Drop 22 pounds in 21 days with this blood sugar–balancing secret

Columbia-trained M.D. reveals the powerful plant extract that blocks blood-sugar spikes, empties fat cells and melts 636% more belly fat—and works better than the #1 diabetes med!

No one wakes up every morning planning to feel cranky and tired all day. But if you’re like most of us, you have a frequentrider pass for the blood-sugar roller coaster, struggling with energy dips throughout the day and constantly thinking about your next meal. “You may also get dizzy or experience mood swings and sweating,” says nutrition expert and New York Times bestselling author Fred Pescatore, M.D. “And those are just the things you feel. Surging levels of cortisol and insulin also prompt the body to store fat so you gain weight.” As with any roller coaster, if you spend too much time on this one, you start to feel sick: Uncontrolled bloodsugar spikes are the first step toward diabetes, which increases the risk for a host of other conditions.

Blood-sugar flux doesn’t just cause weight gain, it also compromises the immune system. “Too much blood sugar suppresses white blood cells so they can’t fight disease,” explains Dr. Pescatore. “A teaspoon of sugar suppresses white blood cells by around 54% and 2 tsp. by about 78%. And the average American eats 33 tsp. of sugar per day.” According to research, these immunity-hindering effects can linger for 5 hours—and often longer in women with diabetes. That’s especially worrisome because studies show women with uncontrolled blood sugar are more likely to suffer complications if they contract COVID-19.

Fortunately, there’s a natural plant extract proven to help the body utilize blood sugar and stop fat storage. Berberine—an extract found in the roots and bark of goldenseal, barberry and goldthread—has long been used for blood-sugar regulation, explains women’s health expert Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., author of Radical Metabolism. “The supplement is considered to be as clinically effective as Metformin—the most commonly prescribed drug used to treat diabetes— without any of the side effects, like nausea, headaches and stomach pain.” Indeed, supplementing with berberine has been shown to lower subjects’ blood-sugar levels by 57%; Metformin lowers fasting blood sugar by an average of just 25%. “Berberine binds to cells and asks them to open up for blood sugar, which stops weight gain,” explains Dr. Pescatore. The result: a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes—and less fat storage.

Berberine also boosts metabolism by activating an enzyme called AMPK. “AMPK is sort of a metabolic master switch,” explains Dr. Pescatore. “It determines whether energy will be stored in fat cells or burned for fuel.” The payoff: In one study, subjects who increased their AMPK production lost 636% more belly fat than those who didn’t.

The benefits don’t end there: Berberine also raises levels of vitamin D by 60%. Research shows that berberine increases the number of vitamin D receptors throughout the body, allowing more of the vitamin to be utilized. That’s good news because adequate vitamin D reduces diabetes risk by

40% and blood pressure by 67%, while data suggests that D can also lower the risk of complications from COVID-19 by an astonishing 700%. In one study, women with the highest levels of D lost 160% more belly inches and 52% more weight than those with lower levels.

“People who take berberine refer to it as the fountain of youth,” says Gittleman. Women FIRST spoke to report that it ends between-meal hunger, boosts energy and even eliminates dry skin. “I suddenly had lots of energy and no cravings—that got my attention,” says lifelong yo-yo dieter Barbara Musser, 68, who dropped four pants sizes with help from berberine. Read on to learn how berberine can help you get off the blood-sugar roller coaster and trim inches effortlessly!

“Berberine is really a ‘what

can’t it do?’ kind of herb” —Fred Pescatore,

M.D.