Berberine is a bioactive compound found in several plants, including the roots, rhizomes, and bark of various herbs from the Berberis genus, such as Berberis vulgaris (barberry), Berberis aristata (tree turmeric), and Coptis chinensis (Chinese goldthread). It has been used in traditional medicine systems, particularly in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, for centuries due to its health benefits. In this blog, we discuss some of the benefits and a brief history of berberine's use in medicine.

I recently read Glucose Revolution: The Life-Changing Power of Balancing Your Blood Sugar by Jessie Inchauspé. This book is really a compendium guide to Ms. Inchauspé’s well established Instagram account--@GlucoseGoddess. In this book, Ms. Inchauspé, a biochemist, goes into comprehensive detail about how to achieve healthy blood glucose levels using some interesting “hacks,” as she calls them. The book aims to help readers avoid blood sugar spikes and crashes, to decrease insulin resistance and improve overall health. Ms. Inchauspé does this with an emphasis on practical techniques to be implemented immediately at home, without having to give up favorite foods or feel deprived. This can be a great help to a functional medicine food strategy.