Introduction

Pterostilbene is a natural compound that has been gaining attention in the health and wellness community in recent years due to its research-demonstrated health benefits. It is a type of polyphenol, which is a group of compounds found in superfoods like blueberries, turmeric, and broccoli. Pterostilbene is structurally similar to resveratrol, another compound found in grapes and berries, but is considered to have greater bioavailability, which means it is more easily absorbed by the body.

Pterostilbene has been studied for its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as its potential to support cognitive function and heart health. These benefits make it an appealing compound for those looking to support their overall health and wellness. Pterostilbene is also considered safe and well-tolerated in supplement form, making it a popular choice among people looking for natural supplements to support their health. So if you’re interested in optimizing your health, read on for the research-backed benefits of pterostilbene

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Benefits:

Heart Health:
Pterostilbene has been shown to have benefits for heart health, including reducing LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels, lowering blood pressure, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Cognitive Function:
Studies show that pterostilbene demonstrates neuroprotective properties that could improve cognitive function and protect against age-related cognitive decline.

Anti-Inflammatory:
Pterostilbene has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce inflammation throughout the body, including in conditions such as arthritis and other chronic diseases.

Chemopreventive Benefits
Pterostilbene has been studied for its potential as a chemopreventive agent, meaning that it could potentially help to prevent or slow the growth of cancer cells.

Blood Sugar/Weight Management:
Some studies show that pterostilbene may have beneficial effects on blood sugar control and weight management, potentially reducing the risk of diabetes and obesity.

Sports Nutrition:
Pterostilbene has been studied for its potential benefits in sports nutrition, including improving endurance, reducing oxidative stress, and promoting muscle recovery after exercise.

Research

Numerous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of pterostilbene. Here’s a few of our favorites:

Pterostilbene impact on cellular health and diabetes
- A 2006 study looked at the effect of pterostilbene on rats with diabetes. Diabetes can cause damage to cells, but the study found that when rats were given pterostilbene, the damage was reduced. Pterostilbene also helped to increase the activity of enzymes that protect against cell damage, and decrease the amount of harmful substances in the liver and kidney. This suggests that pterostilbene can help protect against the negative effects of diabetes.

Chemopreventive and cancer support from pterostilbene
- Studies have found that pterostilbene can help prevent cancer by stopping the growth of cancer cells and causing them to die. It has been effective against many types of cancer cells in the lab, including stomach, breast, prostate, bladder, liver, lung, and melanoma cells. Pterostilbene also inhibits two substances that can help cancer cells spread throughout the body. These findings suggest that pterostilbene may have potential as a natural cancer-fighting agent.

- Treatment of pancreatic cancer cells with Pterostilbene has been found to be promising in managing pancreatic cancer. In laboratory studies, Pterostilbene was able to inhibit cell proliferation, cause cell death, arrest cell cycle, and activate effector caspases. These caspases play important roles in the process of apoptosis, tumor necrosis, and inflammation. Therefore, Pterostilbene has shown potential in supporting the management of pancreatic cancer.

- Apart from pancreatic cancer, Pterostilbene may also be beneficial in the prevention of colon cancer and liver cancer. In a study conducted on mice, Pterostilbene was found to inhibit colorectal aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and colon carcinogenesis by suppressing multiple signal transduction pathways.

Anti-inflammatory benefits of pterostilbene
- A 2008 study found that pterostilbene was very effective at reducing inflammation and stopping cancer cell growth. The researchers found that pterostilbene works by blocking certain signals that lead to inflammation, which can contribute to cancer growth. They also found that it can prevent the activation of genes that produce harmful enzymes and cytokines, which are involved in inflammation. In simpler terms, pterostilbene may be able to help reduce inflammation and fight cancer by stopping cancer cells from growing and by preventing the activation of genes that produce harmful substances in the body.

- Researchers have found that an extract from a plant called Pterocarpus marsupium, which contains pterostilbene, can help reduce inflammation by selectively inhibiting an enzyme called COX-2. This means that pterostilbene can help manage inflammation, which is a major cause of chronic diseases. The extract has been found to be safe for humans and may also have other health benefits like supporting a healthy body weight and managing symptoms of inflammation like joint pain and swelling.

Pterostilbene benefits for blood sugar and insulin levels
- Pterostilbene has been found to be very effective at managing diabetes in animal studies. Pterostilbene lowered blood sugar levels in rats with high blood sugar and improved cholesterol levels in hamsters with high cholesterol. In diabetic rats, pterostilbene lowered blood sugar levels, increased insulin levels, and improved the activity of certain enzymes related to glucose metabolism. Pterostilbene also improved cholesterol levels in diabetic rats by reducing levels of harmful lipoproteins and increasing levels of beneficial ones.

Cardiovascular health benefits of pterostilbene
- Vascular smooth muscle cells are important cells in the walls of our blood vessels. When these cells grow abnormally, it can lead to diseases such as clogged arteries, high blood pressure and the narrowing of blood vessels after surgery. In a recent study, Pterostilbene was found to stop the abnormal growth of these cells and reduce the proteins that cause them to grow, which could be good news for keeping our heart and blood vessels healthy.

Brain health benefits of pterostilbene
- Pterostilbene has been studied for its potential cognitive, memory, mood, and neuroprotective benefits. In animal studies, pterostilbene has been shown to improve cognitive function and memory by increasing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein important for the growth and survival of neurons. Pterostilbene has also been found to have mood-enhancing effects by reducing anxiety and depressive behaviors in mice. In addition, pterostilbene may have neuroprotective properties by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain, which are both implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Where to find pterostilbene

Pterostilbene is found in various plants, particularly in blueberries, grapes, and Pterocarpus marsupium heartwood. It is also found in smaller amounts in other fruits such as cranberries, lingonberries, and mulberries.

Notably, the amount of pterostilbene present in foods is quite small. On average, blueberries contain about 10-40 micrograms of pterostilbene per gram of fresh weight, while grapes contain about 80-100 micrograms of pterostilbene per gram of fresh weight.

These amounts are miniscule compared to the pterostilbene doses used in the clinical studies, which can range from 25 to 250 mg per serving. Therefore, to obtain the health benefits associated with pterostilbene, dietary supplements or concentrated extracts may be necessary.

Conclusion: In summary, pterostilbene is a powerful natural compound with the potential to manage several key conditions relating to inflammation, heart health, blood sugar, and more.

While the presence of pterostilbene is one reason why blueberries are so healthy, the actual amount of pterostilbene inside a normal serving of blueberries is very small.

That’s why happy being healthy and happy being nourished provide clinically studied amounts of pterostilbene in every serving. So you could consume hundreds of cups of blueberries to get 50mg of pterostilbene, or drink one refreshing bottle of happy being healthy tea.