The Lean Optimizer™ formula works so well and is popular because of the specific scientifically researched ingredients used in the correct combinations, dosages and extracts; resulting in maximum results & benefits. Click the ingredients below and a detailed description will appear under it.
One of the reasons for a slower metabolism is lower production of thyroid hormones (T4, T3 and T3). Now, even though a person may do a hormone test showing "normal" levels of thyroid hormones, it does NOT mean they are at OPTIMAL levels.
Sadly, as we get older, thyroid production decreases. Poor sleep, stress, higher estrogen, soy, certain drugs, dieting and lower carbohydrate diets also further decrease thyroid production. Women are affected more than men.
The below ingredients help support healthy thyroid production, which can help increase your metabolism, burn fat and improve carbohydrate utilization.
Guggulsterones (std. 10% extract, E + Z 1:1) Helps increase and support the activity of the enzyme that converts T4 into the most active thyroid hormone, T3... helping to increase your metabolism and fat burning.1
Iodine is an element that is needed for the production of thyroid hormone. The body does not make iodine, so it is an essential part of your diet. Unfortunately, iodine deficiency has increased more than fourfold over the past 40 years. Nearly 84% of normal, “healthy” adults may no longer consume enough iodine.2,3
One of main problems with today's modern life-styles is higher levels of stress. Our brains work more, we sleep less and we work longer hours... all the time being pulled in many different directions and getting bombarded with information all day long. This causes a dramatic increase in stress hormones such as cortisol, which is known to increase belly fat.
Additionally, elevated stress hormones can cause poor sugar levels, which further cause weight gain. Lastly, higher cortisol levels can cause an imbalance and a decrease in positive, "youth" hormones such as testosterone and growth hormones.
The following ingredients have been clinically shown to help to support healthy cortisol levels within a normal range:
Sensoril® Ashwagandha extract (32% oligosaccharides, 10% withanolide) counters the oxidative damage generated by nervous tension and physical stress.5,10-11 In a large clinical trial, Ashwagandha reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol by up to 26% while maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and lipid profiles within a normal range.,7,10-12 Subjects reported improvements in energy, sleep and well-being, as well as diminished fatigue.4 Additional benefits help support natural production of thyroid hormones for a faster metabolism.10 Lastly, Ashwagandha can help improve a sense of well-being and a healthy outlook.5-7
NOTE: Sensoril® is the only patented version of Ashwagandha extract that has 12 HUMAN clinical studies showing effectiveness and potency, Standardized to 3 bioactives (Withanolide glycosides, Withaferin A, Oligosaccharides).13
7-Keto® DHEA is not a hormone, such as DHEA. However, it does interact with the stress hormone, Cortisol by reducing it, which can lead to a decrease in belly fat, sugar cravings and elevated sugar levels. 7-Keto® DHEA also helps increase metabolic rate, which increases caloric expenditure, leading to faster fat loss.14 It can also help promote the active thyroid hormone, T3 leading to a faster metabolism.15
INTRO: There are different forms and brands of 7-Keto DHEA. However, we utilize the 7-Keto® brand. This is patented and has 4 human, published clinically studies which has demonstrated to help maintain metabolic rate and increase weight loss 2.9x more than diet and exercise alone.16 In another clinical study, 7-Keto® was shown to decrease weight by 6.35 pounds after 8 weeks.16
One big reason for gaining weight is an increase in appetite, especially due to "cravings" for sugary, carbohydrate foods. During times of stress (physical, emotional, lack of sleep), cortisol levels go up and serotonin levels go down, causing an increase in appetite and cravings.
This especially happens to women when pre menstrual. Some people are also known to be "stress eaters". Will-Power can only go so far and thus, decreasing your appetite is a must for long-term, healthy weight management.
5-HTP is an amino acid that aids in the production of the “brain chemical”, serotonin. The lower your serotonin levels are, the more likely you are to over eat even when you're not hungry.19 On the flip side, higher serotonin levels have been associated with a decrease in cravings and increased satiety, which is the the sensation of feeling “full” after a meal.19 Studies have shown that subjects taking 5-HTP (with no other changes) effortlessly lost over 4.5 pounds in 5 weeks, simply due to the increased sense of satiety and fullness.20,21
Theobromine contains natural substances that reduce hunger and suppress your appetite, which can lead to weight loss.17 Another benefit is that it helps increase energy levels, which induces further weight loss. Clinical studies also demonstrate that it helps break down “stubborn” fat.18
Coleus forskholii (10% forskolin) helps reduce appetite and supports healthy blood sugar levels within a normal range.23 In one study, users saw a decrease in body fat percentage, while actually seeing an increase in lean muscle mass.24 Positive effects are also seen and felt in both men and women.24 In another study, subjects showed an average of 10 lbs of weight loss within an eight-week period.24
Green tea extract has numerous health benefits, one of them being a powerful healthy response to inflammation due to the Theaflavin, polyphenols & EGCG.*
Anything that will increase your metabolism and turn UP your body temperature ("thermogenic"), will can accelerate weight loss and more specifically, FAT loss. Unfortunately, aging causes a decrease in your metabolism and so does dieting and stress. The below clinically validated ingredients will help reverse this and help promote "fat burning" hormones:
Citrus Aurantium/Advantra Z® (Bitter Orange, p-Synephrine) - studies show that this herbal extract speeds up your metabolism, which contributes to fat loss and weight management.30 It increases energy expenditure, leading to faster weight loss.30 Research also shows that it can increase the thermic effect of food, especially in women. This means even more energy expenditure and thus, more fat loss.31 Another benefit is that synephrine can aid in mobilizing stubborn fat cells by blocking the activity of alpha-receptors in fat cells.32 This means easier and faster FAT loss, especially the “stubborn” areas like stomach, “love handles”, thighs and butt.
NOTE: Advantra Z® is the only form Citrus aurantium that's patented specifically for weight loss and physical performance in North America. It has 4 patents for
Capsimax® (Capsicum Extract Beadlets (2% Capsaicinoids)) was shown in a clinical study to help boost users’ metabolism, demonstrating great potential for “long-term weight management”.25,27
NOTE: The patented form of Capsimax®, is the ONLY type of "capsicum extract" that's supported by multiple studies with findings showing safety, increased lipolysis and satiety, and improved healthy body composition.26,27
Paradoxine® (Grains of Paradise 15%) There are certain, genetically gifted people who actually burn fat, when they eat. It’s called, “diet-induced thermogenesis”. In humans, there are two types of fat (adipose tissue), WAT (white adipose tissues) and BAT (brown adipose tissues). WAT is the sites of energy storage, while BAT is responsible for cold-and diet-induced thermogenesis, which helps to control body-energy expenditure, as well as body fat content.
Simply stated, people who have more WAT, tend to store food as body fat more easily, than those who have more BAT, which actually burns fat and causes weight loss.
Paradise extract (especially including 12.5% 6-paradol from clinically tested and patented Paradoxine®) was found to promote WAT transformation into BAT.28,29 This means you can actually help "enhance" your genetics to have more of the “thermogenic, fat BURNING” brown fat, than the unwanted, “fat storing” white fat.
Leptin is what scientist call the "Master" hormone that regulates body weight. In fact, being resistant to this hormone's effects (called Leptin resistance) is now believed to be the leading driver of fat gain in humans.37
Leptin is a hormone that is produced by the body's fat cells and it is often referred to as the "satiety hormone" or the "starvation hormone." The Leptin system evolved to keep us from starving or overeating, both of which would have made us less likely to survive in the natural environment.
Unfortunately these days, Leptin is very effective at keeping us from starving and many people have become "Leptin Resistant", which is causing people to keep eating, even when they are NOT hungry anymore or we need to stop gaining weight.
Thus, your goal is to reverse "Leptin resistance", become more sensitive to this hormone, which will turn OFF your appetite and prevent you from eating excess food and gaining extra fat.
African Mango (10:1 Extract; Irvingia Gabonensis) can suppress fat production by 34,35:
In a 10-week study of 120 overweight volunteers, African mango supplements significantly reduced weight, body fat (6.3% avg.) and waistline circumference (16.2% avg.) 36.
Similar effects were seen in a 4-week study of 140 obese subjects. In this study, the African mango treated group showed an average decrease in body weight and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels as well as an increase in HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels.39 Another study of 72 patients found that it significantly decreased body weight, body fat (20.1%) and waistline circumference compared to placebo after 10 weeks.40
One of the problems with getting fatter is not only do your fat cells grow in size, but they can actually split, replicate and multiply! Yup, this means you actually change your genes and gain MORE fat cells than you were born with.
Which means that it's extremely difficult to decrease the fat cells (but you can always shrink them) and lose weight.
Sadly, you can't do that with muscle cells. You have what your born with and that's the limiting factor. Yet, there's NO limit to how many NEW fat cells you can grow. The good news is that there are herbs which can actually help reduce and limit new fat cells from being produced.
Meratrim® was developed by researchers who discovered that when two natural herbs combined together [Sphaeranthus indicus (a flower) and Garcinia mangostana (a fruit)], in a specific 3:1 ratio, helped 38:
The cushioning cartilage in your joints become damaged through aging + wear and tear, which can cause inflammation and pain.* This can happen even faster for those that exercise.
Pine bark extract can ease these symptoms by:
Green Tea Extract (95% Polyphenols., 45% EGCG., < 6% Caffeine) Compounds in green tea (polyphenols and especially, EGCG) increase levels of hormones (such as norepinephrine) that tell fat cells to break down fat. This releases fat into the bloodstream and makes it available as energy, resulting in fat loss.43,44
Another benefit with green tea extract is that it helps your body burn more calories, even when doing nothing and resting. Studies show from 4% to 10% more calories.45-47 For a standard 2000 calorie day, that's an extra 80-200 extra calories burned, without any change in diet or exercise.
Genetics aside, hormones really do control almost everything in your body. Two of the most powerful "weight loss" hormones are Adiponectin and Ghrelin.
Adiponectin is the hormone that makes your fat cells burn fat for energy. And Ghrelin is the hormone responsible for making you hungry.
The research is clear on both adiponectin and ghrelin: Increasing adiponectin and decreasing ghrelin leads to less body fat, faster weight loss and a decrease in cravings and appetite.
LOWAT® is a proprietary weight-loss blend that is supported by a peer-reviewed, published, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. This unique Ayurvedic blend of Piper betle leaf & Dolichos biflorus seed extracts has a unique mechanism which supports weight loss and decrease BMI 2.4x more than placebo with an average 9.4 pound weight loss after 8 weeks.57-60
Additionally, LOWAT® significantly decreased the hunger-inducing hormone, ghrelin, by 17.3% -- resulting in a reduced appetite. Plus, it helps increase adiponectin, the hormone that makes your fat cells burn fat for energy.57-60
Both men and women produce estrogen, the "female" hormone -- but women produce much higher levels.
Unfortunately, one of the effects of estrogen is an increase in body fat and this is why women have more difficult losing weight. As men age, their estrogen levels increase, which also causes a decrease in testosterone -- both resulting in higher body fat.
As your body fat increases, so does your estrogen levels even further because fat cells produce additional estrogen, thus making it even harder to lose fat.
Lastly, there are a lot of environmental estrogens that further increase estrogen levels, above what your body should have, naturally. However, your goal is not to have "low" estrogen, because it has many benefits. Instead, you want to lower excess levels and optimize them naturally, to help prevent body fat and speed up fat loss.
White Button Mushroom (Extract 10:1 Agaricus bisporus) has been shown to lower excess estrogen by acting as an “aromatase inhibitor”.48,49 It does not cause "low" estrogen, but simply lowers "high" estrogen and external, environmental estrogens -- which is unnatural to the body.
Every time you eat, your pancreas produces insulin - the hormone that helps lower blood sugar to healthy levels. It takes the foods you eat (carbs and proteins), into your cells and uses it for energy and repair.
Unfortunately, as you age and/or gain weight, your body becomes "insulin resistant". This means your body now produces even MORE insulin to lower blood sugar, which then causes the glucose (from your food) to be stored as body fat. This will cause more weight gain and poor blood sugar levels.
Chromium Picolinate - More than 90% of U.S. adults have a deficiency in chromium because it is not readily absorbed from foods, and the human body even has difficulty in absorbing chromium from most nutritional supplements. Because of this, there are dozens and hundreds of clinical studies about Chromium as it relates to improvements in healthy blood glucose & insulin support.
It also helps support healthy insulin sensitivity, appetite reduction, a decrease in fat mass, accelerated weight loss, and more.50-56 Simply stated, chromium can help enhance the effectiveness of insulin, a hormone vital for the processing of glucose and causing weight gain, especially belly fat.