The Sources of Resveratrol: Finding the Best One for You

The majority of people who know about resveratrol automatically link it to red wine. Red wines have been the prominent discussion for sources of resveratrol due to the grape skins that make red wine being full of the powerful antioxidant.
The red wine link, while being true, was also a great way to get people to pay attention to resveratrol and its benefits. Mediterranean people who are known for their consumption of red wine are also known for aging slower and having less age related illness, such as heart disease.
However, the average person is not going to consume the amount of red wine needed to get the amount of resveratrol needed to be beneficial to their health. These people need other sources of resveratrol.
The first alternate source of resveratrol would naturally be the very fruit that makes red wine healthy, grapes. Red and green grapes, or rather the skins of red and green grapes, are filled with resveratrol. Red and purple grapes have higher concentrations of resveratrol than green grapes.
There are other fruits that contain various levels of the antioxidant; however, it is important to remember that the highest levels of resveratrol are found in the skins and seeds, such as strawberry seeds. Another important factor is how the fruit was grown. Organically grown fruits are higher in resveratrol than fruits grown with pesticides.
Many varieties of plants contain resveratrol. It naturally occurs in plants to help protect them from insect attack, dangerous microbes and the changes in the climate that are constantly occurring. Eucalyptus, spruce, mulberries and lilies contain moderate amounts of resveratrol and most other plants contain at least traces of the compound.
The problem with using wine, fruits, or other foods to obtain resveratrol for health benefits is the amount that would have to be consumed in order to see those benefits. People have been eating peanuts and grapes for years without seeing the beneficial health effects that are desired.
The best sources of resveratrol for use as a health aid are supplements. Resveratrol supplements are great for getting a therapeutic dose of resveratrol in a single capsule or pill.
Most resveratrol supplements are made from the Japanese knotwood plant, an herbaceous plant found in Japan, China and Korea. Before it was found to contain resveratrol, the knotwood plant was considered a pesky weed. Now, however, it is a source of resveratrol and has been found to contain other healthy compounds as well, such as Vitamin C.
Using supplements as a source of resveratrol is an excellent way to get a therapeutic amount of resveratrol. Taking a good supplement that is 100% pure resveratrol, in a 250 milligram version, has the same amount of resveratrol as more than two hundred glasses of red wine.
Resveratrol has many important health benefits and is available in supplements and naturally occurs in some fruits and plants. Consumers who choose to use a supplement should research the various options and choose one that is pure and contains no fillers.