In the last couple of years, the red wine ingredient resveratrol has gained a great deal of attention. Clinical studies appear to show that resveratrol benefits the heart, helps control weight, increases energy, and may be effective against many of the so-called diseases of aging. In the wake of this wave of publicity, the number of resveratrol supplements available online and in health food stores has increased almost exponentially. Now the big question is no longer Do the benefits of resveratrol justify taking resveratrol supplements? Instead, it’s How can I be sure I’m buying high quality resveratrol supplements.
The first thing to look for on the label of resveratrol supplements as well as on the labels of any other dietary supplements you may be considering is the circular logo of the National Sanitation Foundation’s Good Manufacturing Practices. Since its founding in 1944, NSF International has been working in the areas of safety, public health, and environmental protection. It develops standards, provides product testing, and certifies products that meet its standards. Where you see NSF GMP, you can be confident that the product comes from production and packaging facilities that have been inspected by NSF. In addition, NSF annually retests certified resveratrol supplements, and other products, to ensure that compliance with stringent testing standards continues.
When you choose an NSF-certified supplement, you can be sure
- that the label on the package actually matches the supplement’s contents;
- that the supplement contains no ingredients that are not listed on the label; and
- that the supplement contains no unacceptable levels of contaminants or any banned substances
Next, to make sure you’re getting high quality resveratrol supplements, you should check the label to be certain the product contains trans resveratrol. The molecule resveratrol can break down, if it is exposed to heat, light, and oxygen during the production and storage of supplement capsules. When this degradation occurs, the more active form, trans resveratrol, can become the less active cis resveratrol. Trans and cis resveratrol are two isomers of the resveratrol molecule. According to the Free Medical Dictionary, an isomer is any of two or more substances that are composed of the same elements in the same proportions but differ in properties because of differences in the arrangement of atoms. definition of isomer. Therefore, to get the greatest resveratrol benefits, you’ll want to be taking a supplement that provides you with trans resveratrol.
If you’re careful about the resveratrol supplements you select, read the labels carefully and know what you’re looking for; and if you avoid being too credulous of the ads you’ll see on television and online, you should be able to locate high quality resveratrol supplements. And if you take them as directed, you may find yourself feeling better, more energetic, and confident that you’re doing something that recent research shows to be beneficial and healthful. Good health to you!