One of the most dangerous threats to your health as you age is falling. And the most common cause of falling is poor balance. If you ask 10 different doctors how to improve your balance, all of them will tell you to exercise.
But what if I told you it’s possible to improve your balance with a nutrient. Yep, it’s true!
This nutrient is so effective for balance issues that researchers in a recent study called it a “miracle molecule.”
What Is This Miracle Nutrient?
This nutrient is one of my favorite heart supplements – resveratrol!
This study was the first to discover resveratrol’s potent effect on motor coordination and balance. Here’s how the researchers did it:
At the beginning of the study, the researchers added whole blueberries to the diet of young and old laboratory mice. Blueberries are a rich source of resveratrol.
For eight weeks, the researchers periodically had the mice cross a steel mesh balance beam. They counted each misstep the mice made. At the beginning of the study, older mice made many more missteps than younger mice.
But about halfway through the study, something amazing happened! The older mice improved their balance to the point that they were matching the younger mice step for step.
Another mouse study that focused on supplemental resveratrol had similar results. But it went a step further and showed the nutrient could address other issues caused by frailty. These include improved bone health and better muscle strength.
And a third mouse study found giving resveratrol to two-year-old mice – these are considered to be “old” – improved synapses called neuromuscular junctions. These synapses are essential for voluntary movement because they relay motor commands that flow from neurons in the spinal cord to muscles.
In other words, resveratrol helps cells communicate better, which helps balance and overall well-being.
What About People?
People have these same neuromuscular junctions as mice. We also have similar cell communication pathways throughout the body. So it would make sense that resveratrol will help our balance. And it does!
In one study, researchers took a group of men and women with an average age of 72 and divided them into three groups. One group did exercise and took a placebo. The second group did exercise and took 500 mg per day of resveratrol. And the third group did exercise and took 1,000 mg per day of resveratrol.
The researchers then put the three groups through a series of physical function tests. The researchers found that those taking the resveratrol were able to walk faster and further with fewer mishaps than those taking the placebo. And the higher the dosage of resveratrol, the better the results.
The conclusion is clear. Not only will resveratrol help you keep your balance better, but it will help your physical performance as well.
So make sure you’re eating plenty of foods rich in resveratrol. These include blueberries, red grapes, and nuts. You can also enjoy a glass or two of red wine and a little dark chocolate to get even more resveratrol. And you can take a resveratrol supplement. I suggest taking 1,500-2,000 mg daily.