Citrus Extract May Stop Weight Gain and Diabetes

Naringenin (an antioxidant derived from citrus fruit) may help ward off weight gain and other risk factors for type 2 diabetes, according to a recent animal-based study.

For the study, researchers fed a group of mice a high-fat diet in order to bring about symptoms of metabolic syndrome, a condition characterized by a cluster of health problems (such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance) linked to increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. A second group was fed the same diet, but also treated with naringenin. Study results showed that naringenin reduced cholesterol levels, prevented the onset of insulin resistance, and normalized metabolism of blood sugar. What's more, the naringenin-fed mice were protected from developing obesity.

The study's authors suggest that naringenin enhanced metabolic health by genetically reprogramming the liver to burn up excess fat rather than store it.