You may have heard of berberine, a natural compound used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. It has recently picked up buzz in the media for its potential to support healthy blood sugar and heart health and possibly reduce your craving for carbs.
Here we’ll take an in-depth look at berberine and what benefits it can have for your overall health.
What is Berberine?
Berberine is a plant compound gaining popularity for its potential to support blood sugar and heart health. It is a bitter-tasting yellow chemical found in plants such as barberry, Oregon grape, and tree turmeric.
Due to its bitter nature, it is most commonly consumed as a supplement that is taken before meals. Our new berberine supplement provides 1g of liposomal berberine per serving for superior absorption plus 200 mg chromium for additional support of health blood sugar levels.†
Benefits of Berberine
There are several potential benefits of berberine which include blood sugar support, heart health support, and a reduction in cravings for carbs.
Blood Sugar Support
Several studies have shown berberine’s potential to help support already normal blood sugar levels. For example, a recent 2019 study showed positive effects of berberine on blood glucose levels.
Another more recent study showed it may be even more beneficial to take both berberine and a probiotic together for blood sugar support. Combine these with healthy lifestyle factors, like a nutrient-dense diet and regular exercise to get more bang for your buck.
Heart Health Support
Research suggests berberine may also offer the benefit of cholesterol support. One 2013 study involving 144 people showed both LDL and HDL cholesterol levels improved after taking berberine in those with low heart disease risk.
Another 2021 systematic review also suggested an association between consuming berberine and experiencing healthier cholesterol levels. Note that heart health requires more than a single supplement alone, including other lifestyle factors like diet and exercise.
May Reduce Carb Cravings
Do you suffer from frequent carb cravings? For instance, feeling an urgent need to snack on packaged chips, crackers, or other fast-acting carbs? It happens to all of us sometimes. And a regular pattern of craving carbs may happen for several reasons. Many times can be hormonal- related.
Studies have also shown berberine’s potential to reduce carb cravings through its action on increasing the hormone serotonin. Higher serotonin levels are associated with reduced food intake. The theory is that berberine may act on this mechanism and help reduce those cravings.
Takeaway
Berberine is a supplement that offers a myriad of potential health benefits. Based on several research studies, berberine holds the potential to support healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels as well as reduce carb cravings.
If you’re curious about berberine and how it may support your well-being, ask your doctor about how it may become a part of your supplement routine. Garden of Life Herbals Liposomal Berberine Capsules contains 1g of liposomal berberine, 200 mg of chromium, and 2.5 mg of the probiotic Bacillus subtilus DE111 for additional support.†
Always consult with your doctor before adding berberine or any other supplement to your regimen.
- by Melissa Mitri, MS, RD
Shared from https://www.gardenoflife.com/blog/berberine-deep-dive
References
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Cao C, Su M. Effects of berberine on glucose-lipid metabolism, inflammatory factors and insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome. Exp Ther Med. 2019 Apr;17(4):3009-3014. doi: 10.3892/etm.2019.7295. Epub 2019 Feb 22. PMID: 30936971; PMCID: PMC6434235.
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Ming, J., Yu, X., Xu, X. et al. Effectiveness and safety of Bifidobacterium and berberine in human hyperglycemia and their regulatory effect on the gut microbiota: a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, parallel-controlled study. Genome Med 13, 125 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13073-021-00942-7
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Derosa G, D’Angelo A, Bonaventura A, Bianchi L, Romano D, Maffioli P. Effects of berberine on lipid profile in subjects with low cardiovascular risk. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2013 Apr;13(4):475-82. doi: 10.1517/14712598.2013.776037. Epub 2013 Feb 27. PMID:23441841.
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Ye, Y., Liu, X., Wu, N., Han, Y., Wang, J., Yu, Y., & Chen, Q. (2021). Efficacy and Safety of Berberine Alone for Several Metabolic Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, 653887. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.653887
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Park HJ, Jung E, Shim I. Berberine for Appetite Suppressant and Prevention of Obesity. Biomed Res Int. 2020 Dec 12;2020:3891806. doi: 10.1155/2020/3891806. PMID: 33415147; PMCID: PMC7752296.