Have you been thinking about regulating blood sugar levels, managing a healthy weight, and boosting digestive and cardiovascular health? If so, you may have come across berberine. Berberine has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat a variety of ailments, mainly because of its impressive list of benefits. Read on to learn more about this versatile compound and how it can support your overall health.

What is berberine?

Berberine is a bioactive compound that is naturally found in many plants, including a collection of shrubs called Berberis such as Oregon grape, tree turmeric, barberry, and goldenseal. It comes from a class of compounds called alkaloids. While it’s known for its plethora of health benefits, it’s also often used as a dye due to its yellow colour.

The benefits of taking berberine

Berberine has been researched and tested in hundreds of studies. It works by activating an enzyme inside our cells called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK plays a role in regulating metabolism and energy levels. Berberine also has an impact on other molecules within our cells, which could help explain its role in turning on or off specific genes.

Let’s dive into berberine’s most well-known health benefits.

Blood sugar regulation & weight management

Many studies show that berberine can significantly reduce blood sugar levels. There are a few ways that berberine can do this:

  • Berberine can decrease insulin resistance, which makes insulin (a hormone that lowers blood sugar) more effective.
  • It helps the body break down sugars within our cells by increasing the occurrence of a process called glycolysis, where glucose is broken down by the body to use as energy.
  • Berberine decreases sugar production within the liver and slows down the processing of carbs within the gut, helping to maintain a healthy weight.

Berberine’s role in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels naturally supports those struggling with type 2 diabetes and others who are looking to reduce high blood sugar levels.

Additionally, studies show that berberine can act as an effective weight loss supplement, specifically in relation to belly fat. This is because it can inhibit the growth of fat cells at the molecular level. Berberine does this by altering and suppressing the expression of genes that promote the growth and replication of fat cells within the body, which ultimately promotes weight loss.

Cardiovascular health

When it comes to heart health, berberine plays a major role in lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of heart disease. To be more specific, studies have shown that berberine can decrease total cholesterol, LDL or bad cholesterol, and blood triglyceride levels, while also increasing HDL or good cholesterol levels. All of these factors directly improve cardiovascular health and significantly decrease the risk of developing heart disease. On top of that, diabetes, high blood sugar levels, and obesity are also major risk factors for heart disease, and berberine helps improve all of these conditions.

Digestive health

Health experts say that berberine can support digestion by helping improve gut microbiome health. Studies show that berberine may help balance or regulate intestinal health by lowering the number of harmful bacteria and encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria.

Who should take berberine?CanPrev Berberine bottle

With berberine being such a versatile supplement with many benefits, it can also be intended for a wide range of people and health goals. If you’re looking for an end-of-summer detox, to help reset your blood sugar levels, manage your weight, and boost your digestive and cardiovascular health, berberine may be a great option for you. CanPrev’s Berberine 500 contains 500mg of Berberis aquifolium extracted from Oregon grape root and standardized to 97% in each vegetable capsule. It’s designed to support glucose and lipid metabolism, maintain healthy cholesterol levels and is a great source of antioxidants. This formula is a top choice for helping even out any metabolic mania that may be setting you back.

Berberine is one of those multi-faceted supplements that can not only help regulate blood sugar levels and maintain a healthy weight, but also support your heart and gut. Give your body the end-of-summer detox it needs to thrive for the rest of the year!

Sources:
Berberine – A Powerful Supplement With Many Benefits
What To Know About Berberine: Benefits, Uses and Side Effects
Health Benefits of Berberine