The Metabolism Report
AdvertorialEvidence on blood sugar, metabolism and supplement qualityUpdated September 19, 2026

The Metabolism Report

An HPLC instrument of the kind used to measure berberine content
Metabolic Health

Why a 2,000-Year-Old Plant Extract Became One of the Most Studied Compounds in Metabolic Health

More than 100 million Indians live with diabetes, and another 136 million with prediabetes. Researchers looking for help in those in-between years keep returning to berberine. Here is what they found — and what it means if you are thinking of trying it.

By the editorial team · 6 min read

Blood sugar & metabolism

Blood Sugar

Your Sugar Is ‘Borderline’. Here’s What the Research Says About the Years Before a Diagnosis

6 min read
A finger-prick blood glucose test
Insulin Resistance

The Blood Test Most People Are Never Offered — and Why It Can Flag Trouble Years Before Your Sugar Rises

4 min read
Illustration comparing an insulin-sensitive cell with an insulin-resistant one
Comparison

Berberine vs Metformin: What Happened When Researchers Tested Them Side by Side

5 min read
A single capsule held between two fingers
Metabolism

Eating Less but the Weight Won’t Move? Researchers Point to a Hormone Most Diets Ignore

4 min read
A tape measure around a waist
Comparison

Is Berberine Really ‘Nature’s Ozempic’? We Checked the Viral Claim Against the Science

4 min read
Yellow berberine-rich powder beside dried root bark and leaves
Liver Health

Fatty Liver Now Affects One in Four Adults Worldwide. Most Have No Idea They Have It

4 min read
Scientific illustration of cells and insulin signalling

Quality & testing

Quality & Testing

The ‘500 mg’ on Your Supplement Label Might Not Mean What You Think

4 min read
An HPLC instrument of the kind used to measure berberine content
Quality & Testing

A Plant Extract Can Be 99% Pure and Still Carry Pesticide Residue. Here’s the Test That Catches It

4 min read
Yellow berberine-rich powder beside dried root bark and leaves
Quality & Testing

‘Lab Tested’ Means Less Than You Think. Three Questions That Reveal Whether a Supplement Was Really Tested

4 min read
An analytical instrument in a testing laboratory

Safety

Safety

Berberine Side Effects: The Honest Answer Most Brands Leave Out

4 min read
A close-up of a capsule filled with yellow powder
Safety

On Metformin and Curious About Berberine? Read This Before You Combine Them

4 min read
A finger-prick blood glucose test

Body & mind

Women’s Health

PCOS Is Often Treated as a Hormone Problem. Researchers Increasingly See Insulin at Its Core

4 min read
A single capsule held between two fingers
Microbiome

Most of Your Berberine Never Leaves Your Gut. Scientists Think That’s the Point

4 min read
Abstract illustration of spheres suggesting cells and microbes
Sleep & Recovery

Six Short Nights: The Sleep Study That Showed How Fast Your Metabolism Can Slip

3 min read
Watercolour illustration of hills at dawn
Cognitive

That 3 p.m. Brain Fog Might Not Be About Sleep. Researchers Are Looking at Your Blood Sugar

4 min read
A person working at a laptop wearing a continuous glucose monitor
Inflammation

The Inflammation You Can’t Feel — and the Simple Blood Test That Reveals It

3 min read
A close-up of a capsule filled with yellow powder
Performance

Why Athletes Now Track ‘Metabolic Flexibility’ — and Why It Matters Even If You Never Race

4 min read
A person wearing a glucose sensor on the upper arm
Longevity

Longevity Researchers Keep Circling the Same Cellular Switch. Here’s Why It Matters at 35, Not 75

4 min read
Watercolour illustration of hills and trees