Fight the Fat with Resveratrol

Trans-resveratrol has been strongly linked with weight loss since 2006, when it made headlines not just among health and fitness circles in the West but all over the world as its positive effects on overfed mice in one research study were revealed to the public.

In a nutshell, the mice were fed 60% calories coming from fat, making them obese and susceptible to cardiovascular diseases. All the mice included in the study maintained the same diet but were classified into two groups throughout the experiment: one group had trans-resveratrol incorporated into their diet and the other group did not. The study found that the group that was fed trans-resveratrol was shielded from the health problems associated with obesity. This was reportedly due to the trans-resveratrol mimicking the effects of caloric restriction.

The next step of the study was determining if trans-resveratrol could mimic the effects of caloric restriction in human fat cells. This was done by comparing fat cells that were exposed for a considerable time period to the substance to those that were not.

Martin Wabitsch, MD, PhD, a researcher at the University of Ulm in Germany said that the normal doubling time for pre-fat cells is forty hours. "At 48 hours, the pre-fat cells in the control dish had more than doubled. In the resveratrol dish, the number of pre-fat cells had decreased by 40% to 45%," he added.

"Resveratrol has anti-obesity properties by exerting its effects directly on the fat cells," according to fellow University of Ulm researcher Pamela Fischer-Posovszky, PhD. It is because of this attribute that trans-resveratrol might prove to be a key force in combating the obesity epidemic in the future.

An ingredient mostly found in red wine, trans-resveratrol is a phytoalexin, formed naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi. As discovered in the now renowned scientific study, it actively attacks fat cells and breaks them down faster.

Trans-resveratrol can also be found in organic fruits such as purple and red-skinned grapes and certain nuts. Darker varieties of berries, such as mulberries and cranberries, reportedly contain high concentrations of the substance as well.

It is therefore not surprising, and encouraging to see that the growing popularity of trans-resveratrol over the last four years has led to the production and distribution of a variety of trans-resveratrol health supplements in the global market---from capsule to powder form.

Taking a healthy dose of trans-resveratrol every day, especially when backed up by a well-balanced diet and active lifestyle, does wonders for the mind and body. It helps boost your metabolism which, in turn, allows you to achieve your weight goal easier, faster and safer. Trans-resveratrol is meant to be taken as a health supplement, and thus should be treated as a helpful addition to a sensible diet and exercise program.

Erin Perry is a freelance writer, yoga enthusiast and Greenpeace volunteer. She is currently contributing articles to Pure and Healthy by Nu-ture, leading provider of various award-winning resveratrol and health supplements in the US.

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