Its a fact, not all foods and supplements receive the same share of the spotlight, attention, or scrutiny. In spite of the ample scientific research behind it, one of the most overlooked is resveratrol. It may surprise you to learn that resveratrol, most commonly associated with wine, has many benefits that may not only help you in your next trip to the gym, but could also you enhance your opportunity to age more gracefully. Weve compiled a list of the top six benefits of resveratrol, and some helpful strategies to maximize your efforts.

Do you get turned off with the mere thought of endurance training? What if you could enhance your results? According to a 2012 Canadian study, resveratrol supplementation could provide similar skeletal muscle benefits as endurance training. The study, conducted over a 12-week period on rats, found that resveratrol supplementation also resulted in an increase of endurance, oxidative metabolism, and enhanced cardiac function. Better yet, the combination of endurance training with resveratrol supplementation resulted in a performance increase of 21%. Be smart: Continue endurance training and consider resveratrol supplementation to augment results.

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According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2011, heart disease ranked as the United States leading cause of death. Consider your family history and plan ahead. A Canadian study found that by drinking one to two 5-ounce glasses of wine per day, study participants were able to significantly reduce their risk of developing artherosclerotic disease, a precursor to heart disease and stroke, and subsequently also reduce their risk of death by roughly 30%. How? Researchers in Connecticut determined that resveratrol preconditions your heart thus providing it with the best protection to avoid cardiac events.

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Does your family have a history of cancer? If so, youre likely familiar with colon cancer as, according to the Mayo Clinic, its the most frequently occurring digestive system cancer. Because of its deadly result, researchers across the world continue to search for ways to prevent it. A recent study conducted in France concluded that resveratrol was able to slow down the production of cancerous cells and therefore could be considered an effective anticancer agent. Some of the top natural sources of resveratrol include blueberries, peanuts, grapes, and both red and white wines.

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Vision is arguably the most important of your five senses. Even the slightest vision loss is instantly noticeable. Unfortunately, for most, vision loss is a normal part of aging. Luckily, a study by Missouri researchers has found that resveratrol has the ability to counteract this somewhat common occurrence. How? They discovered that resveratrol has the ability to regulate angiogenesis, thereby preventing the abnormal growth of blood vessels that are damaging to eyesight. Other eye-friendly foods to consider include omega-3 fatty fish, as well as foods rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

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Do you believe your testosterone needs a boost? As you enter your thirties, its increasingly possible for testosterone to decline. If you think thats happening, visit your physician and ask for a blood test to determine your levels. There are testosterone replacement therapies that could be effective. According to a Korean study conducted on mice, resveratrol may also be an option. The study concluded that blood testosterone concentration was improved by more than 50% following a 28-day period of resveratrol consumption. Even if youre not quite as successful, there are still plenty of other scientifically researched benefits in consuming resveratrol.

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Want to get a mental edge? One way is through increased blood flow to your brain. Recently, UK researchers conducted a study of 22 healthy adults and determined that neurological blood flow was increased following resveratrol consumption. Prior to that study, Illinois researchers discovered that mice receiving resveratrol supplementation had better memory function and overall increased mental performance. More research is necessary to determine the extent of its effect, but the good news is that if youre a regular wine drinker, you now have yet another good reason explaining why.

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6 Reasons to Supplement With Resveratrol - Men's Journal