Could a pill really slow down ageing?

So, let me give you guys a bit of background as to why I’m fascinated by this topic.  Some time ago, the family and I were in the car driving back from Adelaide and I was scanning the local radio stations of each town we passed.  I happened to stumble upon a podcast of a very famous Australian geneticist, David Sinclair.  He was discussing the amazing breakthroughs of resveratrol, which in small concentrations is found in red wine.  However, when potentised has the ability to reverse and slow down the ageing process, even going on record to say that humans may well live to 150years of age.  PHENOMENAL.  My mind was on fire. I listed to this 1 hour podcast and as soon as we arrived back home, I was googling ‘David Sinclair Resveratrol’ and reading all his research papers.  More often than not, I would come across a medical acronym or biochemical discussion that would leave me baffled and thus spend hours learning and researching what the heck those all meant, but I did manage to understand the basics.  Now, I could give a whole day lecture on his research, but in a snap shot…here’s my interpretation.

Resveratrol (or some potentised derivative of this compound) has the ability to reverse ageing, assist in preventing (now get ready for this ….) heart disease, diabetes, degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer AND help increase vitality.  So how does it do this? It’s much more than just an antioxidant – Resveratrol turns on the body's genetic defences against diseases and aging itself.  It also helps to increase fatty-acid oxidation (burning of fat into energy) and increases mitochondrial activity (give more energy).  Resveratrol interferes with all three stages of carcinogenesis—initiation, promotion and progression especially in skin, bowel, stomach and pancreatic cancers.  In fact there is a whole list of claims regarding resveratrol.  This compound which found naturally in berries is now in the hands of the pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline who are working on molecules that are 1000 times more effective than resveratrol at turning on those genes and increasing its potential.   But this drug is at least five years away.

So how else can we help turn on those genes to help us live a longer and healthier life?  Eating less and exercising turns on these same anti-aging enzymes. But diet and exercise are not enough to reverse aging.  However when resveratrol is used in conjunction to a low calorie diet and moderate exercise, the results are quite promising when dealing with reducing the risk of diseases.

By now most of you know that I’m a big fan of the 5:2 diet.  Not just for weight loss but for general well being.  I have been following this regime since October 2014.  I learnt that it’s ok to feel hungry.  It doesn’t mean I have to act on it (as I type this at 10.30pm there's an ad for Domino's Pizza on TV.  Seriously, why would someone need to eat at 10.30pm?  Anyway, I digress...). 
I want you to know that for someone who absolutely LOVES eating and creating food – not responding to my hunger took a lot of discipline.  Consuming 400-500 calories twich a week was hard.  Now it’s easy.  I’m prepared for the sensation, understand that it will pass and don’t feel starving like I used to (not even that Domino's ad tempts me).  Has resveratrol helped?  Probably.  But maybe the introduction of fermented foods has helped too.  All I can say is that I have noticed several things since I have started taking resveratrol –

1. my skin is clear and vibrant
2. I definitely have more energy
3. since introducing resveratrol to my 5:2 regime, I lost 2kgs in a week without doing anything different
4. hunger pangs are bearable

But more of an incentive for me…is that one day when GSK release this wonder pill, it will reverse ageing within a week …well for now I’m getting a head start.  I take 1 capsule a day.  Damn it, I will do everything in my power to shave off some wrinkles and years from my sleep deprived face.  …now all I need is a drug to shrink my boobs.

My favourite resveratrol is Herbs of Gold 250mg.