Garcinia Cambogia

What is Garcinia cambogia extract?

Garcinia cambogia is a small, pumpkin-shaped fruit, sometimes called tamarind. Though native to Indonesia, it is also grown in India, Southeast Asia, West and Central Africa. The rind and fruit pulp have been used for centuries for therapeutic and culinary purposes. It has long been used in traditional South Asian dishes, including curries and chutneys. Many also use the fruit for curing fish and preservation. Fish curry mixed with pot tamarind is a fairly popular recipe across the world.

The fruit is plucked out and dried in order to preserve it. The drying process gives it a blackish or dark brown colour. The fruit extracts have a sour flavour and are most commonly used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine to aid in easy digestion and treating stomach related problems. Adding this ingredient to meals is considered to be effective in making meals more “filling.” In some villages in Malaysia, Garcinia is used to make a soup that is eaten before meals for weight loss because of Garcinia’s appetite-blocking abilities.

This plant offers one of the least expensive herbal supplements on the market. The ingredient from the rind of the fruit could hasten your weight-loss efforts. The natural extract is called hydroxycitric acid (HCA), and researchers claim that HCA can double or triple one’s weight loss. With proper weight-loss efforts (dieting and exercising), a person taking HCA lost an average of four pounds a month.

Obesity – a World Health Problem

In today’s world, obesity has emerged as one of the world’s largest health problems. This has shifted from being an issue in the developed countries to one that spans all income levels. According to WHO, there are approximately 1.6 billion obese people throughout the world. About 2.5 million people die all over the world annually due to several conditions attributed to obesity. In a report published by time.com, over half of the American adults have reported wanting to lose weight.

If you too are eager to shed a few extra pounds, you might need some help with your diet plan. Supplementing Garcinia Cambogia as a part of your regular diet will be an effective way to do that.

How does Garcina cambogia work?

The HCA extract from Garcinia cambogia supplement aids in weight loss by doing two things: it helps to block fat, and it suppresses your appetite. HCA locks fat by inhibiting a key enzyme that your body needs to make fat from carbohydrates: citrate lyase. Usually carbohydrates or sugars that are not used immediately or stored in other forms are converted into fats. When HCA inhibits citrate lyase, the fat-making process is halted and the production of LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides decrease. HCA also suppresses appetite by increasing serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in your brain that makes you feel good. It’s a target of many antidepressant medications. Having low levels of serotonin may make you feel depressed or anxious; it drives many people into emotional or reactive eating. By increasing serotonin levels, HCA improves mood and suppresses the drive to react to stressful situations with food. As you eat less, your body senses this and it releases stored fat in your fat cells. Several studies have proved that this phytochemical compound has the ability to burn fat and suppress appetite. HCA has the ability to block an enzyme called citrate lysis which is responsible for fat production in the body. This is also known to boost the production of the serotonin hormone, which is a natural antidepressant and makes you feel satisfied and less hungry. A study published by Webmd has indicated that people who took garcinia Cambogia lost two pounds more than those who didn’t.

Is It The Best Fat Burner Supplement?

Many studies have shown promise of Garcinia being a strong fat burning supplement. One randomized placebo-controlled study followed 60 obese persons for 8 weeks. With a calorie-restricted diet (1200 kcal/day) and an HCA dose of 1320 mg/day, the experimental group lost an average of 14 pounds (compared to 6.1 pounds in the placebo group). The participants also noted reduced appetite.

How do you take Garcinia Cambogia?

The daily dosage of Garcinia Cambogia depends on your metabolic rate and body weight. The most important thing to keep in mind is not to over consume it. The standard recommended dose by most dieticians is 500 to 1500 mg per day with 50 % HCA. The equivalent HCA dosage in the trials ranged from 900 to 2,800 mg/day (15 to 47 mg/kg/day). This can be taken up to three times a day.

Best time to consume Garcinia Cambogia

The ideal time for consumption is one hour prior to a meal. This will help to ensure the components are fully dissolved and absorbed by the body. By this time, the serotonin levels would have risen enough to reduce your cravings for food. However, some people like to consume it after meals to avoid snacking which is very crucial for weight control as well.

For weight loss

If you are on a rapid weight loss plan taking one pill (1000 mg, 50 % HCA), an hour before your three meals a day can be useful.

For controlling appetite

Snacking in between meals is one of the prime factors causing unwanted fat in the body. If you are looking to control your food cravings in between meals, lower doses would do just fine. Taking one pill a day (1000 mg, 50 % HCA) is considered beneficial.

For greater physical activity

If you are on an intense workout plan, a larger diet is required to fulfil the energy requirements. This, however, means consuming more carbohydrates and proteins which will, in turn, lead to the accumulation of more fat. Here, maintaining a healthy balance between the body’s dietary requirements and hunger will be fruitful in the long run. It is better to consult a dietician or a physician before planning to take higher doses of garcinia.

Does Garcinia cambogia burn belly fat?

A bulging belly is good enough to make anyone feel insecure and uncomfortable. This is one of the main reasons why most people are trying to lose weight. 35 or more inches of waist circumference for women and 40 plus inches for men means that there is reasonably high chances of harbouring a potentially dangerous amount of unwanted fat in the abdomen. The main concern with belly fat is that it is not limited to the extra layer of adipose tissue below the skin. It also includes visceral fat which lies deep within your abdomen surrounding your internal organs that could be harmful to your health in the long run.

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

Studies have shown that people who have a large amount of belly fat is at the risk of:

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
• Cancer
• Premature death from any cause
• High blood pressure
• Colorectal cancer
• Sleep apnea

Effectiveness of Garcinia supplements in reducing Belly Fat

Garcinia is effective in blocking fat producing enzymes called Citrate Lyase. Researchers have proved that blocking this enzyme makes it almost impossible for the body to produce fat. Most people struggle hard to lose belly fat as it is the hardest kind of fat to lose. Studies conducted on Albino rats have indicated that by taking Garcinia supplements, you are able to greatly increase the time taken to accumulate belly fat, making it very much easier for you to shed some extra pounds.

Research done on animals and humans have indicated that regular consumption of Garcinia helps to reduce the overall oxidative stress and lowers the amount of fat in the bloodstream. In another study, people who were moderately obese were asked to take 2,800 mg of this supplement for eight weeks. At the end of the study, the following results were noted.

• Total cholesterol levels: 6.3% lower
• LDL cholesterol levels “Bad”: 12.3% lower
• Blood triglycerides: 8.6% lower
• Fat metabolites: 125–258% more excreted in the urine
• HDL cholesterol levels “Good”: 10.7% higher

Is Garcinia safe?

The plant and its fruit have been eaten safely for years. The HCA extract is also likely safe in normal amounts. However, don’t take this supplement if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are taking a diabetic medication (like insulin or glyburide), talk to a doctor before taking this to make sure this is right for you, otherwise this supplement may allow your blood sugar to fall even lower than normal. Those taking a statin (a cholesterol-lowering drug) should use this supplement with caution because it can increase the risk of harmful side effects, like rhabdomyolysis or muscle degradation. Those with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia shouldn’t take HCA because of the risk of worsening dementia.

What are the side effects of Garcinia?

Garcinia cambogia has some minor side effects like nausea, dizziness, headache, vomiting, skin rash and diarrhoea Some of the lesser common side effects include

• Heart problems (irregular heart rate, heart muscle damage, and heart failure
• Serious muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis)
• Pancreas inflammation
• Extremely high levels of ketones
• Mania/psychosis 
• Hallucinations, delusions, and impaired coordination

As the main component of Garcinia cambogia is hydrocitric acid, certain case studies have indicated acute liver damage. For people with liver disease, it is advisable to avoid Garnicia to avoid potential liver damage. Due to the lack of safety data, breastfeeding and pregnant women should avoid consuming Garcinia cambogia.

What medications should be avoided when taking Garcinia cambogia?

Nutritional supplements can be dangerous and in certain cases, life-threatening when consumed with other ongoing medications. Before taking any supplements like Garcinia, it is recommended you consult a certified doctor and inform them about the supplements that you are planning to take.

Drug Interactions

Some research has indicated that the supplement lowers blood sugar and must be avoided by people who are on antidiabetic medications. Garcinia Cambogia can increase serotonin levels and may result in serotonin syndrome if coupled with antidepressants. This supplement may raise the amount of RBC in the blood, which might interfere with the action of anti-anemia drugs. The compounds of Garcinia cambogia may block the functioning of CYP2B6. This can lead to a sudden rise in the level of drugs broken down by this enzyme, including antiepileptics, blood thinners, antidepressants, chemotherapeutics, opioids and chemotherapeutics.

How much should I take?

You can buy Garcinia cambogia extract in health food stores or online. When looking for a supplement, look for “garcinia cambogia” or “GCE” with at least 50% HCA (active ingredient potassium). Some experts believe that the newly available HCA potassium salts are more effective than the other HCA formulations. Take 500-1000 mg before each meal, and make sure to take no more than 3000 mg total per day. When looking for supplements, make sure you can see and review the list of ingredients. Do not purchase if you can’t see any ingredients. Furthermore, there should be no fillers or artificial ingredients. With no other changes, you may lose 2-4 pounds within one month. However, it is highly recommended that the person taking HCA also find time for moderate exercise a few times a week and eat properly portioned meals. Let the power of the HCA supplement work along with making healthier choices. Also, understand that no pill is more effective than maintaining a regular exercise regimen and a healthy diet.

Bottom Line

For centuries Garcinia cambogia has been used extensively in different parts of the world. This fruit is safe to eat, and the supplements have been used in ayurvedic and naturopathic medicines for treating various disorders. The golden key to successful weight loss is to make sure that you are using a high-quality supplement like those from Nature’s Farm. For a person planning to lose weight with Garcinia, it is important to do the proper research of the product and consult with a certified doctor.

MORE PRODUCT INFORMATION ON SLIMCENTIALS GARCINIA CAMBOGIA WITH SLIMCENTIALS SUPER CITRIMAX GARCINIA CAMBOGIA, YOU CAN EXPECT WEIGHT LOSS THROUGH:

• significant reduction in appetite
• inhibition of fat production
• increase in fat burning
• increased levels of serotonin for decreased emotional eating

For quicker and more effective results, use in combination with:

• SlimCentials™ Razberi-K® Raspberry Ketones 
• SlimCentials™ WellTrimiG® IGOB131® African Mango
• SlimCentials™ Svetol® Green Coffee Bean

References

John M Lowenstein(1970, August 7) ‘Effect of Hydroxycitrate on Fatty Acid Synthesis, JBC journal of biochemistry, available: https://www.jbc.org/content/246/3/629.long [accessed 3 June 2020 ].

Harry G Preussa, Debasis Bagchi, Manashi Bagchi, SanyasiRao C V,  Satyanarayanad S, Dipak K Deye (2004 Jan) ‘Efficacy of a novel, natural extract of (–)-hydro citric acid (HCA-SX) and a combination of HCA-SX, niacin-bound chromium and Gymnema Sylvestre extract in weight management in human volunteers: a pilot study’. Nutrition Research Volume 24, Issue 1, Pages 45-48 ) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0271531703002215 [accessed 3 June 2020 ].

Jaakko Mursu, Kim Robien, Lisa J Harnack, Kyong Park, David R Jacobs Jr( 2011, October 10) ‘Dietary Supplements and Mortality Rate in Older Women: The Iowa Women's Health Study ‘, From internal medicine archives https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21987192/ [accessed 3 June 2020 ].

Carlos A R Vasques, Ricardo Schneider, Luiz C Klein-Júnior, Andressa Falavigna, Ivone Piazza, Simone Rossetto (2013 October 17) Hypolipemic Effect of Garcinia Cambogia in Obese Women. Randomized control trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24133059/ [accessed 3 June 2020 ].

Sarah Dehoney  1, Marlea Wellein (15 Jan 2009)  Rhabdomyolysis Associated With the Nutritional Supplement Hydroxycut, Case reports https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19139478/ (15 Jan 2009) [accessed 3 June 2020].