If you want to be introduced to the newest weight loss supplement that has hit the market and flooded the Internet with advertisements then it is none other than Irvingia gabonensis. As far as the weight loss industry goes, this may have the potential of becoming the next acai berry or hoodia gordonii. However, the facts about this latest weight loss supplement will be reviewed here so you can make up your own mind about it.
Irvingia gabonensis is found in West Africa on the wild or bush mango tree. These trees bear fruits which you can eat, but they are particularly known for their nuts that go by a variety of
names including the following: ogbono, odika, etima, or dika nuts. These nuts are high in fat content (50 percent) and oil is also extracted from them. Irvingia gabonensis is 26.4% carbohydrates, 7.5%, protein and 14% fiber. It is often recommended that you eat lots of fiber to increase your success with any weight loss program.
There is also interest in using Irvingia gabonensis in different supplements to enhance weight loss, lower cholesterol levels and improve the control of diabetes.
How Does it Work?
Irvingia gabonensis seeds may to lower cholesterol due to their high fiber content. Fiber from these nuts induces cholesterol to be removed from the body.
You may read that some research suggests that these seeds may help in affecting fat cells. It may play a part in fat cell reduction and increase fat breakdown.
First weight loss study for Irvingia Gabonensis: 2005
A double blind study was set up in 2005, in Cameroon, in Western Africa, to find out if Irvingia gabonensis could be a factor in weight loss. Forty obese subjects were chosen, ranging in ages from nineteen to fifty-two. They were divided into two groups – experimental and placebo. The experimental group took 1.05 grams of this extract three times daily for a total of 3.15grams for thirty days. Both groups were told to follow a low fat diet and eat 1,800 calories a day for a period of thirty days. They were also instructed to keep a food journal for seven days.
At the end of the trial period, the group that had taken the Irvingia gabonensis lost an average of 11.5 pounds whereas the placebo group only lost 2.9 pounds. The group that had received the extract showed their systolic blood pressure had decreased as well as their triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol while the HDL cholesterol increased.
The Bottom Line
It can probably be concluded that Irvingia gabonensis is an excellent source of fiber. There are numerous health benefits associated with increasing the amount of fiber you eat in your diet. It can also play a vital role in controlling body fat. However, you really do not have to buy expensive supplements to do this. You will find that a 30-day supply of Irvingia gabonensis will cost anywhere from $42 to $72.
Future evidence may indicate that Irvingia gabonensis or perhaps a combination of Irvingia gabonensis and Cissus could provide major health benefits. Research that already exists suggests such health benefits as glycemic control, antioxidant properties, cholesterol improvements and antibacterial actions. It is also quite feasible that some of the anti-obesity benefits may also turn out to be true. However, at the present time, the evidence is not substantial enough to recommend that you run out and buy Irvingia gabonensis at your local health food store. You can increase your fiber intake by changing your diet to include more fruits and vegetables and one of my favorite diets that teach these techniques is called the Diet Solution Program.
