Does the scientific evidence support the substantial hype of resveratrol supplementation? Let's take a closer look.
Resveratrol, a natural phenol commonly found in red wine and cocoa, is a potent anti-oxidant that aids in the removal of free radicals. Of course, everything that comes from a plant can pretty much make the same claim.
It's the other stuff that resveratrol can do that makes it so intriguing, things like possibly increasing life span, preventing cancer, and protecting against heart disease, Alzheimer's, and diabetes.
Beyond all that, resveratrol has recently found acclaim as a performance-enhancement supplement. It can act as an anti-inflammatory and may increase testosterone levels while also reducing estrogen.
Its ability to reduce inflammation and estrogen, while boosting T levels and promoting muscle repair, make it an excellent supplement for those looking to improve performance, body composition, and overall health.
Testosterone is the king of anabolic hormones. It promotes muscle growth, bone health, and improves your overall health and well-being.
Conversely, estrogen and estradiol increase body fat, reduce muscle mass and strength, and can turn even King Leonidas into a weak, pudgy, "mandropaused" middle-aged man.
Recently, resveratrol has been investigated for its ability to raise testosterone levels and reduce estrogen and estradiol. One study showed that it increased blood testosterone levels 51.6% in animals.
Equally intriguing are the studies showing resveratrol's inhibition of aromatase, thus reducing the conversion of testosterone to estrogen and increasing testosterone levels even further.
Based on this evidence, resveratrol may indeed be an effective way to improve testosterone levels. Granted, the effect wouldn't be nearly as powerful as that of steroids, but resveratrol might well grant a measureable increase in T levels and, consequently, performance.
While there's some debate surrounding the exact role of inflammation in muscle growth, one thing is for certain – excessive inflammation results in muscle degradation, pain, and serious metabolic issues.
Managing inflammation and promoting a more anti-inflammatory environment is beneficial for recovery, health, and muscle growth.
Specific to its anti-inflammatory properties, resveratrol has been shown to reduce a major inflammatory pathway, Nf-KB. While this property makes resveratrol a potentially beneficial supplement for recovery purposes, some worried that long-term suppression of the inflammatory response may blunt muscle growth.
However, the mechanism through which resveratrol acts indicates it would be difficult for an individual to consume enough of it to blunt hypertrophic signaling in muscle.
In fact, recent research has shown that resveratrol lessens excess exercise-induced muscle damage and promotes muscle repair.
Based on the evidence, resveratrol does several things that may make it a great bodybuilding supplement. Resveratrol:
There's no evidence suggesting physiological doses of resveratrol to be harmful.
There's some speculation that resveratrol may interact with the prescription drug Coumadin. Individuals on blood thinners should consult a physician prior to using it.
The typical human dose for resveratrol is around 250 to 600 milligrams per day. And yes, it's safe for women too and will not cause you to fail a drug test.
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