There is nothing worse than being diagnosed with a disease or illness and being told you will have to take medication for the rest of your life to keep it under control. Unfortunately, that is the story many people across the world experience. In fact, more than half of Americans report taking at least one prescription medication each day, with the average person taking up to four prescription medications. So when we heard about how berberine benefits people who have been diagnosed with diabetes, our ears perked up. It turns out, the history of berberine is quite extensive. Berberine has been used in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine for more than 3,000 years to successfully treat various health conditions. With a history like that, there must be something more to this supplement that derives from some specific plants. So why is berberine gaining in popularity? It goes far beyond just lowering blood sugar.
But First, Diabetes
Berberine originally started gaining in popularity for people who have been diagnosed with diabetes, because of how it affects blood glucose and insulin sensitivity. The number of Americans who have been diagnosed with diabetes is pretty staggering. More than 37 million Americans have diabetes, which is one in every ten people. Berberine benefits individuals with diabetes by reducing blood glucose levels to a healthy range and insulin resistance. This is also a benefit for people with liver ailments. It works so well that it is often compared to pharmaceutical-grade diabetes treatments. Some people who do take prescription medications for diabetes take them in conjunction with berberine supplements to allow the two to support each other. For individuals with liver, kidney, or heart disease, berberine may be the answer to controlling their diabetes, as individuals with those health conditions can not take diabetes medications. But before assuming that berberine benefits only diabetes, continue reading below for a surprise.
Next Up, Weight Loss
More than one-third of Americans suffer from obesity, while another one-third are considered overweight. But if you are considering taking medication for weight loss, think again before you start because berberine is as effective as a weight loss supplement. That is because berberine improves the function of fat regulating hormones, such as insulin, adiponectin, and leptin. It also inhibits the growth of fat cells at the molecular level. Berberine can also boost your metabolism because it directly affects the mitochondria. Your mitochondria are what are in control of your body’s entire metabolism. The more mitochondria your body has, the more your metabolism will start working harder for a longer period of time. You will burn more calories while eating, drinking, and doing everyday activities. There are only a small number of things that can cause weight loss, such as exercise. So the fact that berberine can cause an increase in the number of mitochondria is frankly one of its best-kept secrets.
Do Not Forget a Healthy Heart
Did you know that heart disease is one of the world’s most common causes of premature death? Your heart is a vital organ, so taking good care of it is essential for your overall health. Berberine benefits the heart by working to lower total cholesterol, lower LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol), lower blood triglycerides, and raise HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). So for people who were diagnosed with high cholesterol levels, this information may come as a relief to know that prescription medication is not the only answer for lowering cholesterol levels to a safe level. At the same time, the fact that Berberine benefits heart health is no surprise, considering that diabetes, high blood sugar levels, and obesity are all significant risks of heart disease.
Followed By Reduced Inflammation
Berberine can lower inflammation in the body, but not in the way you may think. In order to properly lose weight, you want to have as little inflammation in the body as possible. Inflammation can reduce metabolism because it can lessen the effectiveness of the thyroid hormone. Inflammation can also take place in the fat cells. Inflammation of the fat cells can lead to a disruption in the hormones produced from fat cells. Finally, inflammation can negatively affect insulin and leptin resistance, directly resulting in weight gain and weight loss resistance. That is why inflammation can be detrimental to weight loss and makes gaining weight easier. Berberine benefits the body because it is shown to lower inflammation. It can also reduce inflammation in liver cells, which is the inflammation that leads to fatty liver disease.
With so much history and so many positive benefits for the body, it is no wonder that berberine is gaining popularity across the board. From diabetes to weight loss to heart health and inflammation, berberine could be the answer many people have been looking for to improve health. For most of the population who takes at least one prescription medication daily, berberine is a game changer pharmaceutical companies did not see coming.