What is berberine, the viral weight-loss supplement that has become fashionable

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Sara Flamenco

There have always been miracle diets that promise
slim down a lot in a very short time. The bad thing is that this type of diet is usually harmful to health or causes a rebound effect afterward that makes you gain weight all that you have lost and some extra kilos. Currently, with the rise of
social networksto the danger of miracle diets is added the popularization of certain miraculous products to lose weight, as was the case a few months ago
Ozempica drug for type 2 diabetes that some influencers claimed had helped them lose a few kilos.

well now
TikTok It has been inundated with users who claim to have found another supplement that really does what it promises and which they call the natural Ozempic. We talk about the
berberineand we are going to explain what it is and if it can really help you lose weight.

What is berberine, the viral weight loss supplement

The
berberine it is a chemical compound extracted from some plants such as the European barberry or the philodendron and is generally sold in capsules filled with yellow powder. These plants have been used for millennia by the
traditional medicines from the Far East and the Middle East for its antibacterial, antiparasitic and antidiarrheal properties.

Recent studies consider berberine as a potential aid in the treatment of conditions such as
hypertension and insulin resistance for its ability to reduce the rate of
blood sugar. At present, there is abundant evidence on its properties as an active principle that mobilizes the
AMPK enzyme (adenosine monophosphate kinase), which regulates the energy balance of cells in the liver, muscles, fat cells or the nervous system.

How can you help lose weight berberine

When the
berberine activates the AMPK enzyme, as we have just commented, a process of energy production begins through glycolysis, the
oxidation of fats and proteins, which leads to burning reserve calories. It is the same enzyme that is activated in periods of fasting, intense sports practice and stress, inhibiting the formation of new fat cells and promoting the use of accumulated fat.

In this way, berberine helps reduce fatty matter and
lose some weight. In addition, according to a study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, Chinese researchers concluded that it can improve the
obesity and hyperlipidemia thanks to its effect on cholesterol levels and insulin resistance.

What’s more, according to this study, berberine might also help you
speed up metabolism, which would affect weight loss. On the other hand, according to experts, this natural supplement decreases the secretion of
leptina natural hormone that stimulates the appetite.

Woman taking her measurements with a tape measure after losing weight. /

Image by diana.grytsku on Freepik.

Other benefits of berberine

for diabetes

According to various studies, berberine improves the sensitivity of cell receptors to
insulin and reduces inflammation, so it helps regulate metabolic processes and fights hyperglycemia. It also reduces fasting and post-meal glucose levels, as well as glycosylated hemoglobin, improving blood pressure control.
diabetes and prediabetes.

Reduce the cholesterol

Other studies support a reduction of more than 20% in the levels of
LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. This is because it increases the synthesis of the harmful cholesterol receptor protein and removes it from the bloodstream. In addition, it acts on cholesterol receptors in cell membranes, especially in the
liver.

Decreases hypertension

In addition, there is some evidence that berberine may decrease the
blood pressure because it causes vasodilation of the walls of the circulatory vessels and relaxation of the smooth muscles. It is also antiplatelet and reduces the formation of atheromatous plaques.

Anti-inflammatory and digestive effect

Berberine has great effects
antioxidants which seem to be the cause of its anti-inflammatory potential. On the other hand, it increases the levels of bacteria that alleviate the
inflammation and activate immunity, in addition to acting as anti-diarrheal medicine.

Woman with wide pants for her waist after losing weight. /

Image from Freepik.

Possible Adverse Effects of Berberine

people with
hypoglycemia or patients with diabetes taking other medicines to lower blood sugar levels should avoid berberine, as it also works by lowering the
glucoseso the effect could be too pronounced and therefore harmful to health.

Also, if you have any
gastrointestinal condition like irritable bowel syndrome, you should also avoid it because of its potential effect on diarrhea, constipation, and gas. If you are not in either of these two cases, it is not a harmful supplement, since only possible
inconvenience gastrointestinal effects of its ingestion in healthy people.

As stated by the
Dr. Melinda Ring to The New York Timesin general it is a healthy compound, but its effects on weight loss
they are not miraculous, as some claim on TikTok. You can help? Yes, but if you don’t follow a balanced diet and combine it with sports, you won’t get results.



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