Researchers in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Alberta have discovered that resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant found in common foods like grapes, mulberries and peanuts, prevents a metabolic syndrome in some offspring that could lead to health issues like diabetes.

Human offspring, that have trouble developing in the womb, have a higher risk of developing metabolic problems later in life, the journal Diabetes reports.

Medical researchers Jason Dyck and Sandra Davidge and their teams found that administering resveratrol to rats after weaning actually prevented the development of a metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and higher deposits of abdominal fat. Resveratrol is a compound found in fruits, nuts and red wine, and has been shown to extend the lifespan of many species.

For naturopathy enthusiasts, Resveratrol (3, 5, 4'-trihydroxy-Trans-stilbene) is a stilbenoid, a type of natural phenol, and a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi.