This post was written directly in response to this craze; it’s time to clear a few things up regarding this “magic mango.”

First things first; the African mango actually carries the biological name of invingia, which means that it’s a genus of African and Southeast Asian trees.  The nuts yielded from this tree, called Ogbono nuts, are extremely rich in fat and protein.  So there you go, the nutrients that everyone is after don’t even come from the fruit; they are actually from a nut.

Once harvested, the nuts can be purchased whole, but are often times grounded up and sold as a powder.  Sometimes, this powder is mixed into other foods, like bread or chocolate.  So when you’re surfing the net, don’t be surprised when you come across the “African mango” in so many varieties and forms – and don’t be fooled!  If you understood the science behind the claims to this “fruit” you would come to see the silliness in their contradictions.  Luckily for you, I’m about to explain it in plain terms now.

Some manufacturers and distributors of the African mango claim that it contains leptin, the hormone used by the body to increase metabolism and suppress appetite.  However, if you’ve read any other entries on this site or blog, or on any other credible source, you’d know that leptin can only be produced by the body, you cannot get it from outside sources!  Nevertheless, these vendors will have you believe otherwise.  But proving my point won’t be hard because several other African mango proponents claim that the fruit acts as leptin-resistant.  Now, how can the same nutrient contain both leptin and the agent – called C-reactive protein – used to combat leptin?

Short answer; it can’t.

From livestrong.com:

“[…] the results of African mango studies claiming the reduction in cholesterol, decreased body fat and pounds, changes in leptin, adiponectin, C-reactive protein and fasting glucose [are] inconceivable and questions the validity of the research.”

Many proponents of the African mango maintain that the fruit can help in managing weight, but when you think about this statement in a broad sense, there is no food on earth that does not “help manage weight.”  All this statement means is that African mangos are a part of an individual’s diet, and again, so is all food, whether it’s good or bad.

At the very best, the African mango is a promising food that shows a slight chance for potential.  However, extensive research is needed before we can claim it to be a fat reducing phenom.

I wanted to share this perception with you today because the last time a diet craze actually resulted in a permanent weight loss strategy was never.  When it comes to burning fat, we need to use our heads before our bodies; we need to put the emphasis on our Mental Weight.

The royal diet is in fact the “Dukan Diet,” and is one of the most popular fat-burning regimens in Europe, particularly in France.  The main principle that differentiates this diet is in its negligence of carbohydrates.  It is a protein-based diet created by French nutritionist and dietician Dr. Pierre Dukan, and has been defined by its four phases used to flush carbs from the body.

The stages are as follows: attack, cruise, consolidation and stabilization.

The first phase is called the “attack,” in it dieters are encouraged to boost their metabolism by eating as much as they want from a variety of protein-rich foods.  They’re also allowed to eat an oat bran pancake once a day (consisting of two tablespoons of oat bran), but that’s all.  It is possible to lose up to seven in the first week by following the method.

The “cruise” stage consists purely of lean protein and vegetables with low carb counts.  The foods are interchanged each day; one day protein, the next veggies and so on until the targeted weight is met.  There is also a long list of foods that cannot be consumed during this period: barley, wheat berries, quinoa, dried peas, lentils, beans, all fruits and avocados must be cut out.

Phase three is about “consolidation.”  It shares a lot of the same rules as phase two does, but it can take longer to accomplish because one pound in weight shed usually equates to five days.  On the bright side, though, stage three coaxes your body from regaining large amounts of fat.  Additionally, you are also allowed to eat many of the foods that were restricted in the first two stages.  Dried fruit, nuts, grapes, cherries and bananas are still considered to be no-nos.  You can eat two starchy meals foods per week, and depending on your process, you’re entitled to one, maybe two “free” meals per week where the choice is up to you.

“Stabilization” is the final stage of the Dukan, and you’re essentially out of the woods because you are given free range!  Only the following rules apply; one lean protean day once a week (comparable to phase two), three tablespoons of oat bran daily for the rest of your life and you always have to take the stairs!

A rigorous program, yes, the Dukan diet is designed to burn fat quickly, but as we’ve seen in the past, this is not always the safest option.

For the majority of their users, low-carb diets tend to increase the odds of developing Type 2 diabetes, and the Dukan diet falls perfectly into this category.  Although it promotes a healthier alternative when compared to the Atkin’s diet (lean protein, no butter or bacon), the Dukan diet enlists such a narrow selection of foods that can be eaten that the lack of variety can also lead to weight gain.  For instance, lean protein is a terrific, viable option that should be a part of everyone’s diet, however when it’s the only thing you consume it will raise portions that you eat, and thus raise your calorie count as well.

The thing that the Dukan diet lacks, or any low-carb diet lacks for that matter, is variety.  Moderation is the foundation of any healthy diet, and none of these flashy buzz diets give dieters a credible option.

These low-carb diets offer the same flash and hype that these high-profile, celebrity weddings do when in reality, healthy living is about longevity and maintaining, like the during the course of a marriage.  A diet’s strength, just like a relationship, comes from perseverance, not inception.  And in the end, wouldn’t you rather have a happy, loving, long-lasting marriage than an extravagant ceremony?