloric restriction and longevity, I mentioned a supplement that produces similar effects in the body without the pain of following a low-calorie diet. That supplement is Resveratrol. As I covered in last month's blog, research has shown that caloric restriction or intermittent fasting can have an enormous impact on your health and has been shown to increase life span by up to 60% in animal studies. It is believed this result is due to a survival mode which the body reverts to when it goes through periods of time without a readily available fuel source. This survival mode leads to improved fuel efficiency, improved immunity and disease fighting ability. 

Resveratrol is a compound found in many common foods including red wine, grapes, berries, and peanuts. Before you get too excited about the Resveratrol content in wine however, know that you will have to consume a liter of wine to get about 5 mg of this nutrient and that the recommended dosage is 250-300 mg daily. Luckily, Resveratrol is also available as a nutritional supplement. It is believed that Resveratrol simulates caloric restriction and the resulting health and longevity benefits it provides. 

Animal studies have shown a longevity benefit from Resveratrol, even in subjects that were given a high caloric diet, but there is an even greater, synergistic effect when the two are combined (Resveratrol supplement with some sort of caloric restriction protocol as discussed in my blog last month).