Stress With Benefits
Calorie restriction is thought to put the body under mild physiological stress, prodding it into survival mode. In this state, the body works overtime to keep itself at optimal health. The body unleashes its natural arsenal of cancer-fighting, heart-helping, and metabolism-boosting agents. While “psychological stress is bad,” Baur says, physiological stress has its perks. “The mechanism exists to help you get through a tough time,” he adds, like when there isn’t enough food around. Scientists know that plants make resveratrol at times of stress. Some theorize that evolution might have favored our human ancestors whose response to consuming plant stress signals, like resveratrol, was to activate their own survival mode, giving them a head start on avoiding famine.

For whatever reason, resveratrol seems to have a big impact on animals. But it has a long way to go to prove itself in humans. In the meantime, as you enjoy that glass of ruby red wine, you can ponder the possibility that it really does contain a key to a longer, healthier life.