Berberine is a natural plant compound that has been used for thousands of years in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine — it's considered an effective treatment for gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, flatulence, indigestion, and heartburn.
Berberine also shows promise as a weight-loss aid. Research suggests that it may help balance blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance. That means berberine could help you manage your weight while lowering your risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome (a combination of factors that raises the risk of developing diabetes and heart disease).
Berberine supplements are available at most pharmacies, but talk to your doctor before starting any new regimen.
How We Choose
We looked at a number of different factors when choosing the best berberine supplements. First, we made sure that all of our picks contained high-quality ingredients. We also considered customer reviews to get an idea of how well each product performed in real-life situations. Finally, we took into account the various health benefits associated with taking berberine supplements—including weight loss, cholesterol management, and immune system support—to find products that would suit a variety of needs and interests.
Thorne Berberine Botanical Supplement
Thorne Research's Optimal Wellness supplement is a comprehensive blend of herbs and other botanicals designed to support optimal wellness. The product features include:
Trusted: Thorne is chosen by champions and trusted by 100+ pro teams. Thorne is the only supplement manufacturer to collaborate with Mayo Clinic on wellness research and content. Thorne is also a proud partner of U.S. Olympic Teams.
Free From: Doesn't contain gluten, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, dairy, soy, fish or shellfish. GI Support: Supports beneficial bacterial balance in the gut and helps to maintain a healthy microbiome*. Optimal Wellness: Berberine provides immune function support and promotes a healthy respiratory tract.* Healthy Body: Berberine is effective in helping to maintain a healthy weight and cholesterol levels already within a normal range.* *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Ultra High Strength Berberine from Himalayas
Toniiq Berberine 500mg is a high-quality supplement that offers a powerful dose of the compound berberine. This natural extract has been carefully crafted to provide a consistent level of quality and potency, making it an excellent choice for those looking to boost their intake of this essential nutrient.
The product is derived from wild harvested plants growing in the mineral-rich foothills of the Himalayas, ensuring that you are getting only the highest levels of purity and potency in the finished product. It's important to note that not all brands are created equal, so it's worth checking out other reviews before deciding on which brand to go with.
We recommend taking one capsule per day with water or food, ideally 30 minutes prior to your main meal as this will allow time for any digestion issues to be worked through. For best results we also suggest pairing this supplement with a healthy diet and exercise regime in order to get the most out of your purchase!
Sunergetic's Premium Berberine Supplement
As a busy professional, I rely on supplements to keep me energized and focused. One of my favorite sources of alkaloids is berberine, which has been shown to boost energy levels and mental performance.
I've been using Sunergetic's Berberine HCI capsules for years and they have never let me down. The taste is pleasant and the consistency is perfect - not too thick or runny. The capsules are vegetarian-based, gluten-free, corn-free, soy-free, shellfish-free and preservative free so you can rest assured that you're getting a quality product.
The price point may seem high at first glance but considering the amount of nutrients packed into each capsule it's definitely worth it in my opinion.
NAOMI Berberine
The NAOMI Berberine supplement is a top-quality product that's made with only one active ingredient, which means you can rest assured that what you're taking won't have any additives or fillers.
This is a vegetarian capsule and it's manufactured in the USA. The price for this product is unknown, but it's worth checking out since it contains 500mg of berberine per serving. This herb has been clinically researched to support healthy lipid levels within the normal range, so if you're looking to keep your cholesterol levels in check then this could be a good option for you.
The capsules are vegetarian and non-GMO, gluten free and vegan. They also come with full transparency on ingredients so you know exactly what you're putting into your body.
Berberine FAQs
There are a lot of questions and concerns about Berberine. People have questions about how to use it, if it is safe, or where to get it from.
Our team set out to answer the most Frequently Asked Questions about berberine so that you can make an informed decision!
What Does Berberine Do For The Body?
Berberine is a plant extract made from the roots of several different types of herbs, including barberry and Oregon grape. It's been shown to have antidiabetic effects, including decreasing blood sugar levels after meals in people with type 2 diabetes. Studies also show that berberine can lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health by reducing inflammation in fat cells and the lining of blood vessels.
Animal studies show that oral berberine may help prevent or reduce damage caused by high blood sugar, such as neuropathy (nerve damage) in people with diabetes. Oral berberine has also been studied for its ability to treat bacterial infections and diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile bacteria; however, more research is needed before it can be recommended for this purpose.
Is There A Downside To Taking Berberine?
Berberine is generally considered safe when taken at the recommended doses. However, it can cause some side effects such as constipation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. You may want to consider taking berberine with plenty of water and fiber-rich foods if you experience these symptoms.
It's also important to note that some medications may interfere with the way your body breaks down or absorbs berberine. For this reason, make sure to talk to your doctor before taking any supplements if you are on any prescription medications.
What Does Berberine Do For Weight Loss?
Berberine is a natural compound extracted from several plants including goldenseal, Oregon grape, and Chinese herbs. It has been shown to have potent effects on the body's energy metabolism by promoting healthy weight loss.
The active ingredient in Berberine also increases insulin sensitivity in your body. This means that you'll be able to better process sugar and any other carbohydrates you consume throughout the day. As a result, you're likely to feel fuller for longer periods of time compared to before taking berberine capsules or supplements.
Additionally, berberine has been proven to lower cholesterol levels in some users while improving blood pressure numbers as well. All of these are important factors when it comes to overall health – especially when it comes to heart health – but can also help promote healthier weight loss results as well.
Why Is Berberine Not For Long Term Use?
Although berberine is effective at lowering blood sugar, it can also cause side effects. These include upset stomach, diarrhea, and gas. Some people may find that the benefits of berberine outweigh these side effects, but others may not be able to tolerate the drug. It's important to discuss this with your doctor before beginning treatment with berberine.
Additionally, while berberine can help lower blood sugar, it doesn't seem to reduce insulin resistance or inflammation as effectively as some other diabetes drugs do. For this reason, it may not be a good choice for long-term use unless you experience significant side effects from other medications or don't see adequate improvement in your blood sugar control with other drugs.
What Is The Toxic Effects Of Berberine?
The LD50 of berberine is 2,520 mg/kg when administered orally to rats. This means that it is considered non-toxic even at high doses. It has been used as a medical treatment for gout and cholestatic hepatitis with no serious side effects reported by some studies. However, other animal studies have shown that in high concentrations (148 mM), berberine can be toxic to cells in culture and may contribute to cell death by increasing levels of oxidative stress.
Although this may sound alarming, the concentration required to cause toxicity is much higher than the levels found after oral administration of berberine supplements according to several human clinical trials. Additionally, there are no reports of any adverse effects from berberine use in humans despite decades of use overseas as an herbal medicine and supplement ingredient.
Does Berberine Reduce Belly Fat?
A lot of research has been done into the properties and benefits of berberine. One study, published in Natural Products Research in 2015, found that rats who were fed a high-fat diet gained less weight when they also received a berberine supplement compared to those on a high-fat diet alone. The rats actually gained more weight when they took placebos rather than berberine tablets.
While it's clear that berberine can have an impact on your overall body weight, there's little evidence as to whether it specifically impacts belly fat. The reason for this is because most studies focus on the overall body fat levels rather than where exactly that fat is stored. However, one animal study did investigate the effects of berberine on abdominal fat specifically and found promising results. Rats who were given berberine had significantly lower levels of insulin resistance – which means their bodies could process blood sugar effectively – alongside reduced abdominal girths compared with those taking placebos or metformin (another type 2 diabetes medication). This study was published in Current Medicinal Chemistry back in 2013.
While these results are positive and suggest that berberine does have an impact on reducing belly fat, we certainly wouldn't recommend relying solely upon this herb to lose weight around your middle as there are far better methods available such as HIIT workouts or cutting down portion sizes while eating whole foods you enjoy.
Is Berberine Hard On The Kidneys?
While many drugs are contraindicated if you have kidney disease, it's actually quite the opposite for berberine. It actually protects the kidneys from damage and disease while also improving overall function. This is due to its ability to lower blood sugar levels, which in turn reduces the workload on the kidneys. In one study of diabetic rats, berberine was as effective at protecting and restoring kidney function as common medications like furosemide (Lasix). In another study of humans with Type 2 diabetes, berberine lowered blood pressure without causing edema or other adverse effects on renal function.
What Foods Are High In Berberine?
Berberine is found in many plant-based foods, including:
Dandelion root
Barley grass
Goldenseal root and root bark of the Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium) tree, which are two other sources of berberine that have been studied to treat diabetes ileum. Goldenseal can also be used to relieve constipation. It's important to note that goldenseal should not be taken long term as it may affect your blood pressure and interfere with other medications. Other sources include: rhubarb, hops,Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium), bitter melon, chard greens, cardamom seeds and California poppy capsules or teas made from these plants does not appear to work as well as use of a combination of herbs for type 2 diabetes. For example when researchers compared a combination of barberry , Oregon grape and Chinese radish against just barberry alone in people with type 2 diabetes they found that the group given all three herbs had an improvement in hemoglobin A1c while those taking only one herb saw no changes. Another study comparing goldenseal against berberine plus metformin versus just metformin alone showed similar improvements in hemoglobin A1c but no improvements with either herb alone.
What Medications Should Not Be Taken With Berberine?
It's very important to discuss any medication you're taking with your doctor before starting a berberine supplement.
Although the supplement has been shown to work well alongside certain medications, it can interact with other drugs in dangerous ways. When choosing your berberine product, make sure it is approved for use by people who take certain types of prescription drugs.
Certain blood pressure pills like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers should never be taken alongside berberine because they may cause extremely low blood pressure or heart arrhythmias. Antidepressants such as SSRIs are also not recommended since they may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome when combined with this supplement. Other types of antidepressants plus antipsychotics and opioids create similar risks when taken along with berberine.
Conclusion
The best Berberine supplement is the one that meets your specific needs and preferences. Whether you're looking for a non-GMO, vegan option or just want something that's easy to swallow, there are plenty of great options out there. Just make sure to check the label for dosage information and other ingredients before buying!
Thank you for reading our blog about the Best Berberine Supplements! We hope this article helps you find a great product that fits your needs.
