If you want to live 5 years longer, grape seed may be an ingredient you want to stock up on

Added 13.05.2009

We may not have found the fountain of eternal youth, but there is a nutrient that could add years to your life…

Grape seed may prolong your life

Many scientists believe a major reason that the French have a low incidence of heart disease despite eating a lot of saturated fat (known as the "French paradox") is because they regularly drink wine. More precisely, it is the resveratrol and other proanthocyanidins in wine that have been found to prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, which is a major contributor to heart disease, the number one killer in the world today.

Resveratrol, found in large concentrations in the skin and seeds of grapes, is also known for its beneficial effects on cancer, inflammation, allergy and asthma.

A study published last month in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health proposes that grape seed may increase your life expectancy by as much as five years.

The Scientific Study

Background information:

1,373 randomly selected men were followed between 1960 and 2000 and their heart health and life expectancy were closely monitored. The researchers observed how much and what type of alcohol the participants consumed as well as health indicators such as weight, health conditions and whether they were smokers.

Results:

Long-term consumption of low amounts of alcohol was associated with a two-year life expectancy boost compared to no alcohol consumption at all. Men that drank moderate amounts of wine every day had a five year increased life expectancy when compared to participants not drinking any alcohol at all. Researchers also discovered that drinking moderate amounts of wine resulted in a 39% lowered risk of heart disease, a 32% lowered risk of death from heart disease and a 27% lowered risk of death from any cause.

How resveratrol may help you live longer

Resveratrol's positive effect on longevity is not a novel discovery; back in 2003, scientists at Harvard Medical School and BIOMOL Research Laboratories confirmed that it extended the life span in yeast, fruit flies and worms by 70%. Apparently resveratrol is able to do this by activating a gene linked to longevity. Don't be discouraged that these studies were conducted on small organisms; humans also have a gene associated with life span and the results hold a promising outlook for future human trials.

Today, the only proven method to extend life in many animals is through calorie restriction - restricting the amount of calories in the diet but consuming sufficient amounts of vitamins, minerals and other vital nutrients so as to prevent malnutrition. Calorie restriction has been shown to lower cholesterol, glucose levels and blood pressure, all factors that are believed to improve health and prolong life. Researchers have found that in fruit flies and worms, resveratrol imitates the effects of calorie restriction and activates the gene responsible for extending lifespan.

Pretty exciting stuff right? Who knows, maybe one day we will be able to discover the fountain of eternal youth but for now adding five years to our lives is not too bad either!

References:

Dr. Bo Nielsen's comments:

This study confirms many other studies that show that consuming moderate amounts of wine not only makes you live five years longer, but lowers your risk of developing heart disease by 40% compared to people who do not drink alcohol. On top of that, the risk of premature death from any cause is lowered by almost 30% in wine drinkers. What I am looking forward to seeing is the effect of drinking organic wine on lifespan and health, which I assume will be even more pronounced. Organic wines are free of many of the toxins that are derived from fertilisers and other additives in the wine production.

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