Take Resveratrol If You Want To, But Drink The Wine Too
A story in today's New York Times shows there is indeed hope for a pill to increase longevity, but it's not quite ready for humans yet.
Resveratrol, previously known just as an ingredient in certain red wines, is now being developed as a drug to activate protein agents known in people as sirtuins.
Studies have shown that resveratrol triggers an ancient mechanism that is similar to caloric restriction (the practice of partially starving oneself) wherein it tricks our body into a preservation or survival mode and thereby minimizes the wear and tear (aging) from within.
We do know that those who drink moderate amounts of red wine on the whole will live longer than those that do not. Part of the reason may be the presence of resveratrol, or the antioxidants like polyphenols or more likely the stress relieving effects of small amounts of alcohol taken almost daily.
The bottom line is that we know from epidemiological studies the people who drink one to two glasses a day, four times a week, outlive those who do not drink at all. So, go ahead and take resveratrol when it's available, but don't forget the red wine.
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