Weight-loss is a tough battle which is why so many people are gaining the support of natural dietary supplements. Irvingia extract is a supplement that helps reverse symptoms of leptin resistance, boosting weight loss. More commonly known as African mango, this extract has also been shown to reduce LDL or bad cholesterol levels while promoting HDL or good cholesterol levels.
While focusing on weight loss, Irvingia extract has the ability to reduce cravings and overall appetite. In comparison to various stimulant diet pills, this extract is a much safer alternative. By working with the natural functioning of your body, this supplement can help you reach your goals. When combined with a balanced diet and regular exercise, the benefits are even greater.
Understanding Leptin and Adipocyte Cells
In order to better understand how this extract works, it’s important to focus on what leptin is. Leptin is a hormone which helps regulate your appetite by sending signals to the brain. When these signals are received by the hypothalamus, signals regarding hunger are then regulated and controlled.
Not only does this extract increase the brain’s sensitivity to leptin, controlling hunger, as a result, but it also stimulates the burning of fatty tissues. Fat storage cells known as adipocyte cells produce leptin and can be found throughout the body.
These cells store fat when energy is needed and they utilize leptin in order to communicate with the brain. When fat stores need to be replenished, the brain receives the signal that it’s time to eat. Leptin may be one of the most important hormones regarding your lifespan, along with insulin.
Both leptin and insulin resistance are linked to weight issues. If you struggle with your weight, you know that hunger can hinder your ability to stay on-track. In order to better regulate hunger, you need better control over the hormones that influence hunger, primarily leptin.
How Leptin Influences Appetite
When levels of leptin are high, your brain is told that the body is satisfied after a meal. Meaning, after you eat a nutritious meal and your body has the nutrients it needs in order to support metabolism, adipocyte cells produce and release leptin. In turn, the signal that produces hunger is shut down.
In theory, this would work every time under normal circumstances. The reality is, some individuals are less sensitive to the effects of leptin. In order for the hunger signal to shut down, chemical messages need to be recognized by the brain. If this isn’t the case, individuals will continue to eat without ever feeling satisfied.
Just as those with type-2 diabetes become insulin-resistant, individuals can become leptin-resistant when exposed to high levels or this hormone for extended periods of time. When you consume a diet that is high in sugar and processed foods, for instance, sugar becomes metabolize within your fat cells, releases surges of leptin.
Over time, if your body is exposed to too much leptin, resistance occurs. Since this is the reality for many individuals, Irvingia extract can help enhance leptin sensitivity. When combined with a balanced diet and exercise, this extract can help target leptin resistance, encouraging a healthier weight.
Improving Leptin Resistance to Promote Weight Loss
When taking this extract, individuals become more responsive to leptin. The only way to reestablish leptin signaling is to prevent these surges in leptin. Consuming a diet that is low in sugar and high in healthy fats, along with supplements that enhance leptin sensitivity will help you regain the proper feedback regarding this hormone.
As mentioned, Irvingia extract makes the brain more responsive to leptin, helping to better control hunger signals. After being tested in rodents, increased leptin levels were observed, along with decreased overeating and obesity. When studied in humans, the results were surprising.
It was believed that overweight individuals would exhibit low leptin levels. Based on low levels, the brain would not receive signals that the individual was satisfied and hunger signals would continue. What was found instead, was that the majority of obese individuals have high levels of leptin. How can this be?
As mentioned above, if hormone levels are too high, the body and brain become desensitized. Adipocytes grow in size and the number of these cells grow, releasing high amounts of leptin. Since levels become excessive, the hypothalamus becomes desensitized. In order to be activated, they require even high levels which are not being met.
When studying obese individuals, it’s been found that these individuals do in fact have enough leptin circulating throughout their body. The key issue isn’t the levels of leptin, but the brain’s response to these levels. Although there aren’t definite causes of leptin resistance, two keys factors are believed to play a significant role.
The first hypothesis is that the leptin that’s circulating through the body is not reaching hunger-related receptors in order to generate the appropriate response. Secondly, it’s believed that the receptors have stopped working properly. Either way, the individual affected is left feeling consistently hungry.
Since hunger leads to overeating, this directly threatens one’s weight. Once weight is gained, it can be tough to lose. In turn, individuals experience an increased risk of weight-related health complications, including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and much more. So, where does Irvingia extract come into play?
Taking Irvingia Extract to Lose Weight
In order to target leptin resistance, Irvingia extract has been shown to improve leptin sensitivity. It’s unclear how this works exactly, however, some studies have reported that this extract down-regulates leptin expression. Meaning, it may help restore normal levels in terms of receptor sensitivity.
For overall weight loss support, this extract inhibits the formation of new adipocytes. It also increases the expression of adiponectin which is a hormone known to metabolize lipids and regulate glucose. In various studies, it’s been shown that those who have high levels of this hormone, tend to have a low bodyweight.
In fact, within research trails, positive effects were found. When taking Irvingia seed extract at doses of 1.05 grams three times daily, in combination with an 1800 kcal diet, the average individual lost 4 kg over four weeks. In comparison, the placebo group didn’t lose any weight.
