Unlocking the Health Benefits of Berberine:
Natural Support for Blood Sugar, Heart Health, Weight Management, and More!
Berberine, a compound extracted from Goldenseal and Barberry plants, supports metabolic and microbiome health. Berberine is not new — it has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years for GI health and other conditions.
Today berberine is a hot topic because scientists are studying it for its support in many chronic conditions like overweight, uncontrolled blood sugar, high cholesterol and triglycerides, and blood pressure management.
Berberine supports healthy blood sugar levels which can reduce sugar cravings, making it easier to stay away from sugary, empty calorie foods.
Berberine also benefits the gut microbiome by enhancing populations of beneficial species. This too can affect blood sugar control, potentially influencing weight and fat accumulation.
Some doctors use berberine as an alternative to Metformin to achieve a healthy HbA1c.
Berberine’s beneficial effects are reflected in health biomarkers like BMI, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Most Individuals Today Are Using Berberine As a Support for Metabolic Syndrome
What is Metabolic Syndrome? Metabolic syndrome is a condition of having at least three of these health risk factors:
- Extra Belly Fat Around the Waistline
- High Blood Pressure
- High Blood Sugar
- High Triglycerides
- Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol
Having metabolic syndrome makes it more likely to develop serious health issues like heart disease, diabetes, or have a stroke.
Metabolic syndrome often occurs because of unhealthy lifestyle habits like poor diet, being inactive and being overweight.
The good news is that you can manage metabolic syndrome with a healthy lifestyle, by eating healthy foods, being physically active and losing extra pounds.
How Berberine Helps at a Celluar Level
Berberine helps your body by working with a special enzyme in each cell called AMPK (adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase).
AMPK is activated in response to things like low blood sugar, heavy exertion, extreme hot or cold temperatures.
Berberine activates AMPK which then switches “on” cellular metabolism, regulating metabolism and energy expenditure. It’s the body’s way of responding to low energy levels. The effects are systemic throughout the body.
(The AMPK pathway also explains how intermittent fasting may help with weight loss.)
When AMPK is switched “on” it in turn influences healthy levels of HDL cholesterol vs LDL cholesterol, and reduces triglycerides, blood pressure, blood sugar, insulin resistance and visceral obesity (“belly fat”).
But in order for AMPK to be activated, berberine needs to be absorbed! The challenge is that standard berberine can be difficult for the body to absorb.
It is estimated that only about five percent of any given dosage of standard berberine actually makes it into the bloodstream, so finding a way to enhance absorption is key to getting the full advantage of its benefits.
Euromedica’s Berberine Ultra Absorb meets that challenge — it is enhanced with a proven, special dual-action absorption delivery method that is both water and fat-soluble, making it a highly absorbable form of berberine, enabling much higher levels to reach the bloodstream.
Enhanced absorption berberine also means optimal results at lower dosages.
Berberine in the News
There’s a lot of media hype about using berberine specifically for weight loss, calling it “nature’s Ozempic.”
My view is that berberine is a wonderful time-tested science-backed herbal supplement for overall metabolic support, including supporting healthy blood sugar levels and lipid metabolism.
Often there is a modest weight loss as a result (which my clients are very happy about), but berberine is not a “miracle” weight loss supplement.
As for many supplements, berberine is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or for children. Since berberine can lower blood sugar levels, patients taking Metformin (or other blood sugar lowering medications) should consult with their doctor before adding berberine.
Interested in learning more about berberine? Book a consultation.
In Summary — See My Instagram Reel about the Berberine Buzz!
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