NUTRI LIFESCIENCE'S BERGAMONTE SUPPORTS HEALTHY CHOLESTEROL NATURALLY
Bergamot is known for its uplifting citrus scent and antiseptic properties. Now Bergamot has a role in managing healthy cholesterol and blood glucose levels.
Bergamot is the common name of the citrus bergamia risso plant. The fruit has a yellow skin and is the size of an orange. Although native to south-east Asia, 80% of the world’s bergamot is produced in Calabria, southern Italy where it grows extensively. If you’ve never heard of bergamot you’ve probably been exposed to it. The oil from the peel is used to flavor Earl Grey tea, it’s bergamot that imparts the unique fragrance of that popular brew. 50% of women’s perfumes also contain bergamot. Aromatherapists use bergamot oil to treat: Depression, Psoriasis, Cuts, burns and wounds.
Researchers over the past decade or more have turned their attention to other uses of bergamot, namely as a cholesterol-lowering ingredient.
According to the Mayo Clinic, your cholesterol is considered high when it totals 200 mg/dL or more. Your high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol, should be 60 mg/dL or above while your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol, should be below 100 mg/dL.
When it comes to regulating your cholesterol, bergamot may be able to prevent plaque from building up in the arteries and causing blockages while also acting similar to statin medications, which inhibit the production of cholesterol by the liver. Some studies showed daily bergamot supplements lowered bad cholesterol, raised good cholesterol and helped regulate blood sugar levels, attribute these benefits to the abundant presence of flavonoids, or antioxidants, within the fruit.
Scientific Evidence for Bergamot
Italian researchers studied this extract in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 237 patients with high cholesterol. Some of
them also had features of the metabolic syndrome (high blood sugar, high triglycerides, and low HDL cholesterol). The subjects took either 500 mg or 1000 mg of bergamot extract per day, or placebo, for 30 days.
Impressive results for cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar. Those in the bergamot groups experienced significant average reductions in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, and a significant increase in HDL cholesterol compared to those in the placebo group. The 59 subjects with metabolic syndrome also experienced a significant decrease in their triglycerides. In that group, total cholesterol dropped from 278 to 199mg/ml, LDL dropped from 188 to 126mg/ml, and triglycerides dropped from 267 to 158 mg/ml. Not only that, but HDL increased in all patients as well, up to a striking 64.6%.
It also reduced blood sugar levels by an average of 15%–25% and is therefore of potential benefit in those with pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Overall, there was not much difference in the 500 mg dose compared to the 1000 mg dose for any of the measured parameters except HDL, which increased significantly more in the group taking the higher, 1000 mg per day dose.
Is bergamot becoming an alternative to statin drugs?
In this same Italian study, there was a 4th group who had stopped taking their statin medications (cholesterol-lowering drugs) because of muscle pain and other side effects. They were given 1500 mg per day. This group showed a 25% reduction in total cholesterol and a 27.5% reduction in LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. No negative side effects were reported.
Can I Just Drink or Eat the Fruit?
The fruit is not palatable, as the flavor resembles that of a very bitter and sour grapefruit. Nevertheless, bergamot juice and bergamot extract are highly concentrated with inflammation-fighting flavonoids and antioxidants that have incredible therapeutic effects on the body. Therefore, bergamot capsules and tablets are available to provide a more tolerable way to swallow the recommended dosages.
Dosage
There are 60 capsules per bottle. You should take no less than 4 in the first month, 2 in the afternoon and 2 in the evening before your meals. Then you can stay on 4, or reduce to 3-2 per day depending upon your blood profile and lifestyle. Ideally you will use Bergamonte for 3 months and then have your blood tested again. Once your blood work is in a healthy range, you may take as little as 2 per day as a maintenance dosage. The 500 mg dosage is provided to give you this flexibility.
Ingredients
Serving Size: 2 Capsules
Servings per container: 30
Bergamonte® Citrus Bergamia Risso
(30% flavanone 1% Melitidine, 2% Bruteridine)
500mg
Ascorbic Acid 50mg
Other Ingredients: Cellulose (from capsule),
Magnesium Stearate Vegetable.
Warnings
Please consult your healthcare professional before taking this product if you are pregnant, nursing, on medication or under a doctor’s care.
THIS PRODUCT IS NOT MEANT FOR CHILDREN.
More Ways to Support Healthy Cholesterol
There are multiple steps you should take to get your cholesterol into the desired range and keep it there. Start with these:
Avoid trans and saturated fats as well as processed foods.
Quit smoking.
Eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins, protein, fiber, minerals and essential fatty acids.
Cut down or give up the soda.
Exercise for at least 30 minutes five days a week to get your weight to a healthy number.
Go for whole grains instead of white rice and flour.
Consume alcohol in moderation.
My Thoughts
This is a great natural way to help manage healthy cholesterol. My doctor did not want to put me on medication at such a young age, so he recommended I exercise and watch what I eat. Being that my cholesterol had been high for the last 5 years I was concerned about not treating it. I went online searching for a good supplement. I saw an article saying bergamot is good for reducing cholesterol and started taking it about a year ago. My cholesterol was running about 220 before I started taking this type of supplement. After about 3 months, I dropped 30 points on my total cholesterol! This was also in combination with changing a few dietary foods and exercising. Recently I was given Bergamonte by Nutri LifeScience to review. My old brand were large hard pills, they worked just fine but I prefer these softgels by Nutri Lifescience. They go down easier and break down much faster in the stomach. I'm also switching since these are cheaper and have the same amount of Bergamonte. This is proof to me that with diet and exercise and the help of something natural like this, that you might not just have to start taking some medications. I take two of these soft gel capsules everyday before lunch and dinner. I have had no side effects at all from them that I am aware of. I have no idea how much or if at all this brand is helping compared to my old one, but I will continue taking it. I'll be checking my cholesterol in the next few months and hope to see a drop of several points from this brand as well. This supplement may help bring down cholesterol numbers, but you have to do your part as well. At least exercise a little and cut out fried foods. If you do your part I think it will work well for you. These types of supplements are proof to me that with diet and exercise and the help of something natural like this, that you might not just have to start taking some medications.
To find out more about Nutri Lifescience Bergamonte 60 Vegetarian Capsules visit the Nutri Lifescience website or Amazon.
The products and the information provided about specific products on this page/post have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
The information provided on this page, is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional.
You should not use the information on this page/post for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.
You should consult with a healthcare professional before taking any medication or supplements, especially if you are pregnant or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above free or at a discount rate for review purposes. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
