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Resveratrol from grapes, the elixir of life

When you say grapes, you mean wine, but also indulgence (and not just for the taste buds), health and beauty.

 

It is said that viticulture has existed since the beginning of time, and the fact that the grapes he is still in the limelight it is all due to him. We find them at the center of the most lavish meals, in simple or sophisticated recipes, at the base of most varieties of wine, in derived products with an impressive nutritional profile (grape seed oil) and in the cosmetics industry, from care products to food supplements (nutricosmetics).

The reasons?

Beyond their taste and fragrance, which satisfy even the most refined tastes, grapes can boast of their many health and beauty benefits. And this impressive portfolio is thanks to resveratrol, a natural polyphenol that most often comes from red grapes.

There is no doubt that they are full of essential vitamins and nutrients, but so are all fruits and vegetables. Grapes tend to stand out for their powerful antioxidant properties, bolstered by vitamin C, resveratrol and polyphenols. A handful of grapes has only 104 kilocalories, 4.8 milligrams of vitamin C, 10 micrograms of vitamin A, 288 mg of potassium, and a sufficient amount of vitamin K (essential for blood clotting and healthy bones).

Numerous studies have focused on grapes, and the results have been simply amazing. For example, the fact that they can improve memory, attention and mood; one study found that 250 mg of a grape supplement per day significantly improved participants' scores on cognitive tests (they measured attention, memory and language) compared to baseline values.

Another study measured the effects of eating red grapes (500g/day for eight weeks) and concluded that they reduced total and "bad" LDL cholesterol levels (white grapes did not appear to have the same effect). Moreover, other studies have confirmed that diets rich in resveratrol from grapes, for example the Mediterranean diet, had the effect of effectively lowering cholesterol levels.

Resveratrol could also be of real use in preventing Alzheimer's, as well as in the prevention and treatment of cancer, according to other research. Research has also shown that resveratrol in grapes activates genes associated with slower aging and supports longevity.

All resveratrol can protect retinal cells in the human eye against damage caused by UVA (ultraviolet A) light. A study found that this amazing compound in grapes can also protect against the development of glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic eye disease, and thanks to the content of antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin, present in grapes, we could also "protect" our eyes from the damage of blue light (of course, reducing contact with it would be the main solution).

Present in grapes and in products derived from them (wine, to be precise), it is resveratrol that supports skin health, offering support in fighting free radicals, reducing redness and inflammation or preventing premature aging.

And wine can offer these benefits in two ways: enjoying it from the glass or through vinotherapy, extremely popular in recent years, which not only makes the skin more beautiful, but also stimulates blood circulation and has a strong toning and refreshing effect.

That saying: "in vino veritas...beauty."