supplements, no matter how effective, cannot replace a healthy lifestyle with real food, exercise, and good sleep.
4 natural supplements as powerful as drugs? which medicines are tonics? what are natural nutrition products? what are the natural sleeping pills?
most supplements are not effective, and some may not have benefits at all.
however, there are exceptions. in fact, some supplements are comparable to medications.
These four all-natural, health-promoting supplements have the same potency as prescription drugs.
1. Berberine
berberine is a biologically active substance extracted from certain plants.
it's not well known, but it's probably one of the most powerful tonics on the planet.
it offers a variety of health benefits but is particularly effective at lowering blood sugar levels (1).
these effects are thought to be caused by a variety of mechanisms. in particular, berberine is thought to reduce glucose production in the liver and improve insulin sensitivity (2, 3).
studies have shown that taking berberine can reduce blood sugar levels to a degree similar to that of the popular diabetes drug metformin. (4）。
In a study of 116 people with type 2 diabetes, the substance reduced fasting blood glucose levels by 20% and HbA1c, a marker of long-term blood glucose levels, by 12% (5).
berberine is also very effective in improving other health indicators.
it lowers triglycerides and blood pressure levels, as well as total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol, which may reduce your risk of heart disease (1, 6, 7, 8).
berberine has also been shown to have antibacterial effects that can prevent heart failure and cancer. (9, 10, 11）。
if you want to try berberine, you can do so at the health supplement store and online.
But remember that this stuff is strong and has a variety of bodily impacts.
use with caution and consult your healthcare provider – especially if you are currently taking any other medications.
summary: berberine is a powerful tonic. for example, it can significantly lower blood sugar levels and improve most of the major risk factors for heart disease.
2. Curcumin
turmeric is a popular spice known for giving curry yellow.
In India, it has been utilized for thousands of years as a medicinal herb.
Turmeric contains curcumin, a potent substance that has been thoroughly studied in recent years (12).
Curcumin fights inflammation at the molecular level by blocking an inflammatory signaling molecule called NF-kB (13, 14).
It is so effective that it has been compared to anti-inflammatory drugs in some studies—without any major side effects (15, 16).
For example, in a study of 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 500 mg of curcumin per day was more effective than the anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac. (17）。
Curcumin also has many other health benefits. it is a powerful antioxidant that can improve heart health and may help prevent cancer (18, 19, 20).
One study suggests that curcumin may aid in the fight against depression. Actually, it works just as well as Prozac, an antidepressant. (21).
Nonetheless, curcumin absorption is low, so it is best to supplement with a supplement containing piperine/biotin, which has been shown to increase absorption by 2,000% (22).
these supplements are available in health stores and online.
Summary: curcumin is the bioactive agent in turmeric. it is a very powerful anti-inflammatory substance that can help fight a variety of diseases.
3. Red yeast rice
One of the most commonly prescribed medications worldwide is a statin.
They inhibit the production of cholesterol in the liver, which significantly lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood.
Interestingly, an extract of fermented rice called red yeast rice may have a similar effect.
It
contains a small amount of monacolin k, which is the active ingredient in the
statin lovastatin.
According to a review of 93 studies, red yeast rice reduced total cholesterol by an average of 34 mg/dL, LDL (bad) cholesterol by 28 mg/dL, and triglycerides by 35 mg/dL. In addition, it increased HDL (good) cholesterol by 6 mg/dL (24).
what's more, in a study of 5,000 people with heart attacks in china, red yeast rice reduced the risk of subsequent heart attacks by 45 percent and the risk of death by 33 percent during the study period (25).
Still, depending on the brand, the number of active ingredients in supplements can be up to 100 times higher (26).
Because of the potency of Monacolin K, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ruled that red yeast rice products containing this substance should be considered drugs and not supplements (27).
Some manufacturers have tried to evade these regulations by selling red yeast rice supplements that contain only trace amounts of monacolin k.
as a result, these products may not offer the same benefits as real red yeast rice.
for this reason — and because of potential side effects — you should ask your healthcare provider to help you find high-quality supplements from reputable manufacturers.
Summary: red yeast rice contains a substance that is the active ingredient of statin lovastatin. it can lower cholesterol levels and the risk of heart attack and death in people who already have heart disease.
4. Garlic
Garlic is a popular ingredient in cuisines around the world, but for thousands of years, it has also been used as a medicinal plant, including by the greeks and Romans (28).
The main role of garlic is because one of its active compounds, allicin, is very beneficial for heart health. (29）
Studies have shown that garlic can reduce total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol by an average of 10-15% (30, 31, 32).
What's more, aged garlic extract can significantly lower blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and early death. (33, 34）。
In people with elevated levels, garlic can lower systolic blood pressure (the highest number in the reading) by 8.4 mm hg and diastolic blood pressure (lowest number) by 7.3 mm hg, on average (35)
In a study of 210 patients with hypertension, aged garlic extract was more effective than the blood pressure-lowering drug atenolol. (36）
Garlic also seems to boost immune function and fight the common cold.
In one study, it reduced the number of colds by 63% and the duration of cold symptoms by 70%—an average reduction from 5 days to 1.5 days (37).
You can buy garlic supplements in stores and stores online. supplements containing aged garlic extract are also available.
Summary: garlic has a wide range of biological effects. it lowers blood pressure, improves cholesterol levels, and helps fight the common cold.
Conclusion:
Supplements, no matter how effective, cannot replace a healthy lifestyle with real food, exercise, and good sleep.
That said, the above supplements may help those who want to promote health naturally.
Keep in mind that these supplements are very powerful and should be consumed with caution.
Before experimenting with these substances, speak with your healthcare practitioner if you have a medical problem or are currently taking any medications.