Resveratrol Life Extension

Resveratrol is a substance contained in almost all grape skins, and purple berries. The substance has been investigated for its capabilities in extending life. Life extension is an interesting concept. The idea that life can be extended presupposes that we are all born with an expiration date. Indeed the human body does have a characteristic known as “programmed cell death”. During growth in the womb, programmed cell death destroyed the webbing between our fingers as they were once webbed like a duck’s feet. The hypothesis is that substances like resveratrol can delay the chemical messenger telling our bodies to generate dangerous neoplasms (cancers) that can end our lives. These hypotheses require much contemplation, but suppose they are right? If so, then substances like resveratrol are indeed gold. It means that literally a person who takes this substance is delaying death. This is not the current line of thinking in the medical community but it has been raised by some scientists. Modern medicine says that we all have choices and those who make the wisest choices live the longest – or do they? What about famous people who smoke for 40 years? There are quite a few. What about obese people who live to 80? There are two required hypotheses to arrive at the resveratrol way of thinking. One supposition is that we can’t control ourselves and ultimately will give into our bad habits. The second is that we are destined to have an average life expectancy based on our genetic predisposition. For example if your parents lived to 80, you will probably live to 80. But what if you took resveratrol? Will you live to 90? Will you live to 100? Nobody knows right now, but the questions are delightful. No long range study has been done to see if megadoses of resveratrol contribute to longer lives. Unfortunately any study of this magnitude will take a lifetime to complete. Too bad we won’t be around to see the result.