Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • Sleep
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
Toast Your Good Health With Resveratrol?
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Health & Wellness
  3. Health Centers
  4. Aging Gracefully

Toast Your Good Health With Resveratrol?

In view of findings that the resveratrol in red wine is good for you, do you recommend drinking wine? Taking supplements? If so, how much?

Andrew Weil, M.D. | June 27, 2018

Good Health With Resveratrol | Aging Gracefully | Andrew Weil, M.D.
2 min

Resveratrol is an antioxidant in the skin of red grapes and in red wine as well as in peanuts, pistachios, blueberries, cranberries, cocoa and dark chocolate. White wine contains no resveratrol but contains other compounds (tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol) that may have health benefits.

Animal studies have shown that resveratrol can reduce inflammation and may help protect against heart disease and diabetes. Laboratory studies have shown that it can prevent the growth of cancer cells and possibly slow aging, but we have no evidence for any of this in humans. Most of what we know about resveratrol’s health effects comes from studies in mice, and while we know that red wine can benefit heart health, we don’t know the extent of the role resveratrol plays.

Studies have also shown that resveratrol can increase the lifespans of yeast, worms, fruit flies, fish, and mice fed high-calorie diets. Although we can absorb resveratrol easily, it is rapidly metabolized and eliminated. Adding resveratrol to the diet doesn’t appear to reduce the risk of dying from either cancer or heart disease.

One interesting human study from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine published in 2014 examined resveratrol’s effect on people in Italy’s Chianti area. The researchers analyzed health information gathered from about 800 men and women, age 65 and older, whose diets were naturally rich in resveratrol from food and wine. The team saw no link between resveratrol intake and the rates of heart disease, cancer and death.

Another human trial published in 2015 included 119 people with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Those given resveratrol for one year had no change in levels of amyloid-beta40 in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. This was good – those who received the placebo had a decline in these levels, a sign that the disease was progressing. The highest dose of resveratrol tested was one gram twice a day by mouth (two grams of resveratrol is about equal to the amount you would get from drinking 1000 bottles of red wine daily.)

High doses of resveratrol in the form of supplements can cause gastrointestinal problems. I don’t recommend them.

If you drink alcohol, red wine is a good choice, but keep it to a daily glass or two. And try to eat more red and purple fruits, such as dark-colored grapes, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

 

Sources:
Richard D. Semba et al “Resveratrol Levels and All-Cause Mortality in Older Community-Dwelling Adults.” JAMA Internal Medicine, July 2014, doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.1582

Scott Turner et al, “A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of resveratrol for Alzheimer disease.” Neurology, September 11,2015, DOI: doi.org/10.12/WNL0000000000002035

Read more tips, recipes, and insights on a wide variety of topics from Dr. Weil here.

is white wine dangerous
Addiction

Is White Wine Dangerous?

red wine pouring in a restaurant
Videos

Green Tea, Red Wine and Chocolate

Advertisement
Related Weil Products

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Healthy Eating

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging for Nutrition – Want to change your diet? The Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging online guide is your anti-inflammatory diet headquarters. Start your free trial and get access to an exclusive version of Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid, hundreds of recipes, eating guides, and more.
Get Started
Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

Two Ways to Protect the Brain - Dr. Weil
Aging Gracefully

2 Ways To Protect The Brain

foods that promote healthy vision
Aging Gracefully

3 Foods That Promote Healthy Vision

3 Ways To Prepare For Lifelong Health | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Aging Gracefully

3 Ways To Prepare For Lifelong Health

Lovely modern dad enjoys the outdoors playing with his son on a white hammock
Aging Gracefully

4 Changes For Life Satisfaction

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
Two Ways to Protect the Brain - Dr. Weil
Aging Gracefully

2 Ways To Protect The Brain

foods that promote healthy vision
Aging Gracefully

3 Foods That Promote Healthy Vision

Daily Tips
Feeling Stressed? Consider Rhodiola For Help
Health Tips

Feeling Stressed? Consider Rhodiola For Help

Want To Improve Your Cholesterol Levels? Reach For The Olives
Health Tips

Are You Eating Olives?

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • TikTok

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright 2023 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com