Why You Should Add Berberine To Your Stack
Berberine is a chemical found in plants such as Goldenseal, Goldthread, and Phellodendron, that has been used extensively in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine.
It is known to control blood sugar in people with diabetes. When taken in the right dosage, Berberine can be as effective as metformin or other drugs commonly used to treat the disease. In addition to diabetes, Berberine is also considered to be a possible remedy for a host of other health problems. Let’s take a look at some of them.
What Makes Berberine HCL An Effective Nootropic
1. Helps Treat Metabolic Syndrome:
Metabolic Syndrome is what is now termed as a ‘civilization disease’. It is a combination of conditions that occur simultaneously, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
According to research, Berberine can help reduce BMI (Body Mass Index) that contributes to obesity, one of the major causes of heart-related ailments. Additionally, it helps reduce systolic blood pressure, the level of triglycerides, along with blood sugar levels - effectively contributing to your overall metabolic health. [1]
2. Normalizes Blood Sugar:
Berberine has been found to reverse insulin resistance and restore the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar. Berberine works a little differently when compared to supplements that cause the secretion of insulin. According to some investigations, Berberine’s ability to control blood sugar is linked to ‘its inhibition of the electron transport chain in the mitochondria of the cell’. [2]
Essentially, the intake of Berberince perturbs the cell’s uptake of glucose and doesn’t let insulin resistance occur at all.
3. Helps Women Suffering From PCOS:
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is a hormonal disorder that can cause infertility and increase the chances of being afflicted with other health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes.
Berberine helps counter the consequences of PCOS, by improving fertility, aiding weight loss, and also lowering the risk of metabolic ailments like high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.
4. Improves Learning and Memory:
Berberine works as an anti-oxidant and is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.[3]
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are a bunch of medicines that block the breakdown of acetylcholine, which plays an important role in learning and memory.
Berberine may also help prevent Alzheimer’s disease as well as long-term dementia. It may also provide anti-aging benefits by extending the life of telomeres, which essentially protect DNA from any damage.
5. Helps in Weight-Loss:
Berberine increases adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an enzyme that can be called the master metabolic switch in each of your cells. It is found in the cells of various organs, like the muscles, heart, kidney, brain and liver.
An increase in AMPK levels boosts energy, regulates blood glucose, improves insulin sensitivity, and reduces the level of triglycerides. Berberine supplements along with regular exercise and a healthy diet can help support weight loss amongst individuals.
In one of the studies undertaken on obese individuals for 12 weeks [4], 500 mg of Berberine taken 3 times per day lead to weight loss by around 5 pounds on average. The participants also lost 3.6% of their body fat.
5. Acts As An Antidepressant:
According to a number of studies, Berberine is extremely useful against anxiety and depression. Berberine inhibits an enzyme called monoamine oxidase, which breaks down serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine in your brain, all of which play an important role in regulating moods and have been implicated in depression.
One of the studies in 2008 [5] confirmed that Berberine has antidepressant effects, reversing ‘behavioural despair’ in stressed rats. Berberine also benefits brain health and psychological well-being by increasing key neurotransmitters.
6. Lowers Cholesterol and Risk of Heart Diseases:
Heart disease is one of the most common diseases in the world today, often resulting in premature death. Research has found many factors in the blood associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Berberine improves many of these factors. It helps lower cholesterol levels in the body.
In addition to these, with sufficient research to support its benefits, Berberine may also be used to treat other disorders, like glaucoma, stomach ulcers, trachoma, injuries caused by radiation during cancer treatments, and osteoporosis.
Ideal Dosage Of Berberine HCL
Berberine has a short half-life (time taken for the concentration of the drug in the plasma or the total amount in the body to be reduced to 50%), so it is important to take it several times per day to achieve stable blood levels. It is necessary to take 500 mg, three times per day, before meals, making the dosage a total of 1500 mg per day.
It is ideal to take a doctor’s advice before consuming Berberine, if already on medication for any disorder. Berberine may interact unfavourably with these medicines, and give rise to complications. One important rule is to avoid Berberine during pregnancy as it can harm the fetus. It is also strictly prohibited while breastfeeding an infant.
Berberine is an excellent nootropic supplement with varied health benefits. Consuming the right dose, after having consulted a doctor, can help you live a long and healthy life.