Description
Garcinia Cambogia extract is also known as the Malabar Tamarind and has been used as a traditional remedy in Asian countries for many years to treat a number of conditions ranging from arthritis to infections.
Garcinia Cambogia extract is a revolutionary diet supplement that is storming the health marketplace. It is natural, easy to find, and it has a proven track record of effectively assisting with weight loss.
Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is a key component of Garcinia Cambogia and is thought to be responsible for many of its proposed beneficial effects such as promotion of weight loss. The Garcinia Cambogia fruit contains up to 30% HCA. The Garcinia Cambogia Extract supplements are thought to contain up to 60% HCA (some reported as low as 20%) and are a combination of many active ingredients rather than Garcinia Cambogia alone. The quality control of the supplements is felt to be a significant concern. HCA can be taken from the fruit and isolated or it can be synthesized from citric acid or derived from other sources. In addition chemicals known as xanthones, benzophenones and organic and amino acids have been isolated from the Garcinia Cambogia plant.
Uses
Garcinia cambogia extract is used to block fat production and suppress appetite.
Garcinia cambogia is an extract obtained from the dried fruit of the Garcinia cambogia (GC) tree, a native plant species of South India and South Asia.The fruit looks like a small green pumpkin, and is used extensively in Asian-style cooking for its sour flavor.
Garcinia cambogia is most often used for weight loss. If you have trouble with portion control, an HCA supplement may help you manage calorie intake by curbing your appetite. In both rats and humans, garcinia cambogia supplement use results in reduced food consumption. Though the mechanism is unknown, the appetite-suppressing effect is believed to be due to an increase in serotonin levels. Beyond appetite suppression, the tropical fruit may even limit your body's ability to produce fat. HCA has been shown to lower the amount of fat in your blood and inhibit the creation of fatty acids, resulting in reduced stress on your body. Garcinia cambogia may also help to prevent fat build up in common problem areas, as one study of overweight individuals found that HCA supplements reduce belly fat accumulation.
Side effects
Cases of liver damage associated with the use of garcinia cambogia products have been reported. This problem appears to be uncommon, but some cases were severe. Most of the reported cases involved products labeled as containing a combination of ingredients, but some involved products labeled as containing only garcinia cambogia.
Other side effects associated with garcinia cambogia include headache and nausea, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Little is known about whether it's safe to use garcinia cambogia during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Mode of action
The skin, or rind of Garcinia cambogia fruit contains large amounts of hydroxycitric acid (HCA). HCA is a derivative of citric acid, and is marketed as a weight loss supplement, either alone or in combination with other supplements.
How HCA works to promote weight loss is not precisely known, but several theories exist. Some experts believe it works by inhibiting an enzyme called citrate lyase, interfering with the conversion of unused carbohydrates into fat. Although HCA does have this effect on carbohydrates in a laboratory petri dish, it is unproven whether it does this once inside the body.
Other experts suggest HCA affects other enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, such as pancreatic alpha amylase and intestinal alpha glucosidase. A few postulate that it increases the release or availability of serotonin in the brain, promoting appetite suppression.Nobody knows for sure just how HCA works… or if it really does work.
