The Benefits of Berberine For PCOS

Every once in a while a star comes along…

In the world of hormonal health, berberine is one of those breakthrough agents. The supplement has been used by women for thousands of years to treat everything from obesity to inflammation to infertility. Berberine is even said to be so effective that it’s considered just as efficacious as a drug for treating certain health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Want some more good news? 

Emerging research suggests that berberine is beneficial for balancing hormones, especially when it comes to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Berberine provides numerous benefits for women living with PCOS, including improved fertility, weight loss, and reduced inflammation. 

What is berberine?

Depending on where you are in your journey with PCOS, you may have spent the last decade seeking support from various experts or you may just now be researching ways to alleviate symptoms for the first time. Either way, we’re here to empower you to heal your hormones with super supplements like berberine. 

Berberine is an organic compound found in plants like goldenseal, barberry, Oregon grape, and tree turmeric. Once you take the supplement, it’s transported into the bloodstream where it affects the body at the molecular level and creates change within our cells. 

According to a 2014 review, one of the biggest advantages of berberine is that it offers a “harmonious distribution” into several targets in the body. This means that berberine offers a holistic approach to supporting your body while preventing various chronic conditions and without causing many side effects.

The berberine supplement naturally provides various health benefits but is particularly touted for its ability to lower blood sugar levels and cholesterol. It’s also said to help with acne, obesity, cholesterol, depression, and diabetes.

Berberine benefits for PCOS

Ok, so let’s talk about how this super supplement can help those of us living with PCOS. As a reminder, PCOS is a hormonal imbalance that is characterized by having too many androgens (male hormones) in the body. This imbalance interferes with regular menstrual cycles which means that most women with PCOS experience missed or irregular periods.

Research shows that berberine can provide various benefits to women with PCOS, including relief from some of the unpleasant (to say the least!) symptoms and side effects.

Here are some of the amazing ways berberine supports women: 

Supports weight loss

It doesn’t seem fair, but PCOS will cause some women to gain weight, especially around the waistline. Because of this, one of the most common questions we’re asked is, “What is the best diet for my PCOS?” Paleo, low carb, keto, raw … I understand the need to find a solution that’s in your control. 

Unfortunately, many popular diets don’t consider women’s biology, menstrual cycles, or our evolving hormone patterns — and that is why they so often fail us. Following an approved eating plan can certainly help (more healthy fats, high-quality proteins, complex carbs, and fewer processed sugars), but research shows that berberine can be just as supportive. 

A small study published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine followed individuals with metabolic syndrome who took 300 milligrams of berberine three times per day for three months. At the end of the study, their body mass indexes (BMIs) dropped from an obese range to an overweight range, and they also lost an average of two inches around their waistlines. 

Improves insulin sensitivity.

For those of us who prefer a more holistic approach to treating their PCOS, berberine continues to be our favorite. 

A recent review of five studies totaling more than 1,000 women found some pretty amazing insights regarding berberine for PCOS management. One of the biggest takeaways was that berberine seemed to improve insulin sensitivity. This is important because we know that dysregulated insulin is often involved in the development of PCOS.

According to a different analysis of nine randomized controlled trials of women with PCOS with insulin resistance, there was no difference between berberine and metformin when it came to alleviating insulin resistance, improving glycolipid metabolism, or reproductive endocrine condition.

Improves ovulation.

When I first started the FLO Living protocol, my goal was to help other women alleviate symptoms of PCOS, support regular ovulation, and regain regular periods. My promise was to work with women to re-establish their monthly ovulation and menstruation through restoring key micronutrients. I always say that this can be achieved through your diet and lifestyle, and it’s really supplements like berberine that help make it happen.

Findings from the analysis of more than 1,000 women that I mentioned earlier also showed that berberine demonstrated a positive effect on fertility and live birth rates; suggesting that the supplement improved insulin resistance in theca cells (the endocrine cells associated with ovarian follicles) with an improvement of the ovulation rate per cycle.

Reduces the risk of metabolic concerns.

Research also shows that compared with metformin, berberine has positive effects on the metabolic characteristics of women with PCOS. Metabolic syndrome is defined as a cluster of conditions that together can together increase your risk of stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

A clinical study found that treatment with berberine (versus metformin) showed a decrease in waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. 

What’s more, it also pointed to an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and sex hormone-binding globulin. Knowing that all of this can be attributed to a supplement instead of mainstream medication is so powerful. 

Where can I find berberine?

Flo Living has a new supplement kit called RESTORE that’s designed specifically for women living with PCOS.

The kit includes high-quality ingredients like berberine, as well as diindolylmethane (DIM), inositol, and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). 

And most importantly, it’s designed to help improve your hormonal healing process and provide support as you bring your body back into balance.

If you’re ready to feel better and take ownership of your hormonal health, check out RESTORE today. 

 

 

 

Resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5839379/

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11427-013-4568-z

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S037887411400871X

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7028834/

https://www.floliving.com/pcos-and-diet/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3310165/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6261244/

https://eje.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/eje/166/1/99.xml