With so many man-made, patented weight loss medicines available in the market, most of us often ignore the natural alternatives to them. But in reality, those natural weight loss remedies are far more effective and safe than the corporate profits driven supplements. One of such natural solutions is ‘Berberine’, which hinders fat storage and improves hormonal functions in our body to keep visceral fat away and control central obesity. This wonder herb can truly push your weight loss efforts to a great extent by providing a lot more other benefits. Let’s talk about it:
What is Berberine?
Berberine is an alkaloid compound obtained from certain plants. It is yellow in color and holds a range of beneficial (immune-enhancing, anti-fungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory) properties.
Origin And Source
Berberine has been a staple in traditional Chinese as well as Ayurvedic medicines for years. But it is the recent ‘discovery’ of this herb by western medicine, which has brought it to the limelight. The alkaloid is found in the plants of berberidaceae family and others (goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, phellodendron, tree turmeric,,guduchi, amur cork tree, etc.) and is typically isolated from their barks.
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Studies And Findings
Berberine has been a subject of study for researchers since last few years. It is already proved that the herb has immense positive effects on our health and body which include lowered levels of sugar in the bloodstream, decreased blood pressure, improved cardiac health, enhanced strength, and so forth. Following are 2 studies, which show the outcomes of using berberine for weight loss:
Study 1:
It was a 12-week study in which a bunch of overweight individuals (irrespective of men and women) were chosen for using berberine over all other weight loss therapies. During the study period, each of them was given 500 mg of berberine thrice every day before the mealtime. After 12 weeks, it was found that almost all of them lost more or less 3.6% of body fat as well as nearly 5 lbs of body weight.
Study 2:
It was another 3-month study in which 37 individuals (including both men and women) with metabolic syndrome were selected for using berberine. They were given 300 mg of the herb thrice every day during the whole period of study. After 3 months, it was found that the Body Mass Index (BMI) levels of all the study participants went from 31.5 to 27.4. They were also seen to lose fat around the mid-areas of their body.
There are several other studies, which show that berberine works directly at the molecular level and restricts the growth and development of fat cells to promote weight loss.
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How Does It Work?
Now, let’s dive into the fact that how berberine burns body fat and reduces weight naturally. Well, it works through a variety of mechanisms, but the most crucial one among them is ‘AMPK activation’. We’ve explained it below:
Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase or AMPK is also known as ‘metabolic master switch’. It is basically an enzyme found inside our cells, which plays a key role in regulating our bodily metabolism through a range of biological activities. Berberine, when consumed, reaches to our cells through the bloodstream and improves the functions of two AMPK-activating hormones named ‘leptin’ and ‘adiponectin’ in our body, which offers the following benefits:
- Boosted glucose uptake into the cells
- Better sensitivity to insulin
- Lesser glucose generation within liver
- Increased fat burning inside mitochondria
- Lesser deposition of harmful fat inside cells
Apart from AMPK activation, various other mechanisms of berberine include:
- Increasing the effectiveness of insulin in order to reduce the resistance of body to it
- Slowing down the release of fatty acids into the bloodstream, thereby decreasing lipid levels
- Decelerating the breakdown of carbohydrates in the digestive tract
- Amplifying the number of probiotics within the digestive tract
In essence, berberine not only helps in losing belly fat, but it also helps in keeping us healthy on the whole.
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Dosage And Side Effects
As said before, Berberine is a natural herb and hence, is overall safe to use. But excessive oral intake of this alkaloid will lead to limited absorption and eventually result into indigestion, stomach pain, cramping, nausea, flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, etc. However, there has been no report of ‘severe toxicity’. The expert recommended dosage of berberine is 500 mg 2 to 3 times a day prior to having meals. Make sure that you consult with your physician before taking berberine, especially if you are going through any serious medical condition.
It is important to remember that berberine doesn’t work like so-called ‘magic pills’ that claim to ‘melt away fat in just a couple of weeks’. It inhibits the storage of fat in our tissues, while supporting our overall health in a beautiful way. So, kick-start your weight loss journey with berberine today – naturally, safely and effectively.
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