5 Health Benefits of Berberine
Berberine is a natural supplement found in a variety of plants like the European barberry, goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, philodendron, and tree turmeric. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been studied in modern times to determine its health benefits.
“Research suggests that Berberine is one of a handful of natural supplements that are as effective as pharmaceutical drugs. Just let that sit in for a while…We love this supplement and its potential impact on our customer’s health.” - Dr. Warner
Today we are going to talk about 6 different health benefits you can get from Berberine.
LOWER BLOOD SUGAR
Berberine has been confirmed to act in the body the same way the diabetic drug Metformin. Berberine when taken with a meal can help the body process sugars obtained from foods. Berberine helps the body increase Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation to regulate the process through which the mitochondria utilizes blood glucose.
LOSE WEIGHT
Berberine’s ability to facilitate the process of converting glucose into energy has the potential to help those that take the supplement to lose weight and belly fat. Many scientists believe the main mechanism for this action is the enhancement of mitochondrial function within cells with the possibility to improve insulin resistance. It is also possible that berberine can enhance the function of exhausted pancreatic islet cells and thereby actually promote insulin secretion in the setting of resistance.
However, just taking a Berberine supplement will not guarantee weight loss. A healthy diet and exercise routine are paramount to allowing the body to get the most out of Berberine. Interestingly, most, if not all, of the pharmaceutical-grade medications on the market for diabetes also come with the caveat that you must also diet and exercise for those drugs to be effective.
Dr. Warner is a huge proponent of the Mediterranean Diet, a diet that focuses on lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and extra virgin olive oil, and relatively high levels of Omega-3 PUFAs.
LOWER CHOLESTEROL
Research has shown that Berberine helps improve metabolic health on all 5 markers including cholesterol.
We are traditionally taught that there are 2 types of cholesterol; these are LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein). HDL is considered the “good” type of cholesterol, while LDL is considered “bad”. LDL cholesterol can build up in the arteries and lead to an increase in cardiovascular health conditions like heart attack and stroke. This happens when the LDL becomes oxidized and part of an inflammatory cascade.
In one study, it was found that a dose of 500 mg of berberine three times a day for 12 weeks could lower blood lipid levels.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Berberine has anti-inflammatory properties that have the potential to help curb chronic pain and inflammation. Berberine has been used to help treat IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) for many years.
Berberine activates AMPK and inhibits NF-kB and the AP-1 pathway. These in turn inhibit the expression of cytokines which are the main regulators in pro-inflammation responses.
CANCER
In in vitro studies, Berberine has shown that Berberine has the potential to inhibit tumor cell growth by stopping the release of MMP-2 which is a type of collagenase that destroys normal tissue to allow for tumor cell growth to proliferate.
One study found that Berberine supplementation might be able to help reduce the risk of developing colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer. In the study 900 people had colorectal polyps removed, the participants who were given Berberine supplements had fewer polyps grow back therefore presumably reducing the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
CHECK OUT WELL THEORY’S BERBERINE SUPPLEMENT
Dr. Meredith Warner’s new Longevity series has been curated to help you unlock the ability to slow aging and possibly reduce your biological age. Berberine activates AMPK activation, the AMPK pathway regulates cellular energy and cellular homeostasis. AMPK activation is part of a ‘stress response’ system that promotes cellular maintenance and repair. Berberine has been shown to lower blood sugar, cause weight loss and improve heart health, to name a few.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Meredith Warner is the creator of Well Theory and The Healing Sole. She is a board-certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Air Force Veteran.
She is on a mission to disrupt traditional medicine practices and promote betterment physically, spiritually and mentally to many more people. She advocates for wellness and functional health over big pharma so more people can age vibrantly with more function and less pain.
At Well Theory, Our surgeon-designed products are FDA Registered and formulated to help people:
- Manage the symptoms of musculoskeletal pain
- Recover vibrantly from orthopedic related surgeries
- Fill the gaps in our daily diets
- Manage pain associated with inflammation