Many people become loyal to certain brands, styles, habits and diets. Those loyalties depend on many factors and may be good, bad or neutral. Think about it. Do you prefer one make of car over any other? Do you prefer one style of clothes or one diet plan over any other? What makes your preference any better than someone else’s?

In fact, when it comes to whether or not a specific food or drink or supplement is beneficial or not sometimes comes down to the same type of loyalty. You will find sources that tout the benefits of something while other sources discredit those beneficial claims.

Such may be the case for red wine and a supplement known as resveratrol.

Many doctors will tell you that a single glass of a hearty red wine every day is good for your heart and blood. Hearty red wines contain a number of antioxidants, most of which comes from the skins of the grapes used to make the wine. These antioxidants are claimed to help reduce the risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Some sources will also say that the limited amount of alcohol found in many red wines also helps to dilate the blood vessels which also helps reduce heart disease, blood pressure and heart attacks.

Then you will see reports that say that the negative effects of the alcohol in red wines offsets any beneficial benefits of the antioxidants in the wine. I found references to studies from both sides of the red wine argument.

That brings me to the supplement resveratrol. Never heard of it?

According to WebMD:

Resveratrol is part of a group of compounds called polyphenols. They’re thought to act like antioxidants, protecting the body against damage that can put you at higher risk for things like cancer and heart disease.

It’s in the skin of red grapes, but you can also find it in peanuts and berries.

Manufacturers have tried to capitalize on its powers by selling resveratrol supplements. Most resveratrol capsules sold in the U.S. contain extracts from an Asian plant called Polygonum cuspidatum. Other resveratrol supplements are made from red wine or red grape extracts.

One website lists the following health benefits one gets from taking resveratrol as: helps lower blood pressure, positive effect on blood fats, lengthens lifespan in certain animals, helps protect the brain, helps reduce insulin resistance, may help to ease joint pain and helps to suppress some cancer cells.

The website claims there are studies that help support these claims.

WebMD adds that resveratrol may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s as well as helping to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics.

I was not able to find any listed serious side effects from taking resveratrol, even in higher than recommended doses, except that it may interfere with the effects of blood thinners like warfarin and NSAIDS.

One thing I found is that in many of the studies that supported the beneficial effects of resveratrol, the doses ran about 2,000mg a day where most of the supplements sold are only 250mg-500mg with a recommendation of 1 per day with a meal. Do I recommend taking more than what it says on the bottle to take? NO. Only that is what I gleaned from reports.

Is resveratrol or red wine good for your health? You be the judge and perhaps it’s best to consult with your own doctor.