What is Berberine?
Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid found in certain herbs and plants. It is typically obtained as an extract from Berberis Vulgaris or the barberry plant.
Categorized by its bitter taste and yellow colour, cultures around the world have used Berberine to fight stomach ulcers, heal canker sores, and treat other ailments for centuries. However, modern research suggests that Berberine is highly effective in remedying a vast array of diseases, including Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, obesity, and much more!
How does Berberine Work?
Berberine directly enters the bloodstream when ingested as food or supplement. From there, the compound enters the body cells to bind itself to several molecules and affect their function.
One of these is a metabolism-regulating enzyme called adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase or AMPK. Berberine latches on to AMPK and impacts its ability to a huge range of metabolic processes inside the body.
Natural Sources of Berberine
Naturally, Berberine is found in plants such as barberry, Oregon grape, goldthread, and goldenseal. Extracts of the compound are also obtained from the roots, barks, leaves, and rhizomes of other herbs and medicinal plants.
Potential Side Effects of Berberine
In normal doses, Berberine is considered safe for consumption.
Do not exceed recommended daily intake. Pregnant or nursing mothers, children under the age of 18, and individuals with a known medical condition, should always consult a physician before using.
Some people may experience mildly upset stomach or nausea if they exceed the recommended daily intake.
Berberine Dosage
Depending on the manufacturer, Capsules of Berberine supplements can contain anywhere from 100 to 1500mg of the chemical. But it’s always advisable to ask your doctor for the optimum dosage that is right for your needs.
Berberine Benefits
After conducting several studies and being tested in various clinical trials, Berberine has proven to have the following benefits:
- Reduces and regulates blood sugar levels while also positively impacting insulin*
- Tremendously helps in weight loss by acting similarly to the drug ‘metformin’*
- Improves gut flora health by assisting in the growth of good bacteria*
- Proven to be an effective treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility*
- Displays anti-inflammatory properties*
- Reduces and controls “bad cholesterol” or LDL*
- Contains potent antioxidant and anti-cancer properties*