garcinia-cambogia

Can Garcinia Cambogia Aid in Fat-Loss Or Is It Just Another Fad?

Some say this is just another fad, others say it hasn’t been researched enough. Let’s delve into the relevant studies regarding this fruit and decide for yourself. Garcinia cambogia which is also called Malabar tamarind is a tiny sweet tropical tree fruit that has the shape of a pumpkin. Scientists have found an acid in it that is slightly similar to the citric acid that is also found in lemons and oranges.

The acid also known as hydroxycitric acid (HCA), has created a debate among nutritionists among nutritionists as to its alleged benefits. It has been prized both as a miracle supplement in regards to its weight loss capabilities and  it’s often been derided as completely ineffective.

So what’s the general opinion now? In the past few years, the acid has gained popularity and positive reviews, with the word “garcinia” popping up more often in discussions about weight loss. Actually, the word itself has become synonymous to the hydroxycitic acid or HCA. In this article, we will keep using “HCA” to keep the explanations simple. It seems as if everyone that has even a remote interest in weight loss supplements has encountered the word “garcinia” or frequently got asked about it.

Another question is if it’s legit. The answer isn’t black or white. Like with many other things it lies in the gray area. It all depends on the user and his requirements. The straightest answer would be that it is not some magic pill, it is simply a tool. The only ones credible enough to give an opinion about it are the ones who have tried it and have learned how to use it in a reasonable manner and then continue using it.

Fortunately, in the past few years, we have gained a lot of knowledge about what supplementing with HCA does inside the body and how to optimize its use. Here are a few points that will inform you more about this supplement.

The appearance of HCA

HCA first started achieving popularity in the early ‘90s, after numerous studies have confirmed it caused some animals losing weight. One thing that we know for certain about HCA is that it blocks a part of an enzyme known as citrate lyase, which is in charge of converting starches and sugars into fat tissue. If you block the enzyme, then the carbs stop depositing as body fat and instead get turned to producing energy. Then, when you start burning fat when you start exercising, there will be less fat to replace it, so the overall fat level decreases.

HCA has also been shown to have the ability to suppress your appetite, but it doesn’t do it the way a diet pill containing a stimulant would. It actually increases your satiety, which makes it easier for you to be satisfied with less food. The mechanism behind this hasn’t been completely clarified.

One theory says that a metabolic change caused by the HCA could be sending a signal to the brain that suppresses your appetite via the amino acid 5-hydroxytryptophan, which is also a precursor to serotonin, otherwise known as the “happiness hormone”. Numerous studies have found that serotonin levels have increased in participants taking HCA, so this theory might have some truth in it.

These two findings were enough to propel HCA in the mainstream fitness world, but it seems its fame has quickly faded away after a study that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1998 said that HCA had no effect whatsoever on human participants. You would think that “put a nail in the coffin” for HCA. Wrong. Studies done afterward have made some very different conclusions and have helped convince many people, including previously skeptics, that HCA is really capable of helping you lose weight.


Continues on next page …


For the latest news and updates join our 1 Million fans on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.


Leave a Reply