More progress on that absurdly positive red wine compound, resveratrol. From the Washington Post:
A key compound in red wine known as resveratrol appears to protect against many of the health ravages associated with growing old, new animal research reveals.
[…] Daily consumption of the compound — also found in the skin of grapes and the crust of peanuts and walnuts — broadly improved the long-term quality of life of middle-aged mice, although most mice did not end up living longer.
[…] the researchers now compared the health and life spans of middle-age mice given either a standard diet or a calorie-restricted diet, with or without high or low daily dosages of resveratrol.
De Cabo and his colleagues found that resveratrol had the same positive impact on mouse livers, muscles, hearts and bones as calorie restriction alone.
Regardless of dietary protocol, the general health and vigor of mice on a long-term regimen (approximately one year) of resveratrol improved overall, without apparent side effects. However, only mice consuming resveratrol alongside a high-calorie diet were found to actually live longer.
Cheers.
srv
Yeah, now everybody sells resveratrol pills but you said they probably don’t work.
When will there be a Tim F. approved delivery method?
Wilfred
They were mellower, got laid more and carried a 3 handicap when they kicked off.
Joshua Norton
I recently read that Prince Charles has a sports car that runs on red wine. While I think trying alternative fuel supplies is a good idea, I’m reasonably sure that stuffing a lot of our food supply into the world’s gas tanks as some sort of ethanol is really not a good idea.
IanY77
That’s Dr. Tim F now.
Seriously, I’ve been taking a resveratrol pill that also contains pomegranate and grape seed extract. My doc was amazed at the progress that my body made from last year physical to this year. Liver, kidneys, etc, are all much better. Of course, that’s hand in hand with reduced drinking and better eating, but it’s not like I’ve been a saint in either dept. The doc called it “practically miraculous”.
crayz
So is there a recommended human dose of reversterol yet?
CaseyL
I love the part where the longer life span was associated with resverotrol – but only in combination with a high-calorie diet.
Sign me up!
Dennis - SGMM
Box wine is good for you? Oh, shit. There are some seniors in my town who will live to be 200.
gbear
It doesn’t seem to be helping Ann Althouse.
Dennis - SGMM
Maybe having your face look like it’s puddling up at the bottom of your head is one of those “rare side effects” they’re always mentioning in the drug ads.
Emma Anne
What do you suppose comprises the “crust” or peanuts? I’m not drinking any red wine, since I am not fond of headaches, but I like peanuts.
Cols714
I think that the guy that first started publishing on this stuff takes supplements of resverotrol.
Dennis - SGMM
Emma Anne, would that be delicious salted peanuts in the shell or nasty uncooked peanuts? The former, I love. The latter are for circus elephants.
Bob In Pacifica
We did a couple of pitchers of sangria yesterday. Lots of that resveratrol shit. I hear that triple sec has a lot of vitamin C, too.
chopper
actually, apparently lots of the people doing research into the stuff are on it. makes me think they’re onto something.
OriGuy
The article I read said he used British wine. Probably the best use for it.
H.L. Guy
Resveratrol may or may not be good, but the positive health effects of (optimally) 2 drinks/day are clear for *any* type of alcohol. So I agree- cheers.
jnfr
mmm… red wine! We’re all elitists now.
debrazza
I guess this means that I could live forever after all! Pass the Cherry Garcia and the Pinot Noir, it’s gonna be a great ride.
tom.a
Forget where I read this and I just searched but couldn’t find it, but about a year ago I was reading one of these studies and the mice that showed improvement were given an amount of resveratrol that in a human would have required they drink something like 5 bottles of wine a day. I might be off on the number but it was a crazy amount of booze.
Liz
Mmm…crusty peanuts. How crusty do they have to be? :P I’ll stick to the wine.
Seriously, though…are they talking about the papery skin on the outside of the nut, or is there some other ‘crust’ that should be on them?
My Truth Hurts
This reminds me of the movie “Sleeper” when Woody Allen wakes up to a future where tabacco and ice cream sundaes are health foods and what we knew in the 20th century to be health foods are actually bad for you.
My Truth Hurts
This reminds me of the movie “Sleeper” when Woody Allen wakes up to a future where tobacco and ice cream sundaes are health foods and what we knew in the 20th century to be health foods are actually bad for you.
My Truth Hurts
Sorry about the double post above. I am drinking a glass of red wine at the moment…
cybergal619
Red wine is good, but lately I’ve been investigating blueberry (antioxidants) vodka and cranberry juice (more antioxidants or something good for ya). Somehow I’m drinking mine out of a “Sirloin Rules” Jack-in-the-Box cup at the moment. Need some new glasses…
Tim F.
Yes, David Sinclair takes the Longevinex brand of resveratrol. It retailed for about $1 a pill about four years ago.
Keep in mind though that Sinclair has (had?) a financial stake in the Longevinex company, so a little perspective is necessary.
TenguPhule
I welcomes our new Super Mice Overlords.
“Release the Omega Gas.”
Rome Again
People named Sinclair always have a financial stake in something.
Blue Raven
Actually, Sinclair only started working for Longevinex’s manufacturer after his studies at Harvard indicated that resveratrol may be a life-enhancing substance. He went to Longevinex at their behest to help them develop the best system for encapsulating it.
WMass
There is very little resveratrol in red wine, the health benefits seem to be mostly from polyphenols. As others have pointed out you need to essentially drink several bottles a day to get a significant amount of resveratrol. There is no recommended dosage at this point, research is still ongoing. I take 200mg of trans-resveratrol, if I could afford more I would take 400mg.
One tidbit that seems particularly interesting is that a large dosage of resveratrol seems to provide a similar anti-aging effect as calorie restriction. If you can afford enough resveratrol it is a hell of a lot easier than CR.
p.a.
There are a few companies that produce blueberry juice. It’s not that easy to find (except in Maine) but doesn’t cost much more than grape juice.
I know of at least one pomegranate liquor, kind of bitter; decent mixed with oj.
Red wine + high calories = ‘the French paradox’, oui? (actually, high calories but modest volume. In the US it’s usually high calories with high quantities).
HyperIon
how does one determine this when having an annual physical?
blood work?