Aging and how to slow down the aging process has been a hot topic on many talk shows and in dozens of books and magazines recently. Everyone that I have approached with the question, “How would you like to live 25 years longer?, has answered  “Absolutely”, but most add, “especially if it could be a quality life”. Although our parents and grandparents seemed to accept aging as something unavoidable, the baby boomer generation are just not buying it. Consequently, scientific researchers are spending billions of dollars to unlock the science of aging.

There is a difference between biological aging and chronological aging. We all know people who look far older than they actually are as well as those who seem to look 10 years younger than their age This occurs for a variety of reasons of course…Lifestyle as well as genetics.

We obviously can’t slow down time.  With each passing year we are chronologically a year older, but scientists say that there are many things that we can do to influence and potentially slow down this biological aging in a given individual.

One way has to do with how efficiently our cells function and how effectively they repair and replicate themselves. These changes happen at the cellular level and the results have an impact on cell function which will affect the longevity of the cell as well as the organs throughout our body.

The most recent cellular aging research involves polyphenols. These are plant-based chemicals that are found in a variety of foods, such as berries and grapes. Evidence is increasingly pointing to the beneficial effects of these phenolic compounds in managing chronic diseases related to aging of the cell.

Certain phytonutrients,  particularly, the polyphenol, resveratrol, actually have the ability to help modify DNA damage.  Resveratrol has over 2000 research citations, including studies conducted by Harvard University, the National Institute on Aging and National Institutes of Health. Dr. David Sinclair at Harvard University discovered that resveratrol positively impacts the cellular aging process of a high fat diet on the heart and liver as well as insulin resistance.

Certain foods have greater polyphenol properities than others. Vitis rotundifolia (muscadine) is loaded with ellagic acid, a phytonutrient, and has an extra chromosome, enhancing it’s polyphenol properities.  A very potent source of naturally occurring resveratrol is Japanese knotweed , a large, herbal plant native to eastern Asia. Therefore, a dietary supplement containing a blend of both of these unique and potent polyphenols is best.

While scientists agree on the potential benefits of this remarkable phytonutrient , recent research indicates that the vast majority of resveratrol products on the market today are NOT pure enough. They often contain substantial amounts of unwanted compounds that can cause tolerance problems in most people. In addition, most of these products are not potent enough. In order to maximize the potency and guarantee the highest possible biological activity in the cell, a specific extraction process is necessary and most companies do not spend the time or money to do this. Also, remember, the best products should contain no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives.