Berberine - Nature's Best Weight Loss Aid

With the advent of many appetite suppressants and weight loss supplements on the market recently, especially following the current Ozempic trend, natural alternatives have also begun re-up their popularity. If you’re looking for a natural boost in your weight loss journey, you may want to start with a long-time popular product – Berberine. In this article, we will discuss the powerful benefits of Berberine, where it comes from, and how you can incorporate to help achieve your weight-loss goals.

What is Berberine?

Berberine is a natural Herbal extract found in several different plants including Berberis vulgaris (barberry), Coptis chinensis (goldthread), and Hydrastis canadensis (goldenseal). It has been commonly used in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years as a natural metabolic activator and weight control supplement.

How Berberine Works

Many studies have come out recently supporting long term claims by traditional medicine of its benefits for metabolism and weight loss. Multiple studies in the early 2000s have confirmed its benefits for helping metabolic syndromes including obesity and type II diabetes mellitus (Leng et al., 2004, Lee et al., 2006). The secret to Berberine’s unique benefits is its ability to activate an enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). This enzyme is considered to be a high-level controller for a wide number of downstream metabolic processes. Some of the resultant effects of AMPK activation include:

• Increased breakdown of stored fat for energy
• Improved insulin sensitivity
• Reduced storage of new fat
• Enhanced glucose uptake by cells
• Boosted overall metabolic function

Weight Management Support

Berberine has an impressive reputation for promoting weight management. One study (Yin et al., 2008) compared a regimen of 500mg of Berberine three times daily to metformin over a 12 week period on 36 adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. The results showed that the hypoglycemic effects of berberine were similar to that of metformin including significant decreases in hemoglobin A1c, fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, and plasma triglycerides. No functional liver or kidney functional damage was observed in any participants. Another study that tested a similar Berberine dosing regimen found that patients displayed significant reductions in body weight – particularly belly fat – over the 12 week period. Notably, this was observed without any dramatic changes to diet or exercise routines.

Blood Sugar Control

Another defining feature of Berberine is its ability to maintain healthy blood sugar levels. It is able to accomplish this through multiple mechanisms:

• Decreases insulin resistance
• Reduces glucose production in liver
• Slows the breakdown of carbohydrates
• Supports beneficial gut microbiome

Metabolic Health

In addition to weight loss, Berberine has been shown to produce impressive benefits for overall metabolic health, including:

• Supporting healthy cholesterol levels
• Maintaining healthy blood pressure
• Improving nutrient absorption
• Supporting healthy inflammation response

How to Take Berberine

For best results, take Berberine spread out throughout the day, preferably with meals. Berberine has a shorter half life than most other supplements, on the order of a few hours. This means that 50% of the product will be metabolized within a few hours. This lends to better control/safety of use, but also means you will need to take it multiple times throughout the day to maintain effective levels in the blood.

The most studied and effective dosage is 500mg taken 2-3 times daily with meals. Some people start with 1 500mg dose per day and work up to 3.

We have a few fantastic Berberine supplements which can be purchased in our store below: