It was actually a curiosity about why the French could eat a diet that was so high in saturated fat and yet have a very low incidence of heart disease that led researchers to the discovery that grapes contain resveratrol. Scientists believe that because this compound is present that coronary disease is thwarted in France due to the population's consumption of red wine.

The French Paradox as it is called was first noted by an Irish physician who was named Samuel Black back in 1819, but the term was actually coined by a French scientist named Serge Renaud in 1992. The news story concerning the French Paradox first aired in the United States during an episode of 60 minutes. Afterwards the sale of red wine in the country went up a staggering 44%.

Grapes contain resveratrol, which is a phytoalexin or plant produced antibiotic, due to being attacked by pathogens such as fungus or bacteria. Resveratrol has also been produced by chemical synthesis, and is primarily derived from Japanese knotweed. The compound has been discovered to also have benefits that go beyond simply reducing the incidence of coronary heart disease.

In clinical testing on laboratory mice and rats resveratrol has shown much promise in the way of anti cancer activity. It has already been seen that when the compound is applied topically it has prevented the skin cancer development in mice that have been treated with a carcinogen. Human clinical trials are currently underway to investigate the effects on colon cancer, and melanoma.

The discovery that grapes contain resveratrol has led to the study of its effects on many other forms of cancer also, and the effect on cells has appeared positive so far. It is currently being investigated to determine the compounds effect on breast, esophageal, prostate, skin, gastric, and pancreatic cancer. Studies are also ongoing to see if it has any effect on leukemia.

So far the results are mixed.

Resveratrol taken orally had no effect on leukemia or lung cancer, but when injected intraperitoneally it was shown to slow the growth of metastatic lung carcinomas. It has also proven to reduce the number and size of esophageal tumors in rats that had been treated with the carcinogen, and it has also shown to reduce or prevent the development of intestinal and colon tumors. That grapes contain resveratrol has also led to the finding that while the compound appears to prevent the development of mammary tumors it had no affect at all on the growth of existing tumors.

All in all the results look to be positive, and medical professionals are still advising everyone that it would be a very good idea to supplement your diet with resveratrol. Instead of taking advantage of the fact that grapes contain resveratrol by eating more of them, or drinking more red wine you would be far better off taking a nutritional supplement that contained not only this compound, but many other healthy natural ingredients.

After all if you are going to be conscious of your health you want to be sure that you imbibe in all of the healthy ingredients that nature has to offer.

If you would like to read more about a highly effective nutritional supplement which provides all the benefits of Resveratrol, for example loss weight diet with no fewer than 76 nutrients blended together to provide you with optimum health, why not go to my website now to find out more.

Part 2