Kenny Croxdale
Level 7 Valued Member
Berberine, A Supplement With Some Teeth
Berberine, like create and caffeine, appears to be a supplement that produces results.
Berberine is considered to be the herbal form of Metformin. Metformin is a medication that is used to control Blood Glucose for Type II Diabetics and Pre-Diabetic individuals.
Lower Blood Glucose Levels that are maintained ensure Insulin Levels are not elevated.
Insulin Is "Globally Anabolic"
Insulin is what is referred to as "Globally Anabolic". This mean it contributes to increases in muscle Mass.
Unfortunately, elevation in Insulin production also increases an increase in Adipose Tissue, body fat.
As Nutritionist Jay Robb stated...
"Insulin is a Fat Maker and Glucagon is a Fat Taker".'
Glucagon along with Catecholamines are hormones (adrenaline (epinephrine), noradrenaline (norepinephrine) are Insulin's counter.
Glucagon and Catecholamines cannibalize body fat, using it for energy; burning fat calories.
The See Saw Effect
It is a See Saw effect with Insulin and its counterpart (Glucagon and Catecholamines)
When Insulin is elevated, Glucagon and Catecholamines is low. Insulin dominates them.
When Insulin production is low, Glucagon and Catecholamines are elevated; utilizing body fat for energy.
It All About Timing
The juggling act is in being able to manipulate Insulin to increase muscle mass and minimizing increased body fat.
Insulin Production for Increasing Muscle Mass
An increase in Insulin appears to be optimally (with health individuals) after a Training Session.
When Muscle Glycogen is low, Muscles are very receptive, restoring and soaking up Muscle Glycogen like a dry sponge.
Glucagon and Catecholamines for Burning Fat
Between meals, when Insulin is low, Glucagon and Catecholamines utilize burn body fat for fuel.
This bring us back to Berberine
One of the major benefits of Berberine is that it lowers Blood Glucose Levels. In doing so, it allows the body to burn body fat.
Practical Information
Last year, a woman who had lost 100 lbs was unable to lose any more weight and is still heavy. Her diet was/is good. Her weight issue is genetic.
I suggested that she try Berberine; a minimum dose of one 400 mg capsule. She lost around 7 pound without modifying her diet.
I then suggested that she up the Berberine dose to 1200 mg a day; based on the research data.
By increasing it to that dosage, she lost another 7 lbs.; she has now lost a total of 14 lbs.
Articles On Berberine
There are a multitude of articles and research data on Berberine.
This one from Chris Thibaudeau provide some good information
Kick Start Any Fat Loss Diet With This Supplement
Here’s what berberine will allow you to do. By lowering overall insulin levels, you will be in a state of fat burning more easily and for longer periods. It will also make you more insulin sensitive.
Because you’ll be more sensitive, carbs will be driven to the muscle more easily. Overall, you will need less insulin to drive the same amount of carbs to your muscles.
Cortisol
Information on the benefit of Cortisol has been posted multiple times. However, the majority of individuals have been brainwashed into believing Cortisol is even.
The Bottom Line
Acute Cortisol Elevation during training and fasting is beneficial; more on that in a minute.
Chronic Cortisol Elevation for long periods produces health issue.
With that said, here is...
Thibaudeau's Comment On Cortisol
...Cortisol is in fact very useful to lose fat. Cortisol is a hormone that breaks down stuff to create energy and fight against unknown threats and external/internal stress. It also helps you to lose fat, because when in deficit, it breaks down fats to produce energy. It raises adrenaline when you are working out. But it can also break down muscle tissue if needed.
Cortisol Breaking Down Muscle
One of the primary issues is with individuals who OverTrain. They end up maintaining Chronic (long term) Cortisol Elevation; which is catabolic (decreases muscle mass). These individuals create their own nightmare.
With that in said, DeLoading for in one Training Session only to ramp it back up, ReLoading in the following session produces short term results; long term it's InEffective.
Overcoming their OverTrained Chronic Cortisol Elevation amount to a well written Periodization Training Program; which incorporates backing off,
Increases in Strength and Muscle Mass occur during Recovery.
Berberine, like create and caffeine, appears to be a supplement that produces results.
Berberine is considered to be the herbal form of Metformin. Metformin is a medication that is used to control Blood Glucose for Type II Diabetics and Pre-Diabetic individuals.
Lower Blood Glucose Levels that are maintained ensure Insulin Levels are not elevated.
Insulin Is "Globally Anabolic"
Insulin is what is referred to as "Globally Anabolic". This mean it contributes to increases in muscle Mass.
Unfortunately, elevation in Insulin production also increases an increase in Adipose Tissue, body fat.
As Nutritionist Jay Robb stated...
"Insulin is a Fat Maker and Glucagon is a Fat Taker".'
Glucagon along with Catecholamines are hormones (adrenaline (epinephrine), noradrenaline (norepinephrine) are Insulin's counter.
Glucagon and Catecholamines cannibalize body fat, using it for energy; burning fat calories.
The See Saw Effect
It is a See Saw effect with Insulin and its counterpart (Glucagon and Catecholamines)
When Insulin is elevated, Glucagon and Catecholamines is low. Insulin dominates them.
When Insulin production is low, Glucagon and Catecholamines are elevated; utilizing body fat for energy.
It All About Timing
The juggling act is in being able to manipulate Insulin to increase muscle mass and minimizing increased body fat.
Insulin Production for Increasing Muscle Mass
An increase in Insulin appears to be optimally (with health individuals) after a Training Session.
When Muscle Glycogen is low, Muscles are very receptive, restoring and soaking up Muscle Glycogen like a dry sponge.
Glucagon and Catecholamines for Burning Fat
Between meals, when Insulin is low, Glucagon and Catecholamines utilize burn body fat for fuel.
This bring us back to Berberine
One of the major benefits of Berberine is that it lowers Blood Glucose Levels. In doing so, it allows the body to burn body fat.
Practical Information
Last year, a woman who had lost 100 lbs was unable to lose any more weight and is still heavy. Her diet was/is good. Her weight issue is genetic.
I suggested that she try Berberine; a minimum dose of one 400 mg capsule. She lost around 7 pound without modifying her diet.
I then suggested that she up the Berberine dose to 1200 mg a day; based on the research data.
By increasing it to that dosage, she lost another 7 lbs.; she has now lost a total of 14 lbs.
Articles On Berberine
There are a multitude of articles and research data on Berberine.
This one from Chris Thibaudeau provide some good information
Kick Start Any Fat Loss Diet With This Supplement
Here’s what berberine will allow you to do. By lowering overall insulin levels, you will be in a state of fat burning more easily and for longer periods. It will also make you more insulin sensitive.
Because you’ll be more sensitive, carbs will be driven to the muscle more easily. Overall, you will need less insulin to drive the same amount of carbs to your muscles.
Cortisol
Information on the benefit of Cortisol has been posted multiple times. However, the majority of individuals have been brainwashed into believing Cortisol is even.
The Bottom Line
Acute Cortisol Elevation during training and fasting is beneficial; more on that in a minute.
Chronic Cortisol Elevation for long periods produces health issue.
With that said, here is...
Thibaudeau's Comment On Cortisol
...Cortisol is in fact very useful to lose fat. Cortisol is a hormone that breaks down stuff to create energy and fight against unknown threats and external/internal stress. It also helps you to lose fat, because when in deficit, it breaks down fats to produce energy. It raises adrenaline when you are working out. But it can also break down muscle tissue if needed.
Cortisol Breaking Down Muscle
One of the primary issues is with individuals who OverTrain. They end up maintaining Chronic (long term) Cortisol Elevation; which is catabolic (decreases muscle mass). These individuals create their own nightmare.
With that in said, DeLoading for in one Training Session only to ramp it back up, ReLoading in the following session produces short term results; long term it's InEffective.
Overcoming their OverTrained Chronic Cortisol Elevation amount to a well written Periodization Training Program; which incorporates backing off,
Increases in Strength and Muscle Mass occur during Recovery.
