The Many Surprising Benefits of Berberine

Paula Gallagher on
Berberine can help with healthy blood sugar levels, as well as cholesterol and more.Berberine is a natural compound that is found in a variety of plants, such as goldenseal and barberry. It has a long history of use in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Studies show that berberine has many health benefits, including supporting cholesterol levels, blood sugar balance, GI microbial health, weight management, respiratory mucus membrane health, as well as providing support for immune system function.

How Berberine Works

Berberine is absorbed into the bloodstream and then travels to all cells in the body, much like most vitamin and mineral supplements. However, it differs when it gets to the cells because it binds to several different targets and changes their functions. The primary role of berberine, once in your cells, is to activate a particular enzyme called AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK), also known as the master switch that regulates all aspects of cell function and metabolism.

Benefits of Berberine

Once berberine has reached your cells, it goes to work on a few different systems. Here are a few benefits of berberine.

  • Berberine is known to delay the breakdown of carbs into simple sugars, reducing sugar spikes and protecting the pancreas from repeated damage due to blood sugar diseases.
  • There have also been clinical studies on berberine and its short-term effect on the metabolic characteristics of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (a metabolic disorder associated with insulin resistance).
  • Berberine has anti-microbial benefits and helps prevent fungal, parasitic and bacterial infections. It also helps with bile and bilirubin secretion, which further aids in digestion.
  • Berberine shows promise in lowering total cholesterol triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and helps increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
  • Berberine helps with weight loss due to its effect on the fat-regulating hormones such as insulin, adiponectin and leptin. It may also inhibit the growth of fat cells at the molecular level.

How to Use Berberine

Berberine has a relatively short lifespan in the body, so the recommendation is to spread out your dosage throughout the day. The dosage based on the studies is 500 mg three times a day. It is always best to consult with a health care practitioner to ensure that there aren’t any interactionss with supplements or medicine that you are currently taking. Keep in mind that if you are currently on blood sugar medications, you cannot use this supplement without supervision, as it will affect your blood sugar.

To learn more about the benefits of berberine, contact Village Green Apothecary.

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