Garcinia Cambogia — Health Benefits, Side Effects, and Strategies for Losing Weight

Considered as one of the more popular natural-fat-burner ingredients on the market right now, Garcinia cambogia is a type of tropical plant belonging to the tamarind family that’s indigenous to Asia. Garcinia cambogia has been used as an active ingredient in many diet pills because of its ability to suppress appetite, normalize blood sugar levels, increase energy and even lower cholesterol in the body.

Garcinia cambogia became even more popular after Dr.Oz infamously marketed the ingredient as an effective weight loss aid.

But is it really effective in helping dieters lose weight?

Garcinia cambogia’s active ingredient is hydroxycitric acid or HCA. The HCA in Garcinia cambogia fruit is mostly concentrated on the rind.

Clinical tests show that HCA helps burn stored fat in the body while also suppressing appetite. HCA appears to block citrate lyase, an enzyme that the body uses to store fat. In addition, HCA reportedly raises serotonin—a mood-elevating hormone—in the brain. The result? Dieters will feel less hungry, have more energy, burn fat far more effectively, and restrain from emotional eating. At least, that’s what most Garcinia cambogia diet pill manufacturers will tell you.

The truth is that clinical results are far less impressive than what many diet pill manufacturers promise to their users.

In one study, scientists found that people who take Garcinia cambogia-based diet pills lose only 2 pounds than those who did not take the drugs at all. And in the same study, the researchers couldn’t even tell if the 2 pound weight loss was because of Garcinia cambogia.

Garcinia Cambogia Side Effects

For those looking to try Garcinia cambogia diet pills, it’s important to know the risks and possible symptoms of taking such a drug. Before taking any diet pills, talk to your physician about it.

Garcinia cambogia may react badly with people who are taking asthma or allergy medication. People with diabetes are also discouraged from taking Garcinia cambogia. Those who are taking blood thinners, prescription medication for various psychiatric disorders, or pain management drugs are also discouraged from taking Garcinia cambogia diet pills.

Garcinia cambogia may also cause the following side effects:

• Dizziness
• Diarrhea
• Dry Mouth
• Palpitation
• Mild digestive issues
• Headaches
• Cramps
• Constipation
• Nausea

Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and people who are suffering from diabetes are not advised to take Garcinia cambogia diet pills.

Strategies for Losing Weight Using Garcinia Cambogia

Not all Garcinia cambogia diet pills are created equal. Low-quality Garcinia cambogia diet pills contain less of the fruit’s extracts, replaced with binders or fillers. High-quality Garcinia cambogia diet pills should contain at least 60% HCA to achieve better chances of weight loss.

You can lose weight by taking Garcinia cambogia in conjunction with a balanced meal. Because Garcinia cambogia is an energy booster, you can also take Garcinia cambogia-based diet pills together with any workout to hasten the process of weight loss.

Although Garcinia cambogia is marketed as a diet pill that will help dieters lose weight without any form of exercise or diet, there’s not enough research to support this claim. It’s best to take Garcinia cambogia diet pills—or any diet pills, for that matter—with healthy diet and exercise to achieve the desired results.