Weight Loss Fads - Part 9 - Resveratrol Weight Loss Benefits

<< Part 8 - Hoodia Weight Loss Benefits <<

We’ve already gone over what resveratrol is, the type of resveratrol people supplement with and some of the benefits that can be attributed to it.

But, if you’ve made it this far into this article series, it’s obvious what you’re here for: weight loss benefits.

So let’s move onto the fourth supplement I’ve been researching and figure out where the weight loss claims come from.

But first, a little history.

History of Resveratrol

Indians have been seeing the benefits of resveratrol, even as far back as 2,000 years ago. They had an herbal mixture that they called “Darakchasava”, which was used to keep a strong healthy heart among other things. What was the main ingredient in this herbal mixture? Grapes! And we’ve already learned what grape skins contain.

Fast forward to 1940; the first time resveratrol was identified in the roots of a Japanese plant called white hellebore. People would dry these roots out and use them for medicinal treatments for skin problems, like athletes foot.

Later, in 1963, resveratrol popped up again in the roots of a Japanese plant. This time it was found in Japanese knotweed, which was used for things like skin inflammation, fungal infections and liver and heart diseases.

It was also later found to be in the skins and seeds of grapes. But it wasn’t until 1992, when it was found to be in red wine, that the major buzz about resveratrol started. This is when scientists began to theorize that red wine was the key to the “French Paradox”.

Resveratrol has a very interesting yet medicinal past, but where do the claims of weight loss come from?

Resveratrol popped into the headlines yet again in 2006, when it was found that overfed mice stopped gaining weight when they were fed resveratrol. It seemed to offset the bad effects of a high fat, high calorie diet as it reduced the fat-related deaths in the mice that were fed resveratrol.

These findings were duplicated in a study done on rats that were fed blueberry extract. The rats that ate the blueberry extract gained up to 10% less bodyweight than the placebo group.

This is great if you’re a mouse or a rat! But I’m sure some people will see this as an excuse to eat whatever they want, while they supplement with resveratrol, and assume they’ll be fine. Ignoring that nonsense, lets get a little scientific.

When you restrict the caloric intake of your diet, this causes a gene called SiRT1 to activate. Once SiRT1 is activated it starts breaking down your fat and using it as energy; this is a survival response to keep us alive.

Resveratrol has been shown to activate this specific gene. The theory is that, once SiRT1 is activated, your body isn’t going to be storing fat, it’s going to be burning it. So you can eat as you normally do and your body will react as if you’re restricting your calories. What’s that mean? You could lose weight without changing your eating habits! That would be VERY beneficial if human studies can prove this to be true.

SiRT1 has also been found to counter the effects of insulin resistance and diabetes in mice. I’m sure that you have already heard of the links between diabetes and obesity.

There have also been claims that resveratrol can help boost your metabolism and help your muscles use oxygen more efficiently. If these claims are found to be true, you would burn more calories throughout the day and your endurance would be improved. Both of which could equal extra weight loss, especially if you workout.

So, if all these claims and theories are found to be true, through studies on humans, resveratrol might actually be pretty beneficial for weight loss.

I’ll continue doing my own research on resveratrol, but let’s move onto the next step in this series of articles. Let’s start looking at what scientific research and specific studies have shown for each of these weight loss supplements.

>> Continue Reading Part 10 - Acai Berry Weight Loss Research >>