What is African Mango?
Every few years or so a new “super fruit” becomes the newest sensation to sweep the weight loss industry. Let’s talk about the latest: it’s called the West African Mango and it appears the extract from the fruit is a natural and healthy way for dieters to lose weight and improve overall health. But don’t they all claim the same thing? I hate to be skeptical but we’ve seen this before – different fruit or berry mind you – but the same idea nonetheless.
Those feelings aside, there could be some real potential with the African Mango extract. There appears to be some positive studies performed on the supplement that backs up its weight loss claims. In any extent, it warrants further investigation.
What do we know about the origins of the African Mango?
Let’s start with what we know about where the African Mango comes from: the West African Mango is grown naturally in the rainforests of Cameroon Africa. The scientific name of the fruit is called Irvingia gabonensis and is considered to be a natural source of cholesterol management and weight management agent.
How will the African Mango help dieters to lose weight?
While the African Mango may be considered to be an effective, natural diet supplement, its true genius could be with how it can help the obese lose weight.
Maybe the biggest factor could be the fruit’s natural ability to act as an appetite suppressant. Leptin is a naturally occurring hormone that helps us control our appetites; however, most obese people have built up a resistance to leptin because, in part, to high levels of C-reactive protein (CPR). CPR can bind to leptin, lessening its effectiveness.
But the nutrients in African Mango seem to lower the levels of CPR in the body allowing leptin to accomplish it’s natural design with greater effectiveness.
But there’s more: African Mango is also believed to increase the body’s production of Adiponectin. If you’re unfamiliar with Adiponectin, it’s a hormone that the body uses to increase an cell’s sensitivity to insulin and subsequently improving its glucouse and fat metabolism potential. By increasing those levels the body can turn more fat into burned energy; the result is weight loss.
What does the scientific community say about African Mango?
There are several studies cited by numerous sources on the web in support of the fruit. That’s not surprising considering the push those behind the fruit are making to get it into mainstream diuretics.
The most common of these studies was performed by the University of Yaounde in Cameroon (and subsequently published by Lipids in the Health and Disease Journal), which involved the testing of 102 overweight and obese adults.
Each subject was assigned 150 milligrams of the African Mango seed extract or a placebo twice daily for 10 weeks. Those participating in the study were told to not alter or change their diets but to go on with life as usual.
After the study concluded, it was discovered that many of the subjects lost significant. Many of those taking the African Mango extract lost on average 28 pounds! That’s a significant amount of weight; those taking the placebo showed no weight fluctuation at all.
Reports also showed those taking the African Mango extract also lowered their LDL levels or bad cholesterol levels and even blood sugar levels decreased.
Here’s our big beef with this study: the above results are based on a study done by a University in Cameroon – the very country where the fruit comes from. Does that make anyone, beside myself, a little uneasy?
Wouldn’t he country would have a lot to gain if the berry became a huge domestic export? So until I see definitive proof from a respected U-S University I’ll take these results with a grain of salt.
Downside to African Mango
Another downside to the African Mango is in the high dosage amounts the extract needs to be effective. The extract calls for about 1500mg twice daily for it to show any type of visible results. If your weight loss supplement carries anything less then this then you’re simply paying for window dressing. Make sure you get the right amounts of the extract if you want to give the supplement the best chance at success.
The good
- Potential to be a solid weight loss ingredient
- Studies to back up weight loss claims
- Not a strong stimulant
The bad
- To little is known about it
- Could studies be slightly biased
- Always wary of the next “super fruit”
- Need large dosage amounts to be successful
The way we see it
There’s some solid potential with African Mango but at this point it’s just too unclear as to what the potential it is. I don’t want to say the fruit is a gimmick but because truly it may just be the next big thing, but let’s proceed with caution. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves and bet the farm on this stuff. Let’s let the situation develop before we make any type of conclusion.