We’ve known for years that a compound contained in red wine, called resveratrol, has some powerful disease-fighting effects. Many doctors advise their patients to have a glass of red wine each day to help ward off heart disease. Now, researchers at Harvard have zeroed in on resveratrol in their anti-aging studies, and it turns out that red wine may have even more benefits than we thought!

The research focused specifically on a link between resveratrol and a type of enzymes called sirtuins, which trigger proteins that regenerate cells. Normally, sirtuins are triggered by caloric restriction and exercise, but it appears that they can also be activated by resveratrol. What this means for us is that we can potentially trigger our own cell-regenerating, enzymes.

Of course, it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to interpret this news as a green light to drink all the wine you want. As in everything else, moderation is key, particularly considering wine does also contain alcohol. But it is good support for the theory that a small amount of red wine carries some great health benefits. Other studies have uncovered evidence suggesting resveratrol helps to prevent type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, inflammatory diseases like arthritis, and many more common afflictions.

While you’re enjoying your wine, researchers are busy creating more powerful synthetic versions of resveratrol. These drugs are said to be 100 times as potent as natural resveratrol, and three of the drugs are currently undergoing human trials. While there is no substitute for a healthy diet and regular exercise, it is possible that these drugs will be used in the future as powerful preventive drugs for many age-related diseases.

The Harvard researchers have concluded that aging may not be as irreversible as we once thought. With this new insight into cell regeneration and the creation of drugs to trigger it, we could conceivably be on the cusp of a very exciting development in the field of anti-aging. In the meantime, keep enjoying that glass of red wine with dinner each night.

If you have questions regarding any anti-aging or weight loss information you hear, please contact our office.