In the last couple of years, garcinia cambogia has grown in popularity so much that it is now one of the first supplements that come to mind when we talk about weight loss.
As a natural weight loss supplement, garcinia cambogia benefits not only those who are looking to slim down and shape up. Its natural properties are also used to help with a variety of other health issues.
So, what are the health benefits of garcinia cambogia? And how does it actually help you lose weight? Check out the list below to find out!
But first, what is Garcinia Cambogia?
Garcinia cambogia is derived from a small, greenish or yellow fruit that is native to Southeast Asia and India. Also known as Malabar tamarind and
Garcinia gummi-gutta, its rind (the tough outer skin) is used to make the garcinia cambogia supplements that we know today.
The peel of the garcinia cambogia fruit is rich in hydroxycitric acid (HCA). HCA is the active ingredient that is thought to be responsible for garcinia’s weight loss benefits.
Garcinia supplements will typically contain anywhere between 20 to 60 percent HCA. But for best results,
it’s recommended that you stick to those that have
at least 50% HCA.
The 8 Benefits of Garcinia Cambogia
Here are the eight health benefits of garcinia cambogia.
1. Garcinia Cambogia promotes weight loss.
The weight-loss benefits of garcinia cambogia have been observed in many high-quality human and animal studies. Many of these studies show the potential of either garcinia cambogia extract or HCA from garcinia in promoting weight loss.
In
an animal study involving rats fed with a high-fat diet, supplementation with garcinia cambogia extract led to
smaller body weight gain.
In a two-month study of 50 obese women, half of the subjects received HCA while the other half received a placebo. Both groups have undergone a 1000-calorie diet per day. In the end, the HCA group lost
significantly more weight than the placebo group.
Another
study where 90 obese subjects were fed 2000 calories per day and walked 30 minutes a day, five days a week found similar results. The participants who took HCA daily experienced a
reduction in weight and BMI that’s significantly greater than the results of the placebo group.
A
systematic review back in 2011 also concluded from nine randomized clinical trials that garcinia cambogia extract can aid short-term weight loss.
2. Garcinia Cambogia helps target body fat.
Weight loss may happen as a result of many contributing factors.
Many people see a smaller number on the weighing scale and prematurely rejoice—not knowing that their “weight loss” is only a temporary effect of fluctuating water weight. Losing muscle mass—which is generally avoided especially by those who are trying to bulk up—also contributes to weight loss as muscle is known to be denser than fat.
That said, it’s clear that losing weight shouldn’t wholly depend on the number reflected on the weighing scale. The best weight loss results are achieved when you lose
actual excess fat, instead of losing water and muscle mass.
Garcinia cambogia has been shown to help with that. In
a double-blind study spanning 12 weeks of garcinia cambogia use, 44 subjects with considerable visceral fat (aka belly fat) were observed.
By the end of the study, the group that consumed garcinia cambogia extract enjoyed a
significant reduction in visceral, subcutaneous, and total fat compared to the group that took a placebo. The same study also concluded that the garcinia supplement they used did not have a rebound effect on the subjects once they stopped taking the said herbal extract.
In
another study, supplementing with HCA from garcinia led to a decrease in fat storage—which had been determined by measuring the skinfold thickness in the triceps.
3. It may help reduce appetite.
HCA from garcinia cambogia has been found to help reduce appetite and help you eat less.
In
a study published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Research, HCA was administered to human subjects for eight weeks. It was found that HCA can
suppress appetite and increase leptin levels in the blood. A similar
elevation in plasma leptin was also observed in a separate study involving male rats.
Leptin is a hormone that is directly linked to obesity and body fat. Also called the satiety hormone, leptin regulates your appetite, food intake, and weight.
When your body’s fat stores increase, your leptin levels also increase. This rise in leptin will send a signal to your brain to let it know that you already have plenty of fat stores. In a way, leptin tells your brain that you don’t need to eat more and encourages it to burn calories at a normal rate.
Conversely, leptin levels fall when you lose weight. This stimulates an increase in appetite and sends a signal to your brain that you need to eat more. This also explains why it becomes extra challenging to stick to your diet and lose more weight as you progress deeper into your weight loss journey.
One of the best ways to counteract a stimulated appetite is to make sure your leptin levels are high. This is why HCA’s ability to increase leptin levels in the blood is deemed important in weight loss.
4. Garcinia cambogia helps improve the effectiveness of your workouts.
The body uses various sources of fuel to carry out its basic functions and facilitate physical movement. Such sources of fuel include fat, carbohydrates, and protein.
That said, burning fat can be tricky. Some types of exercise—especially high-intensity ones—tend to burn more glycogen (stored carbohydrates) than fat. If you want to really slim down and transform your shape, however, getting rid of stored fat is crucial.
Garcia cambogia can help your body
burn more fat during exercise. A
study investigating the effects of HCA on weight control found that taking HCA every day improved fat oxidation (or fat burn) among obese subjects.
HCA is known to help
increase endurance among trained mice and athletes. This effect may help you squeeze in more high-quality exercise during your gym sessions.
A similar effect had been observed
in a study involving untrained women. Those who took HCA lasted significantly longer in their workouts. What’s more, the study found that HCA increases fat metabolism and decreases glycogen utilization.
In other words, taking garcinia cambogia supplements may help your body burn more fat (instead of burning glycogen) and last longer during exercise due to their HCA content. Ultimately, this should help you get in shape faster.
5. It can help lower blood sugar levels and reduce symptoms of diabetes.
Garcinia cambogia’s health benefits include
anti-diabetes effects.
Animal studies show that taking garcinia cambogia extract can
reduce glucose intolerance, which is known to result in high blood glucose levels.
Furthermore, an 8-week clinical trial in Taiwan found that supplementation of garcinia cambogia extract among overweight adults led to
stabilized fasting blood sugar levels.
All that being said, if you’re on the lookout for a supplement that can help keep your blood sugar levels in check, garcinia cambogia is definitely worth looking into.
6. Garcinia cambogia may help lower your cholesterol levels.
Garcinia cambogia may also have lipid-lowering properties.
In
one study, rats that were fed a high-fat diet experienced a decrease in bad cholesterol and an increase in good cholesterol after being administered with garcinia cambogia extract.
In
another research that investigated the impact of flavonoids from coconut, nutmeg,
Saraca asoca, and garcinia cambogia on lipid profiles, it was found that garcinia cambogia extract had the maximum hypolipidemic (or lipid-lowering) effect in rats.
Human studies have also observed similar effects. In
a 2014 research with obese women as subjects, taking a 50% HCA garcinia extract for 60 days led to
lower triglyceride levels.
7. It provides antioxidant support.
Garcinia cambogia extract contains flavonoids, xanthones, and benzophenones which are known antioxidants.
In vitro analyses have reported garcinia’s
antioxidant properties. Also, garcinia cambogia’s ability to fight oxidative stress has been highlighted in
animal studies.
Antioxidants help the body fight the unpleasant effects of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage healthy cells. The cellular damage and oxidative stress from free radicals contribute to a variety of unpleasant conditions like premature skin aging, cancer, and other illnesses.
This explains why antioxidants are prized components in wellness. They stop free radicals in their tracks and, as a result, help protect the body from free radical damage.
8. Garcinia cambogia may help reduce inflammation.
Garcinia cambogia extract is known to have
anti-inflammatory properties. A 2015 study in male Wistar rats supports this claim, where it was found that garcinia cambogia extract helped
reduce inflammation.
Inflammation is a natural defense mechanism of the body. However, chronic inflammation can lead to a bunch of problematic symptoms such as fatigue, chest, joint, and abdominal pain, and fever, among others. As such, minimizing inflammation by taking garcinia cambogia extract could be beneficial.
Buy Garcinia Cambogia Philippines
The best Garcinia Cambogia supplements are made by
Puritan’s Pride.
Puritan’s Pride takes pride in its lineup of health supplements that are carefully and thoughtfully made using high-quality ingredients. Trusted in the US as a leading maker of health and wellness products that are specially designed to address different health concerns, Puritan’s Pride now brings its trusted and well-loved products to the Philippines.
Our
Garcinia Cambogia capsules are designed to safely deliver 1500 mg of Garcinia Cambogia, 225 mg of Calcium, and 400 mcg of Chromium per serving. And true to our promise of making only the best supplements, our Garcinia capsules are standardized to contain the recommended 50% hydroxycitric acid (HCA) concentration.
To know more about your new weight loss ally,
click here.
You may also browse our complete array of high-quality and effective
weight loss supplements here.
