Wow we are publishing a lot of articles on Resveratrol!  It is not intentional, there have just been a slew of published studies on resveratrol released this summer.

The latest study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (yes it really is as exciting as the name makes it sound), shows that a relatively low dosage of resveratrol in humans can have significant health benefits.

Best Resveratrol Dosage Much Less Than Previously Reported

Husam Ghanim, PhD, of the University of Buffalo found that a dosage of 40 milligrams of resveratrol, taken once a day for six weeks, was able to reduce inflammation in test subjects.   Inflammation in humans can lead to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes – so anything that reduces inflammation is of great interest.

In the study, Dr. Chanim took twenty volunteers and broke them into two even groups of ten.  One group received a placebo pill for 6 weeks.  The second group received a Polygonum cuspidatum extract (Japanese Knotweed) pill that contained 40 milligrams of resveratrol.

Fasting blood samples were taken throughout the study and here are the results…

“Results showed that resveratrol suppressed the generation of “free radicals” — unstable molecules known to cause oxidative stress and release pro-inflammatory substances into the blood, resulting in damage to the blood vessel lining.

People taking resveratrol also showed suppression of the inflammatory protein tumor necrosis factor, or TNF, and other compounds that increase blood vessel inflammation and interfere with insulin action, causing insulin resistance and the risk of developing diabetes.”

- WebMD, Resveratrol May Slow Aging in Humans, By Bill Hendrick

As for the placebo group – they showed no change in blood levels.

Why This Resveratrol Study is Significant

There are three elements that we believe make this study significant.  First, the study was done with humans.  Human studies are always more significant that mouse studies (sorry to any mice readers we have).  Second, the study used only 40 milligrams of Resveratrol.  This shows that resveratrol can be effective in a relatively small dosage. Third, the study used a Japanese Knotweed extract and this therefore lends credibility to resveratrol supplements currently on the market that are made with Japanese Knotweed.

So, is 40mg the Best Resveratrol Dosage for Humans?

Not sure.  First, a much larger study would need to be done to draw really significant conclusions on the best resveratrol dosage for humans.  Second, it is possible that something else in the extract was helping along with the resveratrol.  Third, it would be interesting to see if 100mg  or 200mg produces even better results.

In the end, this study does not prove that any one dosage of resveratrol is best – but it does put to rest the claim that you need to be taking mega-doses of resveratrol (400mg and up) to see any health benefits.  In addition, the best way to avoid resveratrol side effects is to take the minimum amount required to produce positive results.

Resveratrol Update – 10/8/10

As you know we try to keep things non-commercial here on the blog, but our friends at Perfect Supplements sent us samples of their Perfect ResGrape (200mg 99% Trans-Resveratrol per serving) and it is amazing.  We said if we mention this to our readers, we need to give them an incredible coupon!  They came through – 15% off the Perfect ResGrape! Just Click Here to Learn More and Order and enter COUPON CODE: SECRET15 at checkout for the exclusive savings!

Additional Resources:

“An Antiinflammatory and Reactive Oxygen Species Suppressive Effects of an Extract of Polygonum Cuspidatum Containing Resveratrol.” J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2010 Jun 9.

The internet is filled with ads for resveratrol “free trial offers” that claim to help you lose incredible amounts of weight. If you use these advertised resveratrol “free trial” products you will lose weight… in your wallet! We have documented the resveratrol scams on this site and have put little weight into resveratrol weight loss claims (pardon the pun) – but now it looks like a legitimate study has shown some connection between resveratrol and weight loss.

Resveratrol and Weight Loss is There a Connection?

In a study published on 6/22/2010 in BMC Physiology, researchers from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in Paris, France found that mouse lemurs (primates) who were given resveratrol decreased their energy intake by 13%, while increasing their resting metabolic rate by 29%. What makes the study very significant is that mouse lemurs are primates.  I know, they have “mouse” in their name, but they are primates, not rodents.  As far as we know, this is the first time that resveratrol has been shown to increase resting metabolic rate in primates.

Resveratrol, Weight Loss and Primates

We could give our take on what the study showed, but why not give an exact quote of the Conclusions from the study itself -

“In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time the short-term effects of resveratrol on the metabolism of an heterothermic primate. Resveratrol activates energy expenditure by inducing an increase in resting metabolic rate and a decrease in torpor patterns that play key roles in energy saving in this primate. Moreover, resveratrol had a satiety effect in this primate that reduced their spontaneous food intake. All of these changes participated in the limitation of pre-wintering fattening processes in which the increase in the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide levels would play an additive role. These results provide novel information on the potential effects of resveratrol on energy metabolism and control of body mass in a primate.”

- Resveratrol suppresses body mass gain in a seasonal non-human primate model of obesity, 6/22/10

In laymen terms, resveratrol increased metabolism,  increased satiety, decreased weight and decreased the need for food in lemurs while maintaining energy levels.

So the Free Trial Resveratrol Products Really Will Help me Lose Weight?

No, no and NO! The “free trial” resveratrol products are very low quality resveratrol supplements and automatically bill you for their inferior supplements every month.  You really want to AVOID any “free trial” resveratrol supplement.

Will a 99% Pure Trans-Resveratrol Supplement Help Me Lose Weight?

Yes… if you are a lemur!  While our blog is well read, I don’t think we reach many lemurs.  While lemurs are primates, and results in non-human primates may translate to humans,  much more research needs to be done.   We do feel that more and more research in showing strong potential health benefits from resveratrol, but we still need to determine the best resveratrol dosage for humans.   So, if you take a pure resveratrol supplement like the Perfect ResGrape Resveratrol for all the other health benefits and also end up losing some weight – you can thank us later!

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have conducted a study in mice that shows a promising new way to treat Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease. The study focused on the role that Sirtuin, a protein in the body. played in neurodegenerative diseases.  What they found was activating sirtuin suppressed the disease and that destroying sirtuin made the disease much worse.

Sirtuin – The Longevity Protein and Key to Health?

In our article on Resveratrol Health Benefits we define and explain Sirtuin .  The Sirtuin gene has been shown to have some strong possible connections with longevity and health.  In our discussion on Resveratrol we focus on its ability to increase Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), but there are 7 different Sirtuin genes in the body.  This research shows that stimulating Sirtuin production can have significant health benefits.

Gizem Donmez and Leonard Guarente of MIT were able to modify mice to make them more prone to developing Alzheimer’s disease.  They then activated sirtuin in one group and saw that the progression of Alzheimer’s was suppressed.  A second set of mice had their sirtuin destroyed and the Alzheimer’s progressed at a much faster pace.

Does This Mean Resveratrol Supplements Can Fight Alzheimer?

No.  We know some resveratrol companies will now start claiming that resveratrol can stop Alzheimer’s, and that would not be accurate.

Researchers not involved in the study agreed. “We think it is a scientifically compelling story that ties the sirtuins to the biology of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Dennis J. Selkoe, an Alzheimer’s expert at Harvard Medical School. But the therapeutic implications, Dr. Selkoe added, “remain quite up in the air.”

-Potential Found in a New Approach to Alzheimer’s, New York Times,  7/23/10

One problem is that resveratrol does not pass the blood-brain barrier at this time, so this study could not be replicated with resveratrol.  In addition, the study was done with mice and not humans.

Sirtuin Research – A Field to Watch

We believe it is an exciting time for Sirtuin Research.  Much more research has to be done, but the idea of activating Sirtuin to reduce disease risk is an area that should be actively explored.

We all know about the mythical “beer goggles” – where you drink too much and suddenly all types of people start to look attractive.  Well, beer may not give you super vision, but drinking a lot of wine could do the trick!

New Study Shows Resveratrol May Help Prevent Vision Loss

A new study done at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis says that resveratrol – a compound found in muscadine grapes, red grapes and resveratrol supplements – may prove useful in preventing the vision loss associated with diabetes and old age.

The study, which was conducted on mice, found that resveratrol may help prevent out of control blood vessel growth in the eye.  The extra blood vessel growth is angiogenesis, and if you can keep angiogenesis in check you can keep some of the most serious vision disorders in check.

What Causes Blindness and Vision Loss

Macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over 50, is caused by out of control blood vessel growth.  The ability for resveratrol to stop this blood vessel growth could have major implications.  In addition, the study shows that resveratrol may also help with diabetic retinopathy, a disease that causes vision loss in about 20 percent of people with diabetes, and retinopathy of prematurity, a condition that strikes some premature babies.

“This could potentially be a preventive therapy in high-risk patients,” said Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD – researcher for the study.  Dr. Apte also cautions there is much more work to be done and this study was done with mice, not humans, but it is a promising start.

Read the Full Study on Resveratrol and Vision Loss

We have all seen the commercials for Ivory Soap – 99.44% Pure!  I do wonder what the remaining .56% is in that bar of soap, but 99.44% pure seems about as pure as you could get.

Resveratrol Supplement tests out at 99.7% Pure – Take That Ivory Soap!

We have talked a good deal about resveratrol supplements on this blog and our opinion on them is pretty clear.  If you want to try a resveratrol supplement, you need to make sure it is made with 99% Trans-Resveratrol and it is free of emodin.  Emodin is a nasty little substance found in many resveratrol supplements that can lead to side effects like an upset stomach and diarrhea.

The folks at Perfect Supplements, the makers of the Perfect ResGrape Resveratrol just sent us these test results…

Click To See ResGrape-Resveratrol-Analysis

The results show that the Trans-Resveratrol content is actually 99.7% – the highest level we have ever seen in a resveratrol supplement.  In addition, there is no emodin in the product.

Don’t Fall For the Old Supplement Industry Bait and Switch

Often you will find some impressive studies and potential health benefits surrounding an ingredient.  For example, there is a lot of excitement about the anti-aging potential of resveratrol.  Supplement companies will draw you in by talking about all the health benefits of resveratrol, but they will then distract you to the point where you forget to really determine if what they are selling you is pure resveratrol.  Remember, it does not matter if resveratrol has strong health benefits if you what you ending buying is not pure resveratrol in the first place.  Don’t put the cart before the horse – first determine if you can get pure resveratrol and then decide if the potential health benefits are worthwhile.

Why You Need to See Extensive Testing for the Supplements You Buy

The important thing about the above test is that it was done by Perfect Supplements, the manufacturer of the Perfect ResGrape.   The company that supplied them with the resveratrol provided a document that said the resveratrol was 99% pure, but Perfect Supplements took the extra step of re-testing the resveratrol to make sure it was pure and free of emodin.  This may not sound like a big deal, but it is rarely done in the supplement industry and really a very important check.

Given that supplements do not need to be tested by the FDA before coming to market, it is very important that before you purchase any supplements you demand to see extensive testing.  Do not settle for tests from the ingredient supplier, demand to see independent tests that the manufacturer has done once they receive the ingredient.

Perfect Supplements is the leading way in quality testing when it comes to resveratrol supplements.  In addition to the resveratrol test shown above, they have also tested their ResGrape product for ORAC antioxidant levels -

Click Here for Perfect ResGrape ORAC Results

We believe that all supplement companies should follow the lead of Perfect Supplements (and the handful of other companies that do full testing) and provide full and transparent testing results.  Yes, it cost the companies some money to run these tests, but as consumers let’s let them know that we will not buy until we see the test results.  Come on, say it with me… Show Me the Tests, Show Me the Tests…

On May 5th, 2010 GlaxoSmithKline, makers of a pharmaceutical drug called SRT501 (which is based on resveratrol) announced they were halting their study on cancer patients due to possible kidney problems.  The media, who is always quick to build something up and then smash it down (much like a 4 year old playing with blocks), jumped all over the story…

Is the Bloom Off the Resveratrol Rose?

That is the headline from the Wall Street Journal Health Blog Post on 5/5/2010. Nobody loves a good headline more than us – but come on – resveratrol comes from grapes, not roses, it doesn’t bloom… let’s not mix metaphors.  Grapes are crushed into wine – go with something clever like “Resveratrol Benefits CRUSHED by New Study?”  Sorry, back to the facts…

What Exactly is SRT501?

SRT501 is a proprietary drug being developed and tested by GlaxoSmithKline.  SRT501 is based on the reseveratrol antioxidant that is found in red grapes – but SRT501 is NOT the same thing as natural resveratrol. SRT501 is a proprietary chemical developed in the lab by a pharmaceutical company.

When Exactly Will We Stop Trying to Improve on Mother Nature?

Red grapes, muscadine grapes, red wine – these are all natural things that have been shown in study after study to have strong health benefits.  Resveratrol is a naturally occurring substance that is found in grapes and red wine, but it is just one of hundreds of healthy nutrients found in grapes.  Most of us understand that if we eat and drink natural things that are filled with the healthy polyphenols found in grapes – we will feel better.  Why reinvent the wheel?  Why try to one-up Mother Nature?  Why take something natural and turn it into a chemical drug?

So is SRT501 Dangerous?

Who knows?  The kidney issues that were showing up in the study are not an uncommon problem among people with multiple myeloma, the disease that the study subjects had.   It may turn out that SRT501 had nothing to do with the kidney issues.  It may turn out that SRT501 did cause the problems.   In either case, the study really does not talk to the health benefits or risks of eating NATURAL resveratrol rich foods or supplements.

Want the Truth on Resveratrol – Just Read the Wall Street Journal

The WSJ and their bloggers have no problems telling you what they think about resveratrol.  The only problem is depending on who is writing the story you will get a complete different spin on resveratrol.

The May 5th Wall Street Journal Health Blog Post – “Is The Bloom Off the Resveratrol Rose” gives a negative view on resveratrol.  In addition to discussing the negative implications of the study they go on to say -

“This comes on the heels of a research controversy about whether resveratrol and other substances thought to activate SIRT1 actually do so. Here’s a New Scientist article on the topic.”

Clearly gives the impression that all the recent studies on resveratrol have been negative.  However, less than 1 week earlier – the very same WSJ had this to say -

“Research from the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore found that there could be even more health benefits from drinking red wine. Antioxidant-rich red wine has already been touted to protect against cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol and obesity. Now resveratrol, an compound found in red wine, may reduce the risk of stroke. “Resveratrol can potentially build brain resistance to ischemic stroke,” the study said.”

- Wall Street Journal Blogs On Wine – 4/29/2010

Maybe if the WSJ Health Blogger read the WSJ On Wine Blog she would know that not all the recent research on Resveratrol has been negative.

Our Advice – K.I.N.S

We have all heard of K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid) – well we have come up with a new one – K.I.N.S – Keep It Natural Stupid! When drug companies try to take natural foods and turn them into drugs, things always seem to go wrong.  Let’s stop trying to perfect Mother Nature.  Eat grapes, drink red wine and enjoy whole foods.  Do supplements make sense?  Sure, if they are all natural whole food supplements.   Things like Perfect ResGrape work because they contain all the nutrients from muscadine grapes – they just take what Mother Nature has made and put it in a jar – they Keep It Natural Stupid.

On the other hand, supplements that try to modify and one-up ingredients that Mother Nature has given us should be avoided in our opinion.  We really tend to over complicate things, if we all ate more natural and healthy food, we would all feel better.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thejimmer/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

The Acai Berry is a beautiful little purple berry that grows in the Amazon Rain Forest. Resveratrol is a natural component of grapes that may help you live longer and healthier. Many people choose to use Acai and Resveratrol because they believe in natural foods over man made prescription medicines. This is why it is so sad to report that over 90% of the Acai and Resveratrol supplements on the market are probably made with genetically modified material!

One of the Darkest Supplement Industry Secrets – Magnesium Stearate!

As this blog is called Supplement Secrets Exposed, it seems only right that we are the ones to expose one the best kept secrets in the industry – the magnesium stearate secret! Go ahead and grab a bottle of any supplement you have in the house… don’t worry, we will wait….

Got it? Now take a look at the “Other Ingredients” listed toward the bottom of the label in tiny print. There is a 95% chance you are holding a supplement that uses magnesium stearate as a other ingredient.

What is Magnesium Stearate?

So what is this funny ingredient in almost every supplement on the market?

“Magnesium Stearate is the magnesium salt or stearic acid from plant or animal sources, which is a saturated fatty acid used as an anti-caking agent and as an emulsifier.”

-Don’t Eat Database

Wow, there are a few disturbing words in there – animal sources and saturated fatty acids. If you are a vegetarian and/or trying to limit saturated fatty acids – pretty disturbing to find out the magnesium stearate in your supplement may be made from animal fat! But it only gets worse…

Why Would Magnesium Stearate be Genetically Modified?

“This substance (magnesium stearate) is most likely made from genetically modified soy or corn. In the US over 80% of the soy and corn crops have been genetically modified.”

-Don’t Eat Database

Yikes! What this means is that while the Acai or Resveratrol in a supplement may be Non-GMO – the magnesium stearate can be genetically modified and therefore the whole supplement contains GMO.
Of course this is not limited to just Acai and Resveratrol supplements – any supplement that has magnesium stearate is going to have these same issues.

Avoid Magnesium Stearate – You Do Have a Choice!

The take away from all this – avoid supplements that have magnesium stearate. The only reason that supplement companies use magnesium stearate is that it makes it cheaper to encapsule the ingredients – there is absolutely no advantage for the consumer.

The good news is, if you look around you can find supplements that do NOT use magnesium stearate. One of the reasons we love the Perfect Acai and the Perfect ResGrape Resveratrol is that they have NO magnesium stearate.

Well, now you know the dirty little secret about Magnesium Stearate – let’s pass this along, let everyone know and let’s all say NO to Magnesium Stearate!

If you have been reading our blog for anytime you know that we are not surprised by confusion in the supplement marketplace. The fact that people are confused as to which Resveratrol Supplements work, what are the side effects of Resveratrol and the correct Resveratrol dosage – this is not surprising. What is surprising is that no one knows how to spell Resveratrol!

Reservatrol, Resveratol, Resveritrol or Resveratrol??

We are the first to admit, Resveratrol is hard to pronounce and even harder to spell. Apparently we are not alone in our confusion. For the record the correct spelling is Resveratrol! A quick look at the searches done at Google shows that Resveratrol (correctly spelled) is the most searched for resveratrol term – that is the good news. Guess what #2 is? Reservatrol. The #3 term? Resveratol. The #4 term? Resveritrol. Okay, you get the picture.

Normally we would expect the #2 – #4 most searched resveratrol terms to be things like “resveratrol supplements” or “resveratrol benefits”. No, it looks like people are struggling away with 4 different ways to spell resveratrol.

Anyway You Spell It – People Are Interested in Resveratrol… or is it Reservatrol.. or Maybe Resveratol…

We are having some fun here, but the trend that these searches show is clear – there is great interest in Resveratrol. We do think that Resveratrol is a fascinating polyphenol and expect to see Resveratrol Supplement sales for 2010 at an all time high. If you are interested in learning more about this anti-aging substance be sure to check out our Resveratrol Special Report. Don’t worry, there will not be spelling test at the end!

There is an old corny joke -

Q- How Do You Stop An Elephant From Charing?
A – Take Away His Credit Cards

Well, it looks like Visa has finally seen the giant Elephant in the room – All the Free Trial Acai Berry Scammers – and true to the joke, they have taken away their credit cards!

Visa Inc. Cuts Off 100 Merchants Who Have Been Deceiving Consumers

On December 17, 2009 Visa Inc. announced they cut off 100 scammers who used bogus marketing techniques to dupe consumers in the past six months. The scam involves what is called “negative option” or “forced continuity”. This is a process where the consumer signs up to get something for free (such as Acai or Resveratrol) and is just asked to enter a credit card to pay for shipping. What the consumer does not see is that there is tiny print buried pages deep in the site that says they give the company the right to charge them upwards of $90 a month and continue to bill them for products every month.

“The game here is to get people hooked, keep them on the hook for monthly charges as long as you can, and only stop making those charges when you’re forced to,” said Stephen Salter, vice president of BBB Online. BBB has received thousands of complaints about the problem, with multiple companies to blame. “The product is irrelevant to getting the charges on the card.”

Let’s All Welcome Visa Inc on Board the Stop Acai Scams Bandwagon – What Took You So Long!

Any regular regular of this blog knows that we have been calling for authorities to shut down these Acai scam sites for close to a year now. We have seen Attorney Generals from various states bring actions, The Better Business Bureau issue warnings and Oprah bringing a massive lawsuit against the scammers. Still, we have always felt the best way to stop these acai scammers was to hit them in the wallet and cut off their ability to accept credit cards. So, while Visa Inc is a little late to the party – we definitely welcome them and applaud their actions.

100 Merchants? Is That All the Acai Scammers Out There?

No – just a small drop in the bucket. The good news is this sends another signal to any company who practiced deception online that deceit does not pay. Maybe they were not caught in this round by Visa Inc. Maybe they were not named in the Oprah Lawsuit. Maybe the FDA and FTC has not filed charges against them today. Maybe the Attorney General in their state has not shut them down yet… but tomorrow is another day and they might be next.

We really believe the way to stop these Acai scams is to create an environment where the risk outweighs the reward. These scammers are all about making money and not getting caught. As they start to see more legal action taken, their risk of getting caught increases. Let’s hope everyone keeps applying more pressure so we can all believe in the old adage again – crime does not pay!

Additional Resources:

Black Belt Course In Spotting Acai Berry Scams

Visa Inc Information on Negative Option and Deceptive Marketing

Visa, FTC and BBB Press Release on Avoiding Online Scams

When it comes to superfruits like Acai, muscadines and resveratrol – you often see claims about how these fruits can help with cardiovascular function or cholesterol levels. What is interesting is that very few sites actually get into the science of how these fruits can work their magic. Let’s dig a little deeper…

I Guess Scientific Names Sound Better than “Fruit Filling”

You know all that stuff that make up a fruits – we call it pulp, fruit filling or fruit stuff – but that is not very scientific and way too easy to pronounce. Here are some technical terms for all the good stuff in fruit…

• Plants and Fruits are made up of stuff! The broad term for the top level components in plants and fruits are Polyphenols. There are over 10,000 different Polyphenols in the plant kingdom.
• Because biologist love to classify things, there are groups that fall under Polyphenols. Flavonoids are a large group of components in the Polyphenol class. So, while there are thousands of different flavonoids, all flavonoids are part of the larger Polyphenol grouping.
• You like words you can’t pronounce? How about Proanthocyanidins (or oligomeric proanthocyanidins or OPC) or Anthocyanins? These are things that fall under the Flavonoid group. Isn’t biology fun?

We will stop there – not because the classifications end, but just because we realize your finger is probably just about to hit the close button on your browser!

Going to a party and want to impress everyone with your knowledge of Resveratrol? Try this one out on them –

Resveratrol is a phytoalexin. Phytoalexins are flavonoids. All flavonoids are Polyphenols. So, Resveratrol is a phytoalexin, flavonoid and polyphenol!

What Does Any of This Have to Do With How Fruits Help With Cholesterol?

Sorry, the boring biology lesson on terms that no one can pronounce is now over. What is important to take away from the above is that fruits, and especially superfruits like Muscadine and Acai, are packed with all these nutrients and antioxidants. Many of the polyphenols in Acai and Muscadine are powerful antioxidants. Resveratrol, anthocyanins, OPCs – all powerful antioxidants.

How Do Antioxidants Help With Cholesterol?

I am sure you have hear about the “good and bad” cholesterol. It is generally accepted that LDL Cholesterol is the bad cholesterol and HDL cholesterol is the good cholesterol. While on a simple level this is true, it is actually a little bit more complicated when it comes to when LDL Cholesterol starts causing real health issues.

Oxidized LDL Cholesterol – The Really Bad Cholesterol

What is worse than having high levels of LDL Cholesterol? Having high levels of Oxidized LDL Cholesterol! Oxidized LDL Cholesterol is exactly what its name suggests, LDL cholesterol that has been attacked by free radicals and becomes oxidized. Numerous studies have found a strong correlation between high levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol and heart disease. In fact, the correlation between Oxidized LDL Cholesterol and heart disease is much stronger than the correlation between LDL cholesterol (not oxidized) and heart disease. Clearly, you want to do what you can to avoid Oxidized LDL Cholesterol.

How All Fruits (including Acai and Muscadine Grapes) Can Help

Nobody eats food that has Oxidized LDL Cholesterol. We eat foods with LDL Cholesterol and the oxidation happens inside our body due to free radicals. Fruits are high in antioxidants and superfruits like Acai and Muscadine Grapes are really high in antioxidants. It is the antioxidants in fruits that can help battle the free radicals and give you the best chance of keeping LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and becoming really bad cholesterol!

People often think of antioxidants helping with skin tone, the immune system or general energy levels and while this is all correct, they can really help on a much deeper level. Oxidation does not just lead to skin spots and other skin issues, oxidation works on a cellular level and can cause serious health issues. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants is one of the best ways to keep oxidation in check, keep LDL cholesterol from oxidizing and sure, it can help your skin look better to!

Our Standard Disclaimer – We Are Not Giving Medical Advice

Nothing we say here should be taken as medical advice. We are not making any health claims about what a fruit can do for you. Simply, we believe a healthy diet, rich in fruits, can provide benefits. If you have any specific medical questions you should consult with your doctor. High oxidized LDL Cholesterol levels and heart disease are very serious issues and you should work with your doctor to correct any issues you may have.