Can garcinia cambogia (HCA) help me lose weight?

Mehmet Oz, MD, Cardiology, answered

Adding garcinia cambogia 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), the average person taking HCA lost an average of four pounds a month.

Garcinia may also be great for emotional eaters. Those who participated in the study showed an increase in their serotonin levels; hence, it may also improve mood and sleeping patterns.

For more information visit www.SlimLineHealth.co.uk

How does garcinia cambogia (HCA) help block fat?

Mehmet Oz, MD, Cardiology, answered

The hydroxycitric acid (HCA) extract from garcinia cambogia blocks fat by inhibiting citrate lyase, a key enzyme that your body needs to make fat from carbohydrates. 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.



Keith Roach, MD, Internal Medicine, answered

In animal models, high doses of garcinia suppressed growth of fat cells. This dose caused significant toxicity in rats. One study in humans showed decrease in fat accumulation. This may have to do with effects on hormones, such as leptin and insulin.

For more information visit www.SlimLineHealth.co.uk

Additional Information You Want to Know About Garcinia Cambogia by Julie Chen, M.D.

I was recently on a national TV show that focused on fastest fat-burning supplements. The main supplement in question was Garcinia Cambogia. What I loved about the show is that it gave great exposure to a little-known supplement that might help people with weight loss. However, there is still some information about this supplement that we simply did not have enough time on the show to go over and definitely not in as much detail as I would like. Before I continue with this discussion on Garcinia Cambogia, I would like to first and foremost mention that I do not sell this product and do not endorse any brands. However, I have helped my patients in my clinic of integrative medicine in San Jose, Calif. with the usage of this supplement. So, I am going to lay out as much practical information on this supplement as I can for you readers, based on some of the studies that are out on this topic. I will also address some misgivings or concerns about what, in my opinion, still need to be done on this supplement in regards to research. Garcinia Cambogia is a fruit that’s been eaten for centuries in India and Asia. Within the natural fruit rind, there is about 20-30 percent of the hydroxycitric acid (HCA). When patients purchase the Garcinia Cambogia Extract (GCE) used in the supplements, there is usually about 50-60 percent of the HCA used as an active ingredient in the supplement. Based on the studies, there is potential that this supplement can help with weight loss by helping patients feel full more quickly and help turn the food we eat into a usable energy source in our body instead of being stored as fat. It also may help with mood based on a serotonin effect so that people who overeat due to emotional stressors, this might be particularly helpful. One other benefit from studies show that patients may in fact gain more lean body mass using this supplement, especially if they exercise and eat right. One preliminary study suggests that even if the weight on the scale doesn’t budge, there was a shifting of body mass towards more lean muscle mass with fat loss which is why the weight didn’t change, but the body composition did. I like to point this finding out to my patients because so many people become discouraged early on in their weight loss journey because they follow the numbers on the scale. But, I always tell patients that they have to pay attention to how their clothes fit. If the clothes are fitting looser and you look more toned, even if the number on the scale isn’t changing yet, it doesn’t mean that your body isn’t shifting towards a healthier body composition. In fact, many times, I see in my patients several months of same weight despite clothing becoming looser before the numbers on the scale start to budge. This healthier body composition change early on it the weight loss journey is a good thing because the exercise and healthy foods are helping your body to have a higher composition of muscle instead of fat and we know muscle weighs more than fat so the numbers on the scale may not budge, but you are definitely on your way towards a leaner you. It seems based on preliminary studies that GCE helps along this natural process of a healthier lifestyle so that you may build that much more muscle and far less fat. One thing to keep in mind from the studies though is that patients only were studied for 12 weeks on the supplement. So in general, just to keep things very safe and conservative, I do not recommend using the supplement for more than three months. Keeping that in mind, you should not use this supplement as the only tool to help you lose weight. I always encourage my patients to eat healthy and exercise daily so that the supplement can help give you a boost at the beginning of your weight loss journey, but at three months, you’ll have to keep it going by the healthy lifestyle patterns you’ve developed along the way and stop taking the GCE until we have more research results for longer term usage. While the preliminary studies are promising, further larger studies need to be done to definitively give us the information we still need such as whether it is safe to take daily indefinitely or if six months is just as safe as three months. While people have been consuming the fruit for centuries, the extract form with the higher HCA still needs to be studied in larger studies and also with longer durations. For now, the smaller studies suggest the dosages of 1500-3000mg/day are relatively safe for three months of use, but as always, I caution all readers to check with your physician first before starting any new supplements. Those who have diabetes or are on cardiac medications should not take this supplement due to concerns about interactions with medications and safety. Also, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid it as well until we find out more definitive information on safety for fetus and babies. When in doubt as to whether you should be taking this supplement, always check with your physician. While I am not in favor of taking this supplement with other weight loss supplements due to lack of data for safety, I hope that with the growing public interest that more studies on safety and usage will be done on a larger scale for this promising supplement. So, as the holiday season has just ended and as we move forward into spring and summer seasons, I want you to keep in mind that while GCE can help you to get your weight loss efforts into gear, you need to make your healthy diet and exercise routine as the core of your weight loss journey. If you only depend on supplements for weight loss, the ultimate long term weight loss goals are rarely ever optimally sustained. It is with a healthy change in lifestyle habits that you will be able to sustain the weight loss you’ve achieved with the help of some fat burning supplements like GCE along the way. References: Downs BW, et al. Bioefficacy of a novel calcium-potassium salt of (-)-hydroxycitric acid. Mutation Research 579 (2005) 149-162. Ohia SE, et al. Safety and mechanism of appetite suppression by novel hydroxycitric acid extract (HCA-SX). Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 238 (2002) 89-103. Garcinia Cambogia Extract: 90045-23-1. Material prepared for National Cancer Institute by CSWG by Technical Resources Internationl, Inc. nder contract number N02-07007 For more information on Garcinia Cambogia visit www.SlimLineHealth.com  Follow Julie Chen, M.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/makinghealthyez For original Article visit http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julie-chen-md/garcinia-cambogia_b_4931811.html

Garcinia Cambogia sweeps America

Those who have been toiling hard to lose weight are in for a treat.

You can now couple your healthy diet with a great new supplement of Garcinia Cambogia, a fat burning extract from a rare tropical fruit,  and het to your ideal weight within weeks.

This pill has become a rage in the United States of America.

Garcinia Cambogia Extract is a powerful, all natural fat burning that is a proving effective weight loss supplement. This super potent extract has been the latest fat burning buzz in the media and even among celebrities

Garcinia Cambogia has resulted in major weight loss, garnering criticism from various diet experts.

According to critics the compounds – hydroxycitric acid, or HCA (the extract from the Garcinia Cambogia fruit), – cause such dramatic weight loss that they are ripe for abuse by people who only want to lose weight for cosmetic reasons.

According to a new study from researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center, men and women who took the Garcinia Cambogia supplement for 8 weeks lost an average of 16.5 pounds without additional diet or exercise.

Another study published in the journal Nutrition Research found that people taking Garcinia Cambogia extract lost an average of 6.7 percent of their total body weight, including 12.3 percentof their total body fat – with zero side effects.

In fact, not only were there not any side effects, but people using the supplement actually experienced improved health measures across the board, including reductions in bad LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar.

For more information visit www.SlimLineHealth.co.uk

How Much Garcinia Cambogia Should I Take?

Garcinia Cambogia is available both online and in health food shops. If purchasing in the UK look for 4:1 Whole Fruit in 500mg capsules. If purchasing in the states then look for at least 50% HCA, the more the better, and make sure that it always contains potassium as these formulas as more effective than other HCA combinations.

Take 500-1000mg before each primary meal with a maximum intake of 3000 mg in any single day.

Always check that all ingredients are listed on any supplements packaging. DO NOT purchase if they are not listed. Also make sure that there are no fillers or artificial ingredients. Once again, if it ddoes not state this then DO NOT purchase the product.

With no changes to your diet or exercise regime you may still lose 2-4 pounds within one month. However, it is highly recommended that anyone taking HCA supplements take the time for moderate exercise a few times a week and eat properly portioned meals. Embrace the power of the HCA supplement and allow it to work along side you making healthier choices.

 

For more information go to http://www.slimlinehealth.com/garcinia-cambogia.html

How Does Garcinia Cambogia Work?

The HCA extract from SlimLine Health – Garcinia Camborgia Ultra, aids in weight loss by doing two things. Firstly, it helps to block fat and secondly it suppresses your appetite.

 

HCA blocks fat by inhibiting a key enzyme – Citrate Lyase – that your body needs to make fat from carbohydrates.  Usually, your body will convert carbohydrates or sugars in fats if they are not used immediately or stored in other forms. When HCA inhibits the Citrate Lyase enzime from working, the fat-making process is halted and the production of LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides decrease.

HCA also suppresses your appetite by increasing serotonin levels in your body. Serotonin is the target of many antidepressant medications as it is a neuotransmitter in your brain that makes you feel good. Low levels of serotonin often make you feel depressed or anxious and it can drive many people into emotional or comfort eating. By increasing serotonin levels, HCA improves your 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 from your fat cells.

Many medical studies have shown promise, with one randomised placebo-controlled study that followed 60 obese people for 8 weeks. With a calorie-restricted diet of 1200 kcal/day, and a HCA dose of 1320 mg/day, the experimental group lost an average of 14 pounds. This is compared to 6.1 pounds in the placebo group. The participants also noted reduced appetite.

For more information go to

http://www.slimlinehealth.com/garcinia-cambogia.html