Healthy brain function requires oxygen which depends on good cerebral blood flow (among other factors). As I see from measuring oxygen saturation and end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2 as measured by capnography; too little CO2 in the bloodstream impairs oxygen dissociation from hemoglobin), suboptimal perfusion and oxygenation of brain tissue occurs all too often. This welcome study published not long ago in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition offers evidence that resveratrol can help.

“In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, 22 healthy adults received placebo and 2 doses (250 and 500 mg) of trans-resveratrol in counterbalanced order on separate days…Cerebral blood flow and…concentration changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin, were assessed in the frontal cortex…”

Their data painted this picture:

“Resveratrol administration resulted in dose-dependent increases in cerebral blood flow…There was also an increase in deoxyhemoglobin after both doses of resveratrol, which suggested enhanced oxygen extraction…”

Other studies have shown how resveratrol may support insulin dynamics, combat inflammation and help accelerated degeneration. Your doctor may suggest, with good reason, that you take resveratrol if impairment of brain perfusion is contributing to your cognitive, emotional or physical problems.

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