A supplement that is extracted from red grape skins, resveratrol has been getting a lot of attention in the media. Scientific studies are few and unproven regarding the benefits or resveratrol side effects, as is often the case with natural supplements.Because there are no proven benefits, people often refer to supplements as this having reported positive and negative side effects. In either case, at this point, information is mostly anecdotal in nature.The positive side effects of this supplement are reported to be numerous. Protection against the effects of aging is one benefit that is being studied. Diseases such as cancer, heart disease and Alzheimers may see improvements from taking resveratrol. Cholesterol lowering is another effect that is attributed to this supplement. And, as some studies show it has a positive effect on metabolism, it may be effective against diabetes. Athletes are also jumping on the resveratrol bandwagon, as many people report it enhances energy and endurance.Although there are some negative effects that have been reported, these generally come with an inferior quality product or when taking extremely high doses. For example, among the more commonly noted side effects are stomach cramps and diarrhea.Read more about Resveratrol side effects. However, these are usually seen when using an inferior product that has a low content of resveratrol extract, possibly as low as 50%.Also reported with inferior product use can be insomnia and anxiety. Normally these effects are only seen, if at all, in the very beginning of supplement use. These symptoms will usually disappear on their own in a matter of a week or two.As with any supplement, if you are taking prescription drugs, you should be concerned about possible interactions. Check with your doctor before you begin taking resveratrol. For example, one of the effects of resveratrol is thinning of the blood. If you are already taking a medication to do this, the combined effect may be too strong. Resveratrol has also been shown to have estrogenic properties which are as of yet unstudied. Therefore, you should not take this supplement if increasing estrogen levels is unwise.If none of these cautions apply to you, it is still a good idea to start the resveratrol supplement sensibly. Begin with a small amount to see what effect it has on your body and to enable your body to get used to it. If you start out this way and choose a higher quality product containing a large proportion of resveratrol extract, negative resveratrol side effects can be avoided.For more info visit Resveratrol side effects.