How Bergamot Can Help to Reduce Cholesterol
August 26, 2024
Have you heard about the powers of bergamot? This fragrant citrus fruit native to the Mediterranean is being lauded for its potential health benefits, specifically for its impact on cholesterol levels. Loaded with bioactive compounds, like flavonoids, bergamot helps to support cardiovascular health by promoting healthy cholesterol levels, making it a promising natural option for patients looking to manage their cholesterol and support heart health. Here is how bergamot can help to reduce cholesterol:
What is Bergamot?
Similar to a lemon or lime, bergamot is a citrus fruit commonly found in Southern Italy’s Calabria region. It has long been used in traditional Italian medicine to treat both fevers and infections. But today, its benefits are believed to extend even further. Research has discovered bergamot to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that are beneficial by potentially lowering cholesterol.
In fact, the results are so promising that bergamot can actually be used to replace a statin in some cases and with the approval of your doctor. This provides patients with a natural alternative with fewer interactions and side effects than statins.
How it Can Reduce Cholesterol
Orally administered bergamot has been shown to both reduce cholesterol totals and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in clinical trials. It’s believed that the polyphenols in bergamot impact specific enzymes associated with the metabolism of cholesterol.
While the efficacy ranges between studies, a systematic review found that those taking bergamot saw their total cholesterol decrease anywhere from 12.3% to 31.3%, while LDL cholesterol decreased by 7.6% to 40.8% and triglycerides were lowered between 11.5% and 39.5%.
Bergamot helps lipids in a number of different ways, most notably by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase. HMG-CoA reductase is a rate control enzyme that controls circulating cholesterol levels in the liver. Since HMG-CoA plays an important role in cholesterol synthesis, its inhibition has become a common target of traditional therapies for cholesterol management.
Studies have found that cholesterol reductions are noticeable after several weeks of regular bergamot supplementation. The time it takes for bergamot to impact cholesterol can vary among patients. We recommend re-checking your cholesterol after 3 months of consistently using a bergamot supplement.
A Bergamot Supplement for You
We have the perfect bergamot supplement for you to help manage your cholesterol! Our BERGAMOT supplement is made up of a powerful combination of cholesterol-balancing and cardio-protective polyphenolic flavonoids that help to reduce cholesterol.
Bergamot from NCP harnesses the power of phytonutrients found in bergamot in combination with the antioxidant benefits of olive oil to support healthy cardiovascular function, endothelium and glycocalyx. Our bergamot is sourced directly from Southern Italy’s Calabria region. We recommend taking three capsules of this bergamot supplement daily or as directed by your healthcare provider.
If you’re having trouble managing your cholesterol, or would rather not have to take statins, consider giving bergamot a try. Bergamot from NCP is just one of many supplements we have to help improve all aspects of health! You’ll find all types of solutions for common health concerns when you shop our supplements.
