Resveratrol: Can it
help with weight loss?
Dr. Shannon Feely, BSc, ND
Resveratrol is an anti-oxidant you probably know is found in red
wine. It’s also found in purple grape
skins, blueberries, cranberries and mulberries.
In addition to it helping prevent damage to blood vessels, reducing
“bad” cholesterol and preventing blood clots, there are promising studies
showing that resveratrol may assist with weight loss.
- One of the ways it does this is through decreasing the
activity of inflammatory hormones. The
explanation behind inflammation and weight gain is complicated, but the bottom
line is that inflammation causes the body to store more fat.
- In studies on mice, resveratrol also appears to protect
from the harmful effects of a high-calorie diet, including heart disease,
weight gain and diabetes. This may be because
resveratrol increases fat metabolism by stimulating the activity of an enzyme
that acts as a cellular switch, which then increases the number of mitochondria
in our cells. Mitochondria are a key
part of our metabolism, responsible for burning energy in the body.
- Resveratrol can also help with keeping your blood sugar
stable by helping your cells be responsive to insulin. This means your cells are able to efficiently
use the sugar you eat. When your cells
are sensitive to insulin and therefore use the sugar in your blood, this helps
you store less fat and decrease inflammation.
Resveratrol comes in two forms, trans-resveratrol and
cis-resveratrol, with trans-resveratrol being the active form. Most research to date has been on mice but
human studies are now in the works.
The amount of resveratrol in red wine can vary widely depending on
grape type, climate and practices used to make the wine. Don’t rely on drinking red wine to get
optimal amounts of resveratrol if you’re trying to lose weight. More
research on human weight loss and resveratrol is needed, but eating plenty of
blueberries and taking a high-quality supplement that provides approximately
200mg/day of the trans-resveratrol may be one helpful tool for your weight loss
goals.
If you’re
interested in learning more about how you can achieve and maintain a healthy
weight, please contact the West Vancouver Wellness Centre to book an
appointment with Dr. Shannon or Dr. Justin.
