Cells die via apoptosis, a process every cell in your body is programmed in its DNA genetic material to grow a certain number of days and it kills itself. Skin cells have a lifespan of 28 days and red blood cells live for 120 days before they die.
The first solid clue that human beings may possess genes that protect against ageing came in 1930 basing on researches on rats which were fed with low-calorie diet lived much longer than normal. The studies have now been confirmed in mice, fruit flies, dogs and other lab animals that reducing intake of food by 30% and still supplying all the nutrients can prolong by up to a similar percentage increase in lifespan.
It stands to reason that the same thing will occur in humans and there are ongoing studies but results are yet to come by. How wonderful it could be should it confirm this parallel reflection………in that there are many world problems previously thought as unsolved but now can be resolved such as sufficient food to feed the world population, healthier life and prolonged life. Even if it works, being constantly cold, tired, hungry and having the physical appearance of someone starving is not everyone’s vision of a life-extension programme.
Latest researches have found that Resveratrol, a member of the group of phytoalexins compounds, also activates the same logevity gene expressed during caloric restriction. Grapes and other plant produces resveratrol as a protective measure during times of stress, bad weather or poor nutrient availability or as protection against fungal and other diseases. Of all plants, including grapes, the richest source of resveratrol is from the medicinal plant Polygonum Cuspidatum which is found in China and Japan.
Scientists have found a chemical class called sirtuins that can help to prevent cell death. When stressed, cells produce this chemical and by starving a cell through caloric restriction, it activates the Sir2 gene to stimulate the cell to produce sirtuins that help to protect itself against starvation while keeping the cell alive. The effects of resveratrol mimic those of caloric restriction, the only proven way of extending lifespan. So eat less but be more nutritious to live healthily and longer. Resveratrol activates the same longevity genes expressed during caloric restriction and since caolric restriction has been successfully tested on mice and rats, scientists speculate that humans can derive longer lifespan and healthier living out of the caloric restriction benefits through the taking of resveratrol supplement.
Although studies were confined to fish, lower organisms and rodents, studies on humans may take a longer time to complete. However, since humans share many genes in common with even the simplest organisms such as bacteria and worms, it is likely the the studies in animals will have similar results in humans. Genetically, how alike all life on earth really is? Humans share many genes in common even with the simplest organisms such as yeast with 98% of your DNA identical to the mouse genome and 99.8% being identical to another human.
The interesting part about resveratrol is its health benefits properties covering as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, promotes anticancer, reduces blood pressure and menopausal symptoms, reduction in Alzheimer’s disease risks and developing diabetes and blood clot. Representing many of the known risks for developing different age-related degenerative diseases, these properties include:-
- As AntiCancer Agent
- Heart & Blood Vessel Health
- increases high density lipoprotein (HDL)
- prevents low density lipoprotein (LDL) from being oxidized by free radicals as it is the oxidized LDL that forms plaque that can lead to atherosclerosis or hardening and thickening of the arteries,
- inhibits platelet aggregation as resveratrol prevents blood cells from sticking to each other and forming clots causing heart attacks or strokes,
- promotes vasodilatation by enhancing the production of nitric oxide (NO) which allows the blood vessels to relax resulting in enhanced blood flow.
- Alzheimer Prevention
- May Minimize Risk Of Brain Damage In Stroke Victims
- Other Benefits
Cancer, perhaps the most dynamic resveratrol research area, is on the rise nowadays. Cancer have either been stopped or blocked by resveratrol in vitro laboratory tests at all three stages of initiation, promotion and progression. The National Institute of Health (NIH, USA) is currently sponsoring a clinical trial investigating resveratrol’s ability to fight colon cancer with its proposal as an additional supplement in cancer prevention.
It has been found that resveratrol exerts a number of potentially cardio-protective effects such as:-
One of the characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease is the deposition of amyloid-beta peptide plaques in the brain. Studies have shown that resveratrol administration into cells decreased their secretion and their amyloid-beta peptides levels. Although resveratrol did not inhibit the production of amyloid-beta peptides, it promotes the latter’s breakdown in the cells; thus assist in fighting Alzheimer’s disease
For many years in the past, scientists have been advocating the drinking of a glass of red wine once or twice a day would help with cardiovascular health. Resveratrol, having similar impact on brain health, in some cases may help minimize the brain damage when a stroke occurs.
Other benefits recently discovered include doubling exercise endurance and prevention of ill effects of obesity. In laboratory tests, resveratrol enables mice that were fed with high-calorie, high-fat diets to live normal, active lives despite being obese. It may also offer benefits in preventing or managing conditions associated with diabetes
It is important to understand that there are many other risk factors associated with diseases an that taking resveratrol may be one of the many important steps in risk reduction for healthy living. Resveratrol would, as researchers said, increase your lifespan six-fold like it did in worms or even 31% as in rodents. However, it is not unreasonable for someone who started taking resveratrol at age 50 to expect to add at least an extra 10 healthy years to their lifespan.
Products which have this resveratrol ingredient in abundance is Transfer Factor where it is blended for specific targeted purpose in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
