Grab our RSS Feed

Resveratrol side effects

Resveratrol is an all natural compound that is commonly found in the skins of red grapes. Due to their consumption of wine, the Europeans have extended life expectancies and have astonished people for many years. Resveratrol is packed with the highest antioxidant levels discovered to date. It is supposed to promote detoxification of fat and muscle tissue caused by years of build up due to toxins. It also helps reverse the signs of aging and removes wrinkles and age marks by slowing down aging at the cellular level of our skin. It also has the ability to naturally speed up your metabolism, thereby causing more calories to be burned throughout the day and promote weight loss.

As soon as the news about resveratrol became public, people were rushing out to buy it. This created a large amount of companies trying to get their products on the market. Unfortunately, the quality of resveratrol supplements that flooded the market were not always the best. While it is present in other plants, such as spruce, lily, eucalyptus and also in foods like mulberries, peanuts, dark skinned fruits such as pomegranates, blueberries, and cranberries, resveratrol’s largest natural sources are Vitis vinifera, labrusca, and muscadines. These are types of grapes used to make wines.

Of course too much of anything can have side effects, and resveratrol is no different. One of first things you should know is that resveratrol does have mild estrogenic activity that has not yet been studied in humans. Any type of extra estrogenic activity is not recommended for woman who may have estrogen-sensitive conditions, which includes some types of cancers. You should always consult your doctor before taking resveratrol supplements as to avoid any possible side effects. Resveratrol supplementation should be avoided by women who are nursing, pregnant, or trying to conceive and by children in order to prevent any possible anti-growth side effects. Because resveratrol does act as a blood thinner, any person taking blood thinning medication should not take supplementation of resveratrol unless it is recommended by their doctor.

It should also be said that you should not take resveratrol with certain prescription medication. Negative side effects have been noted in people taking excessive amounts, 500 – 1000 mg of resveratrol. Some of the side effects that have been experienced are diarrhea, abnormal blood tests, over thinning of the blood, headaches, anxiety, joint pain (arthritis) and tendinitis pain. Even though these side effects are reversible you should avoid taking high doses of resveratrol. Some users have reported that they have experienced a higher and more lasting energy and endurance, a greater mental clarity, and better sleeping patterns due to taking resveratrol.

Most reports of side effects of resveratrol have been based on personal experiences rather than on actual medical studies. Some of the side effects that you may experience can disappear after taking the recommended dosage for a few days. Symptoms such as tingling or numbness in the arms, hands, legs and feet, having a decreased appetite, having stomach cramping and or diarrhea all may be noticed if the quality of resveratrol is not the best. A jittery feeling or a caffeine-like buzz soon after ingestion has been experienced by some. Any type of supplement has the potential to have side effects, especially the newer supplements that have not been tested or studied in people. Resveratrol does have health benefits that may out way any risk factors but more scientific studies need to be done. Before taking any supplement make sure to do a thorough research on the supplement, weighing the potential benefits verses side effects. Getting a medical opinion is advised.

Last updated on Nov 23rd, 2009 and filed under Nutritional Information. Both comments and pings are currently closed.