I put down the spoon and instantly felt regret. I tossed the now-demolished pint of ice cream into the trash. I knew my blood sugar would peak, and then crash down. Constant blood sugar fluctuations can lead to fat gain, fatigue, brain fog, and cravings.
Stable blood sugar is a prerequisite to performing at your peak, feeling your best, and living a long time.
That’s where metformin and its alternatives come in. Fortunately, you can have both stable blood sugar and enjoy occasional treats.
Metformin has drawbacks. Pick up one of these safe and effective natural Metformin replacements. Click To TweetToday I’ll cover the important drawbacks of its off-label biohacking use for anti-aging & longevity, and the most effective metformin alternatives you can use instead.
Lesser-Known Dangers of Metformin
Longevity researcher David Sinclair likes metformin for anti-aging. There may be additional longevity benefits, but blood sugar stability is primary.
Chemically induced blood sugar stabilization is questionable. Some experts advocate off-label metformin. But others warn against it.
Metformin has withstood the test of time (so far). It has been heavily studied and is widely used to treat diabetes.
Off-label use for anti-aging and life extension has only recently gained popularity.
Before you look for a prescription, you should know the side effects and risks.
B12 Vitamin Deficiency
One of the many necessary vitamins and minerals. I can see why you’d shrug your shoulders at an association with vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin B12 is essential to the development of your brain and nerves. Metformin increases your chances of B12 deficiency which can lead to serious permanent nerve damage, deteriorating brain function, and memory loss.
Wasted Exercise Sessions
Exercise is among the top strategies to live a long time.
Several studies suggest that metformin blunts the beneficial adaptations to aerobic exercise. It also makes exercise feel harder. Looking beyond aerobics, metformin may negatively affect building muscle mass.
I don’t know about you, but my workouts are hard enough as is. Blunting the beneficial effects of exercise alone would be a deal-breaker for me.
Extreme Muscle Soreness
Dr Peter Attia loves cycling. As a doctor, he has all the tools and processes in place to run successful biohacking self-quantification experiments.
You know that burning feeling from really pushing yourself through a workout?
That’s lactate accumulating.
Peter experimented with metformin but ultimately stopped because it increased his lactate levels during exercise. He wrote a piece about it back in 2017.
Dangerously Low Blood Sugar
As a drug used to lower blood sugar, you might find it surprising to see this also listed as a side-effect.
Known as hypoglycemia, certain things combined with Metformin can cause blood sugar to dip dangerously low. Healthline lists common combinations to avoid combining with Metformin:
- A poor diet
- Strenuous exercise
- Excessive alcohol intake
Another strike against combining exercise and Metformin.
“Best Guess” Dosing
Unlike its use in treating diabetes, we don’t know much about proper longevity doses.
I heard one doctor mention that we don’t even know how long its effects last in your body.
For example, one process it affects is called AMPK. 36 hours after dosing metformin, AMPK activity remains altered. I find this concerning since the plasma half-life of the drug is just 6.2 hours.
Great Natural Metformin Alternatives
No known side effect by itself completely negates Metformin’s potential. When you add everything together, enough unknowns pop up to warrant trying some more natural alternatives first to see if you can stabilize blood sugar through other means.
Finally, through modern science we can relax and enjoy the occasional indulgence.
First and most obviously, you can stabilize your blood sugar by making healthy low-glycemic food choices (make sure to avoid foods with hidden sugar).
Once you do that you have two categories of blood sugar stabilizers:
- Supplements
- Lifestyle changes
I like lifestyle changes because they are cheap (or free), available to everyone, and widely accessible. However, when you’re low on time or don’t have the ability, choosing the right products can help.
Looking for even more supplements not listed here?
1. Berberine
Berberine is an extract that comes from multiple plants.
It works as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, and liver booster.
Biohackers consider berberine the gold-standard effective metformin replacement.
Well documented studies support berberine as an ideal medicine for its “glucose-lowering effect“.
At a dose of 500mg it lowers blood sugar. I personally take it whenever I expect to indulge.
But that’s not all.
2019 research confirms that berberine reduces fasting blood sugar and blood insulin levels too. And rat studies have found that it also helps regenerate the cells that make insulin (beta cells).
2. Bitter Melon Extract
Next up behind berberine, you’ll find bitter melon extract in high-quality fat loss supplements.
I see it in “carb blocker” formulations because it suppresses the inflammation and blood sugar spike characteristic of binges.
Bitter melon extract is mostly known (and studied) for its anti-obesity properties. That’s not all. A 2017 review found its effects extend far beyond liver protection:
“Antidiabetic, anticancer, hypotensive, anti-obesity, antimicrobial, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, anthelmintic, neuro-protective…”
This is one ingredient you’ll want to bookmark for later. Note that you’ll often see it referred to as “Momordica Charantia” in research.
When choosing a Bitter Melon product, look for the most potent formulation (Glycostat) on the label.
3. Lotus
Coming up as number three on my favorite supplements, lotus seems quite effective.
I came across lots of literature showing a significant effect on blood glucose.
Researchers call lotus a strong anti-obesity agent. Lotus works via two mechanisms:
- Reducing fat accumulation
- Increasing fat burning
I have not experimented with it yet, but lotus (or any of its other countless aliases) looks like a powerful weapon in the longevity arsenal.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Don’t expect huge blood sugar changes from apple cider vinegar, but it may help.
If this one is in your cabinet give it a try.
Apple cider vinegar works differently than the other compounds, but I’ve heard a fair amount of anecdotal success with it. It won’t hurt, and it has plenty of other beneficial properties.
Bragg’s is the tried and true fan favorite.
When choosing apple cider vinegar, make sure it is raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized, and “with the mother” for maximum benefit.
5. Ceylon Cinnamon
Following in apple cider vinegar’s footsteps, Ceylon cinnamon also has an effect on blood sugar.
Look for a type called Ceylon. The more common types of cinnamon, Cassia and Saigon, contain high levels of a toxic ingredient called Coumarin.
Most cinnamon is Cassia unless stated otherwise. Ceylon is less potent, so consuming the multi-gram dose is bearable.
I like to use it in my coffee after a night of bad sleep, or in my smoothies.
If you don’t mind the simple look of their label, Frontier produces a great value, high-quality, organic, non-irradiated cinnamon.
6. EGCG
EGCG is one of the primary beneficial ingredients (polyphenols) in green tea.
Preliminary findings suggest widespread benefits throughout the body:
“It is cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anti-obesity, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic, anti-artherogenic, liver protective and beneficial for blood vessel health.”
Examine.com
This supplement works best when taken over the long-term.
An old 2012 study showed two months of supplementation significantly reduced blood-glucose.
Fascinatingly, EGCG may work as an effective carb blocker.
In another small group, 28 healthy volunteers saw a 30 percent reduction in carbohydrate absorption!
Additionally, supplementing EGCG improves LDL-cholesterol and glucose.
7. Exercise
The irony of using Metformin is that blunts one of the most effective tools available.
Strength training, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and aerobic training all drop blood sugar. The study on HIIT showed the effect on blood glucose lasted up to three days!
8. Walking
I overlooked the power of walking for most of my life.
Now I am a big fan.
From stimulating brain growth to keeping blood sugar low, walking benefits the brain and body. Centenarians living in blue zones make these frequent micro-workouts a staple of their daily lives.
It’s easy too. Enjoy a brisk twenty minute post-meal walk.
9. Cold
Cold exposure builds resilience, fast. Biohackers wearing continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) often report drastic blood glucose effects.
Exposure to cold via a fasted morning walk, cold shower, or ice bath has a significant effect on blood sugars.
Try a cold shower before moving on to dietary supplements (which also can have side effects).
10. Inositol
Inositol, also called vitamin B8, naturally occurs in fruits, nuts, beans, and grains. Two forms of supplemental inositol, however, have additional health benefits:
- D-chiro-inositol (DCI)
- Myo-inositol (MYO)
Inositol makes insulin more efficient which helps normalize blood sugar levels.
- One 2017 study found that supplementing 1 gram of DCI plus 400 mcg of folic acid led to better metabolic control.
- An investigation into women with PCOS supplementing MYO showed greater weight reduction than metformin.
It balances serotonin and dopamine, two neurochemicals responsible for your mood. Other notable effects on mental health with one study finding improved symptoms of depression.
Try a Natural Metformin Alternative Today
Metformin's not the only anti-aging strategy around. Between lifestyle practices, and powerful supplements you can get all the benefits of stable blood sugar without nasty side-effects. Click To TweetI’m partial to lifestyle tweaks. Once you learn them, they work effectively, anywhere, and without capsules. They aren’t as effortless but can provide even greater effects.
Regardless, occasionally I’ll use a natural blood sugar supplement to mitigate the downsides of a low-quality meal. My personal favorite is berberine.
Blood sugar regulation is but one of countless reasons to exercise. You don’t have to go all out. Something as simple, accessible, and easy as walking works.
Remember, biohacking with metformin alternatives isn’t an excuse to eat poorly, but rather damage control for the rare binge.
Thanks for the article and recommendations!