There was a recent special on television about the Resveratrol capsule that is going into its second round of drug testing and if it is all that is promised it will change the face of aging Americans. I poured myself a glass of red wine so I could do some research. I find it helpful to sample the product that may contain the key to the cure.

The greatest source of Resveratrol is found in the skin of red grapes. It's a phytoalexin that is produced by many different plants and the effect it has is to attack bacteria. To date, it has been analyzed and synthesized to use as a nutritional supplement. As you know, many of those supplements are not under Food and Drug control, so you cannot be absolutely sure that these products are what the FDA will eventually approve,

So far, Resveratrol is doing well in studies on mice. It seems that the test mice have greater stamina and after their organs are studied, they appear to be pristine. Again, studies in mice are not studies on humans and I think only one of those has been done to see if there is an effect on the blood sugar of diabetics. The second round will involve those with cancer.

If the cardiovascular experiments done in rats proves to be all that it seems, it would be a boon drug. The developers are hoping tht they can market it to those with not only diabetic and cancer issues, but to all Americans as the panacea of anti-aging drugs.

No one has suggested the dosages that would be recommended, but they point to the French culture which is high in fat while the red wine flows liberally. It really is called the French Paradox because high saturated fats are supposed to cause heart attacks, but not in Southern France. That's an area well known for its red wines. Resveratrol is found in high concentration in red wine.

It may be five years or more before the FDA is ready to release Resveratrol to the general public, but initial studies sound good. In the meantime, the way to stave off the effects of aging is diet, exercise and moderation. And we've all heard that a glass of red wine each day is heart healthy. If the cure comes from the grape skin, maybe a cluster of the mother plant for dessert is the best idea of all.