Among the factors responsible for obesity is the continuing decline in physical activity.  Compliance with weight management programs that include increasing energy expenditure via physical activity is often low. Therefore, it is not surprising to see the marketing of many new dietary slimming aids aimed at satisfying the need for palatable (as well as safe, effective, and therapeutic) options. One possibly effective medicinal plant used as a natural supplement in reducing body weight, is Irvingia gabonensis. .

What is it?

Irvingia gabonensis is a genus of African and Southeast Asian trees, sometimes known by the common names wild mango, African mango, or bush mango. They bear edible mango like fruits, and are especially valued for their fat and protein rich nuts, known as ogbono, etima, odika, or dika nuts.

In recent years, a scientific analysis of various Irvingia extracts revealed that they produced a wide range of biological properties that will induce weight loss. Study participants who have used irvingia have lost a lot of weight.

African research study
Dietary fibers are frequently used for the treatment of obesity. The aim of an irvingia study was to evaluate the efficacy of Irvingia gabonensis seeds in the management of obesity. This was carried out as a one month double blind randomized study involving 40 subjects.  The difference observed between the irvingia and the placebo groups was significant.

The obese patients under Irvingia gabonensis treatment also had a significant decrease of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and an increase of HDL-cholesterol. On the other hand, the placebo group did not manifest any changes in blood lipid components. Irvingia gabonensis seed may find application in weight lose.

Further research
Life Extension has done extensive research on Irvingia.  If you want to read a detailed report on their research, click here. It is extensive.

Online feedback
We have checked other sites and some people who tried it for weight loss either lost no weight or gained some.  Others did lose weight.  So far it is a tossup. The African study mentioned above was from an Uncle Sam web site, so it just might work.

Dosage

Scientists have spent many years identifying the specific Irvingia extract that promotes the greatest amount of weight loss, while reducing blood fat (lipid) and glucose levels.

In the most significant study to date, it required only 150 mg of standardized Irvingia extract taken two times a day to produce the dramatic results, i.e. 28 pounds of weight loss in subjects taking Irvingia extract compared to less than 3 pounds of weight loss in the placebo group.

Considering the effect of Irvingia in reducing blood glucose and cholesterol, the dose of 150 mg of Irvingia taken two times a day should not be exceeded.

Precautions

If you use cholesterol-lowering drugs and start taking Irvingia, have your blood tested after 30 days to make sure that your cholesterol level is not being lowered too much. If your total cholesterol drops below 160, ask your doctor to consider reducing the dose or eliminating your statin drug.

Diabetics taking medications to lower glucose levels should use this product with caution as it might cause glucose to drop too low. Diabetics are encouraged to carefully monitor their blood glucose levels, in coordination with their physician, to make sure the proper doses of anti-diabetic drug(s) are taken.

If blood glucose levels drop too low, ask your doctor if the dose of anti-diabetic drug can be lowered, or the drug(s) discontinued altogether. If a diabetic experiences significant weight loss with Irvingia, their need for anti-diabetic drugs may be reduced or eliminated. Careful self measurement of blood glucose levels is crucial for all diabetics.

Warning to not overeat
Mr. Faloon states, “Last year I wrote an article titled “Why a 100% Effective Diet Pill Would Lead to a Health Catastrophe.”  My article stated that most people restrict their calorie intake not for health reasons but to avoid becoming too fat. I warned that if a diet pill ever emerged that did not require food restriction, most people would overeat themselves into an early grave.

“It is still too early to know for sure if Irvingia will prove to be a 100% effective diet pill.”

“With our knowledge about the health and longevity benefits of restricting calorie intake, I beg, plead, and reiterate my point that if you find an effective method to lose weight without dieting, please continue to control calorie intake anyway in order to extend your life.”

“In other words, if Irvingia were to work for you as well as it did for the study subjects, please do not overeat, as excess calorie intake is a leading cause of cancer, vascular disease, and accelerated aging. The good news is that by freeing up leptin to bind to hunger-control centers in the brain, most people will find their appetite is reduced when taking Irvingia, thus enabling them to effortlessly ingest fewer calories.”

Product availability
You can buy online.  Simply do an online search for vendors.  It does seem that the only manufacturer of the product is Life Extension, so that is a concern.

Life Extension Foundation sent a letter to people who purchased their Irvingia, known as Integra-Lean.    Here’s a really short summary of what we took away from it after a quick read:

• William Falloon, the author of the original article in LEF, used the product on himself and got amazing results, in his estimation. This is why his article was so breathless in it’s praise.
• The product takes at least a month for the onset of action, so carping about it prior to that is unfair – folks should stay on it for the full 10 weeks.
• The product is NOT for people on low carb diets, since it works by altering carbohydrate metabolism. It’s described as working optimally for high-carbohydrate diets low in saturated fat.
• Anyone who is not satisfied can get a full refund by calling 1-800-544-4440.

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