CBS’ 60 Minutes ran this story about resveratrol and how it could keep us from aging faster than we do. But can taking resveratrol really save us all?

Scientists are looking into extracting this naturally occurring substance from grapes and concentrating it into a potent supplement. They’ve had some success in giving it to mice, but of course, mice are not the same as humans. There’s also the assumption that it is the life-long consumption of resveratrol through red wine that has kept the French healthy despite their high fat diet and cigarette habit. This is a good theory, but it is not necessarily accurate.

The French have a very different food culture compared to Americans. They treasure their social time and will linger for hours at a dinner table. By spending time with friends and family, socializing leisurely over a meal, they take their time when they eat. They may eat many courses at a meal, but they don’t eat huge portions. Often there is a long lag time in between courses, too, so there’s time to digest. They chew their food and eat slowly while they discuss their lives with people they enjoy. I know this from experience – when I lived with a French family in high school, this is how we ate.

Compare this leisurely pace with the dashboard-dining phenomenon that on-the-go Americans have made famous. We shovel food into our mouths without even paying attention to what we are eating. Often we eat alone, while reading a newspaper, magazine, watching TV or in front of a computer. If we do sit down with friends or family, the experience is usually quick – 30 minutes at most. And so many of us suffer with indigestion, bloating, and gas. Just look at how many antacid products are on the market – we wouldn’t need any of them if we took time to chew, relax and enjoy our food.

Now, who is getting more nutrients out of food? Who is getting more experience out of life?

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