Resveratrol and The French Paradox

Resveratrol is the new snake oil in the world of life extension. It came out of the studies from France that are known as The French Paradox. So here's the thinking that generated this new highly hyped, but still unproven, elixir of life for living longer no matter what else you do to yourself.
The French people live statistically longer than the populations of most other developed countries. The French are also known for their red wine. Even Jeanne Calment, a French woman who lived to 122 years old, loved the French red wine. She also loved chocolates, but that's another story. So putting two and two together, it must be the red wine that is making the French people live longer, right? Maybe, but I am doubtful the red wine has anything to do with the French people living longer.
They are probably living longer "In Spite Of" drinking red wine, which is my own personal theory. Having travelled to France several times and truly enjoying each of my trips there, I did notice the one thing that most likely is why the French people live longer than most. They Eat Less! French meals are small and you almost feel ripped off after paying fifty dollars for a meal that could fit on a teacup saucer. France though is the only country I have travelled to, among thirty others, that does eat right. Amazing for this to be their national standard.
The French Paradox is also exaggerated by the curiosity that the French like to eat cheese with their red wine. They also like fatty meats and butter on everything. Still the answer here is that they don't eat much of these cheeses, meats, and butter. Their portions are very small. I even clearly recall a three dollar ice cream cone I had that had three scoops of ice cream on the cone that were each the size of a marble. Not very satisfying for the price.
So this resveratrol will most likely fall to the wayside just like Vitamin C did after Linus Pauling was done hyping it. Because that's all it was, just hype. The skins of red grapes are probably not bad for you, but eating too much of them probably will be.
So the French Paradox comes with a lesson learned. Eat less. Eat right. And you will live longer. Eat resveratrol and overeat and drink heavily and you surely won't live longer. It fascinates me still how even great scientists can get so distracted over the prospect of selling some new extract that they ignore the real scientific evidence right in front of their eyes. Life Extension is currently only achieved through Caloric Restriction with Optimal Nutrition. These are known, proven, and even quantified life extending effects. Calorie restriction slows your basal metabolism. That's how you and all the other animal species this has been tested on live longer. It's easy to do and you can learn how in the pages of my book.
Dr. Doug Ikeler www.lifeextensionbooks.net