Garcinia Cambogia

Garcinia Cambogia is a tropical fruit that is commonly found in regions of Indonesia and other countries of South Asia, being often consumed for its weight loss properties. It is said that the fruit contributes to the weight loss process by blocking the production of fat and reducing the appetite. Other health benefits are also presented for both the real fruit and the supplements or pills available on the market, such as the maintaining of the blood sugar at normal levels and the reduction of bad cholesterol.

The fruit is also known by other names, such as: Malabar tamarind, Pot tamarind, kudampuli or brindleberry. It is small and shaped like a pumpkin, being sweet to the taste. Its color ranges from green to pale yellow. It was around the 1960s that studies showed that the fruit contains an active acid, similar to the one found in other citrus fruits, such as lemons or oranges. The identified acid was hydroxycitric acid (abbreviated HCA) and soon was used for the different weight loss supplements.

In the paragraphs below, you will discover how Garcinia Cambogia works and how it promotes the weight loss. At the same time, you will be given useful information regarding the other benefits and recommended dosage. Make sure that you read the safety and side-effects paragraphs as well. Read about the pills and the different places from where to buy the supplements. And, most important, try to decide whether this is a suitable weight loss solution for you or not. Enjoy reading!

What does Garcinia Cambogia do to your body?

As it was already mentioned, the active ingredient of Garcinia Cambogia is represented by the hydroxycitric acid. This works by stimulating the burning of the fat and reducing the appetite. Once the amount of fat is reduced and the sensation of hunger is reduced, the weight loss process is on the right path. The acid will block the citrate lyase enzyme, which the body commonly uses for the production of fat. As for the reduction of the appetite, this occurs as Garcinia Cambogia contributes to an increase of the serotonin levels. This brain chemical is known as the happiness hormone, reducing the appetite among other positive effects.

Garcinia Cambogia seems to be a suitable choice for those who are suffering from diabetes, as it helps one to keep the blood sugar at stable levels. Other positive effects on the health for Garcinia Cambogia include: reduction of bad LDL cholesterol, increase of good HDL cholesterol and reduction of triglycerides.

Garcinia Cambogia for Weight loss

Garcinia Cambogia supplements and pills have been recommended to those who are interested in losing weight. As it was already mentioned, Garcinia Cambogia is known to block citrate lyase, this enzyme being responsible for the transformation of the sugar and starch into fat. Once the enzyme is blocked, the carbs are rather used to provide the body with energy rather than be accumulated as fat or increase the sugar levels.

The suppression of the appetite is another reasons why Garcinia Cambogia has been recommended for weight loss purposes. The increase in serotonin levels contributes to the increased satiety – this means that you will feel a reduced need to eat. The elevated levels of serotonin contribute to the reduction of hunger, promoting weight loss among other beneficial effects.

Even though Garcinia Cambogia has been often presented a solution for excess weight, the research is still under way. It is not certain whether the side-effects of Garcinia Cambogia are more harmful than the benefits offered. It is for the best to take these supplements or pills only under the guidance of a specialized doctor or dietitian, so as to make sure they work to your benefit.

Does Garcinia Cambogia work?

The studies that have been performed on rats have shown that Garcinia Cambogia indeed promotes the weight loss process. These studies have demonstrate both the reduction of appetite and the blockage of the citrate lyase in rats.

For the studies that were performed on humans, it should be mentioned that the people who took part in the study took Garcinia Cambogia extracts for three times a day, with half an hour before the eating. All of the participants to the study were overweight and interested in losing weight. Apart from taking the Garcinia Cambogia extract, they also had to change their diet, reducing their caloric intake and increasing the amount of fiber. The study was undertaken for a period of 12 weeks and it was later published in The Journal of The American Medical Association.

In the respective study, the participants were split into two groups – one group received the Garcinia Cambogia extract, while the other one was administered placebo. The results of the study demonstrated that both groups lost weight; however, the group that received the Garcinia Cambogia extract managed to lose more weight than the one receiving placebo.

Other studies have demonstrated that, by taking Garcinia Cambogia extracts, one can achieve short-term weight loss. However, more studies are required to study the long-term effects of Garcinia Cambogia and the possible side-effects that might occur with taking such supplements for prolonged periods of time.

Dosage

The recommended dosage of Garcinia Cambogia varies between 1500 mg/day and 2800 mg/day, depended on the product and the manufacturer. In general, it is recommended that you check out the bottle and see the recommended dosage.

Garcinia Cambogia extract can be taken as pills, which are recommended to be taken with half an hour or an hour before eating. You need to take these pills with plenty of water. It is recommended that you take the pills three times a day, each pill representing approximately 500 mg of active substance.

You can also consider taking liquid Garcinia Cambogia. The recommended dosage for the Garcinia Cambogia in the liquid form is one or two drops. The drops should be placed under the tongue, for the best absorption and they should be maintained as such for about a minute. Just as the pills, the drops should be taken with 30 or 60 minutes before eating.

Benefits

These are the benefits of taking Garcinia Cambogia:

• Prevention of fat storage (blockage of citrate lyase enzyme)
• Reduction of the appetite through the increase of serotonin levels
• Increased exercise performance (especially in women)
• Treatment for infestations with different parasites or worms
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Stable blood sugar levels (especially in patients who are suffering from diabetes)
• Improvement of cholesterol (reduction of bad LDL cholesterol levels and increase of good HDL cholesterol levels)
• Reduced risk of atherosclerosis or heart disease (reduction of triglycerides)

Is Garcinia Cambogia safe?

Taking Garcinia Cambogia supplements is safe, as the reported side-effects are mild and they do not represent a subject of concern. However, if you want to be absolutely certain that this is the right product for you, talk about the possibility of taking it with a doctor or a dietitian. In deciding whether Garcinia Cambogia is a safe choice for you or not, the doctor or dietitian will take into account other pre-existing medical conditions you are suffering from, your age and overall physical health. However, in general, for the majority of the people, Garcinia Cambogia is a safe choice.

Side effects

The studies that have been conducted for Garcinia Cambogia have only been short term, so it is quite difficult to assess the side-effects on a long term basis. However, when taking Garcinia Cambogia for under 4 months, the possible side-effects are possible to appear: nausea, discomfort or pain in the abdomen and headaches. It is also recommended to avoid taking Garcinia Cambogia during pregnancy or while you are breastfeeding, as it is not certain how the active ingredients of these supplements might affect the growing baby. A study performed on mice in 2005 has demonstrated that the long-term administration of high doses of Garcinia Cambogia might have a negative impact on the health of the testicles. However, further research did not manage to prove the effectiveness of the previously-mentioned study.

Other side-effects of Garcinia Cambogia might include: vertigo, dry mouth and toxicity of the liver. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) prevented the usage of a product that was advertised as containing Garcinia Cambogia, linking it to many case of hepatic toxicity. However, this product also contained other active ingredients, so it is not certain whether it was Garcinia Cambogia actually causing the problems.

When taking Garcinia Cambogia, you must also take into account that the extracts might interact with the different medication you might be taking. Among the medication that can interact with the Garcinia Cambogia extracts, there are: drugs for respiratory conditions (such as asthma) and allergies; medication for diabetes (insulin included); iron supplements for different types of anemia; anti-inflammatory medication; drugs for different psychiatric conditions; medication for lowering cholesterol levels (such as statins) and blood thinning medication (such as warfarin).

Pills

As it was already mentioned, Garcinia Cambogia is available, among other forms, as pills. If you have decided to take Garcinia Cambogia pills, remember to take only the recommended dosage (see the dosage paragraph). The pills have to be taken three times a day, with a tall glass of water. It is also recommended that the pills are taken with thirty or sixty minutes before eating.

You need to avoid the products that have a high content of calcium salts, as these are not good for you. In general, you should search for pills that contain at least 50% of Garcinia Cambogia extract and preferably other healthy minerals, such as potassium or magnesium. Choose the pills that have a low lactone content, as this is not good for you either.

The pills are recommended to be taken on an empty stomach, so as to maximize the appetite suppression and also be to be 100% absorbed. If you were to take them with food, their effect would not be as powerful as it should. When food is present in the stomach, the Garcinia Cambogia extract might bind to the food molecules and lose some of its properties, becoming in activated.

Where to buy Garcinia Cambogia?

If you are interested in buying Garcinia Cambogia extracts for weight loss and other health related benefits, there is no better way to do that than the Internet. As you will have the opportunity to discover, there are many online stores that sell such products at attractive prices. However, you must do a thorough research and find a store that is both reputable and reliable. You can determine whether that store is a good choice or not by reading the reviews of other customers – if there are a lot of positive reviews, this means that you have found the right one. On the other hand, if there are a lot of people complaining about the service or the quality of the Garcinia Cambogia extracts, close the page and move on.

A reliable online store should provide detailed information on the Garcinia Cambogia extract that you want to purchase. It should clearly state the percentage of active substance contained in the product, as well as the rest of the ingredients. You ought to be provided with information on how to take the products, what is the recommended dosage and the potential side-effects. Do not be quick to choose an online store just because it has reduced prices; it is better to pay a little bit extra and be certain that you are purchasing Garcinia Cambogia extract and not some bogus product presented under this name.

In conclusion, Garcinia Cambogia extract can be used with the purpose of weight loss but, remember, it will never work like magic, taking your extra weight in the blink of an eye. You need to start working out and change your diet, including only healthy choices. Leave the couch and go outside, start jogging and being physically active. Say goodbye to fast-food, sugary drinks and refined desserts. Change your life and never forget that product such as Garcinia Cambogia are supplements to a healthy diet. Good luck and stay healthy!