Bergamot supplements are increasing in popularity. They are said to aid in liver health, and balanced cholesterol levels, among other benefits.
But, just what is bergamot? And, what are all of the possible benefits of using bergamot? If you want to give it a try, which bergamot supplement is the best choice?
In this article, we will break down just what bergamot is, what it might help with, and what supplements we recommend.
Bergamot is a citrus fruit, although it’s distinctly different from oranges, lemons, or limes. It’s originally from Italy, and has a pleasant orange-like scent. It has a yellow-to-green peel covered in bumps and grooves. It’s thought that bergamot might be a hybrid of a bitter orange and a lime.
When it is used in supplements or essential oils, the oils from the peel, or the juice from the pulp are extracted.
You might be able to find the fruit itself in some specialty markets, if you want to consume it like a citric fruit. But, most of the time you will find bergamot inside supplements, either on its own or as a blend.
Studies have found that some properties of bergamot-containing products include potential anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic benefits. These features tend to help keep rogue and malfunctioning cells in check, with cancerous cells being some of the ones that most worry about.
These same studies have found anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects from bergamot products as well. This is beneficial for general health and well-being by keeping free radicals at bay, and dampening inflammation. Since inflammation and free radicals can contribute to the development or worsening of many disease states, anything that can help improve these is generally a good idea.
Some of the main claims of bergamot include its potential ability to help improve cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol. This also comes along with claims of benefits for people dealing with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, since this is also a problem involving lipid status in the body.
Bergamot may be beneficial for helping to lower high cholesterol levels and trying to maintain overall lipid balance.*
One study looked into the results of five clinical trials using bergamot to see its effects on cholesterol levels. All trials showed improvements in total cholesterol and reductions in LDL (bad) cholesterol. The results were mixed with triglyceride and HDL (good) cholesterol improvements, with some studies showing benefits and some showing no change. These differences may come from the studies using different preparations of bergamot.
It is unclear what the exact mechanism is behind how bergamot may help improve cholesterol levels. But, it’s thought that this mechanism is different than the approaches of current cholesterol medications like statins.
Bergamot supplements were well tolerated by users over the time periods of 30 days to 12 weeks, without dangerous side effects. Overall, bergamot is promising for cholesterol improvements. It’s likely to become a strong area of interest for studies looking into ways to improve cholesterol levels outside of medication therapies.
Bergamot supplements may also be promising for liver diseases, including fatty liver.*
In mice with diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, studies show that giving them bergamot extracts can improve many markers related to lipid levels, liver function, and disease progression. Liver enzyme levels improved, triglycerides improved, LDL (bad) cholesterol numbers reduced, and the overall fatty liver was more resolved.
In humans, people with metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease taking bergamot supplements had beneficial effects as well. Blood sugar levels improved, LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and triglycerides went down, and HDL (good) cholesterol levels went up. This suggests that bergamot extracts may be a solid supplement option for people trying to manage fatty liver disease.*
Most people who use bergamot supplements as directed will not experience significant side effects, if they notice anything at all.
Sometimes, people may experience heartburn, dizziness, or muscle cramps from using bergamot products.
Since bergamot may reduce blood sugar levels, this may lead to lowered blood sugar levels in some people. This is important to keep an eye on if you are diabetic or prone to low blood sugar levels. However, for some people, a slight decline in blood sugar may be a welcome effect and may help will maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.
If you are taking bergamot and you experience side effects you suspect are from this supplement, let your doctor or pharmacist know.
There are many different bergamot supplements on the market. And, while many of them may provide some of these same benefits listed above, you likely want to go with one that helps give you the best results.
We reviewed many bergamot supplements, and we find BergacynFF to be one of the strongest competitors on the market. BergacynFF is a supplement combining bergamot with artichoke leaf extracts to aid in vascular health and healthy liver fat levels.
The BergacynFF company has undergone multiple clinical research trials to study the effectiveness of BergacynFF specifically on liver lipid levels, vascular inflammation, and body weight. The studies are favorable for showing the benefits of using BergacynFF in these scenarios.
BergacynFF is a patented ingredient that can be found in just a few bergamot-containing supplements on the market.
One of the most reputable brands for scientifically developed supplements, Zen Nutrients, uses BergacynFF as a key ingredient in its popular liver supplement called The Everyday Liver Vitamin (TELV). The Everyday Liver Vitamin is easy to find online, either by purchasing through Amazon, or from the Zen Nutrients directly. Zen Nutrients commonly runs sales and discounts, and also offers subscribe and save programs if you are looking for a lower overall cost.
This company is owned and operated by a pharmacist, and the blend itself was developed by pharmacists and doctors looking into the best ingredients for fatty liver diseases. If you are ready to try out bergamot, we think The Everyday Liver Vitamin from Zen Nutrients is a great place to start.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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