What do dark chocolate and red wine have in common? They both contain a high amount of resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant that has been found very beneficial for our overall health. In this article, we will deep dive into and explore its amazing properties for our bodies in general and for the skin in particular.
Resveratrol is a very powerful antioxidant that has become a real breakthrough since the beginning of the 90s when new modern scientific data was published to reveal amazing properties and benefits of this compound. Resveratrol has been found as important for the prevention of human pathologic processes such as inflammation, atherosclerosis, and cancer development, including the antitumor effect.
It is impossible to overestimate the benefits that resveratrol brings to the body. It is a natural phytoalexin (a substance secreted by some plants as an immune response to invading infectious agents).
The study of this substance was first taken up in France when scientists noticed a strange pattern: the locals eat a lot of fatty and high-calorie foods, but this country has a very low level of cardiovascular and oncological diseases. As it turned out, one of the reasons for this phenomenon is red wine, which the French regularly consume in small quantities. It is famous for its high content of resveratrol. This phenomenon is called “The French Paradox”.
So, what is so unique about resveratrol? Let’s understand first, what antioxidants are.
Antioxidants scavenge free radicals from the body cells and prevent or reduce the damage caused by oxidation. The protective effect of antioxidants continues to be studied around the world.
There are four main groups of antioxidants:
* Vitamins - A, C and E
* Minerals - zinc, magnesium.
* Enzymes - coenzyme Q10 and superoxide dismutase.
* Bioflavonoids (also known as polyphenols) - baicalin, individual extracts and, of course, resveratrol.
In terms of Resveratrol activity, it surpasses vitamin C by 20 (!!!) times, and vitamin E by as much as 50(!!!) times. It also has a synergistic action when combined with vitamin C together.
A delicious source of resveratrol you can find in peanuts, pistachios, blueberries, grapes, red wine, and dark chocolate.
What resveratrol does do to your body?
VASCULAR SUPPORT
Resveratrol reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and improves blood flow to organs, preventing the growth of plaques on the walls of blood vessels.
IMPROVED VISION
Resveratrol, like lutein, is indicated for significant eye strain. It also prevents age-related deterioration of vision and relieves inflammation in eye diseases.
KEY TO ACTIVE LONGEVITY
Resveratrol is able to slow down the atrophy of nerve fibers in dementia patients and regulates the accumulation of fat cells in the liver in people with an unhealthy diet.
FIGHT AGAINST OXIDATIVE STRESS
Resveratrol simultaneously improves the supply of body cells with oxygen and does not allow free radicals - oxygen molecules with an unpaired electron - to destroy the DNA of cells. (Free radicals cause about 10,000 damages to DNA every day.)
Why resveratrol is good for your skin?
A 2010 study showed that resveratrol fights against the free radical molecules that create the effects of aging in the skin.
Resveratrol helps to boost your skin's natural barrier so that it's better equipped to fight against those bad things (especially UVA light) Although this doesn't mean it can replace your SPF, it's certainly a great addition.
Three Main 3 reasons why resveratrol should be in your daily skincare routine
It has an anti-aging effect. A 2014 study found that applying resveratrol topically significantly improved fine lines, wrinkles, and elasticity in just 12 weeks!!! Resveratrol works at the cellular level and restores those cells that cease to work actively with age. It just brings those very cells back to life with the help of sirtuin (proteins involved in metabolic regulation).
Brightens the skin. A recent study from 2019 demonstrated the ability of resveratrol to brighten human skin. When exposed to the sun, the body produces melanin as a defense mechanism — that's how dark spots appear. But resveratrol reduces the amount of melanin produced after sun exposure thanks to its antioxidant activity, preventing hyperpigmentation. Furthermore, resveratrol inhibits melanin synthesis by regulating tyrosinase activity, the enzyme responsible for making dark pigment.
Resveratrol also has anti-inflammatory, skin-soothing properties. This is why it helps minimize redness and inflammation, making it a go-to ingredient for people with rosacea, eczema, and other related skin conditions.
So next time you have a glass of red wine with a piece of dark chocolate bar, enjoy it to the fullest with no guilty feelings because nothing is better than a "prevention therapy".
Rooslana Zodek