Verified secrets that supercentenarians share

On January 17, 2023, when supercentenarian Sister André, a French nun, passed away at age 118, just weeks shy of her 119 birthday, it reignited a hot topic…

A long-researched longevity theory known as the French Paradox.

See, despite living a life of selflessness, Sister André had a few indulgences in life — chocolate and red wine. Her caregivers say she enjoyed a glass every day, a habit shared with another long-lived Frenchwoman — Jeanne Louise Calment.

She too was known to drink wine and was especially fond of chocolate, reportedly enjoying a little over 2 pounds a week!

I’ve always been fascinated by the French Paradox, but I’m finding there’s much more to it than the idea of “biological immortality” pioneered by longevity expert Dr. David Sinclair, Ph.D.

He proposed that resveratrol, a compound in the skin of red grapes, activated sirtuins — proteins involved in regulating cellular processes that could slow aging.

While those benefits are part of resveratrol’s life-extending recipe, what it does for artery health may be its best-kept secret…

The true secrets of the French Paradox

The French Paradox came about years ago when researchers discovered that in regions of France where the population enjoys a diet rich in full-fat dairy and cheese and consumes red wine regularly, the incidence of heart attack was considerably lower than in other parts of the world.

These days the French diet is said to be similar to the Mediterranean diet, but creamy dairy, rich cheese and red meat — foods high in artery-clogging saturated fats — are still regular staples.

Fortunately, it’s the resveratrol-rich red wine to the rescue…

Resveratrol helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces “bad” cholesterol, and promotes normal smooth blood flow. For example, according to one published study, resveratrol helps protect against plaque buildup!

But that’s not all…

Recently, research revealed that exposure to toxic metal pollutants, including lead, cadmium and arsenic, was worse on our hearts than smoking or cholesterol.

We’re exposed to these heavy metals via pollution, so they’re hard to avoid — but not impossible to remove from your body…

A healthy heart and circulatory system

It’s possible to support the body’s circulation and reduce the load of harmful contaminants that damage cells and accelerate aging via a process known as chelation.

Toxic metals can be “chelated” from the body when a chelating agent — like resveratrol — binds to toxins so they are expelled through urine. The process is similar to detoxing.

Resveratrol can be acquired through diet, with grapes and wine being the most abundant sources. But resveratrol can also be found in seeds and the skins and fruit of bilberries, raspberries, blueberries and cranberries.

But since resveratrol is a molecule that’s easily captured, it can be formulated as an extract or supplement. A much better solution than relying on red wine!

Resveratrol can bind to cadmium and arsenic. But reducing lead in the body requires the help of another chelator, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or EDTA for short. EDTA has been used for years in cases of lead poisoning intravenously. EDTA supplements work well for gentle maintenance.

To learn more about chelation, see the editor’s note below… you’ll be taken to a page all about.

Sources:

Resveratrol, Wine, and Atherosclerosis — International Journal Angiology