Can Garcinia Cambogia Help With Weight Loss?

Losing weight can be hard. I’ve had my fair share of health issues that made me feel like it’s almost impossible to slim down. And sometimes, no matter what we do, we hit that wall.

You know what I’m talking about — you exercise, you eat but you simply cannot lose weight.

Now, we all know there’s no magic pill. But are there supplements that can help boost your weight loss efforts? 

Is a plant called Garcinia Cambogia one of those supplements?

Before you start exploring supplements, it’s best to familiarize yourself with what they are. So, let’s take a look at what Garcinia Cambogia is, how it helps, and whether you should use it as part of your weight loss routine. 

WHAT IS GARCINIA CAMBOGIA?

Garcinia Cambogia comes from an Indonesian fruit called the Malabar Tamarind. In nature, it’s a small, pumpkin-shaped fruit that’s been used for centuries to reduce the appetite.

And supplement companies have jumped all over the appetite suppressing qualities. They’ve processed the fruit into a concentrated supplement with the goal of helping you meet your weight loss goals.

But what makes it effective? Outer skin of this fruit contains the hydroxycitric acid (HCA). HCA is what helps block hunger and reduce your appetite. 

DOES IT REALLY HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS?

No pill is ever going to be a substitute for exercise and eating right. But some supplements, like Garcinia Cambogia may help. Here’s what you need to know.

BOOSTS SEROTONIN LEVELS

HCA is thought to block your appetite by boosting your body’s natural serotonin levels. Serotonin is a hormone that helps with your mood. When you have low levels, it’s common to feel depressed and down in general.

This may lead to emotional eating or binge eating. And then these may cause overeating that will make you gain weight.

But when you have higher amounts of serotonin, you’ll feel happier and thus less likely to succumb to emotional eating.

MIGHT REDUCE FAT PRODUCTION

The jury is still out on this, but studies suggest that Garcinia Cambogia helps slow down or block fat production in your body, making it easier to keep the weight off. It does this by blocking the enzyme called citrate lyase. 

Citrate lyase is what your body uses to turn carbs and sugars into fat. If it’s blocked, your body won’t produce as much fat.

RELATED POST: HOW TO LOSE FAT FROM STUBBORN AREAS

FEWER BLOOD SUGAR SPIKES

When your body can’t control blood sugar, it’s more likely to experience the extreme highs and lows. 

This can impact everything from your quality of sleep to your ability to lose weight. Worse, it can be a symptom of diabetes. 

The Garcinia Cambogia supplement may help regulate blood sugar levels, helping your body’s natural insulin production. 

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?

The supplement may have some benefits when it comes to weight loss but it can also have some serious side effects.

Here are some of the most common:

DIZZINESS

Some people have reported feeling dizzy after taking the supplement. This could be due to anything from quality issues to the way an individual metabolizes the supplement. 

If you take it and feel dizziness at any point, stop taking the supplement. 

UPSET STOMACH

Some supplements don’t sit well with certain people and Garcinia Cambogia is one of them. 

Depending on the concentration and the quality of the supplement, you might experience an upset stomach or other digestive issues. 

Taking the supplement with food can help, but if it keeps happening, stop taking it.

LIVER ISSUES

Some people experienced liver conditions after taking a Garcinia Cambogia supplement. 

And the FDA even issued a warning against one manufacturer of a supplement because it contained sibutramine (Meridia), an appetite suppressant that was removed from the market in 2010 due to safety concerns. 

Another important thing I should mention is the fact that the FDA doesn’t really regulate the use or safety of the Garcinia Cambogia supplements unless their use causes multiple hospitalizations!

This means that manufacturers are left to decide how much Garcinia Cambogia extract to put in their product and what other ingredients to use. 

So even if Garcinia Cambogia extract works, supplements you buy may have some other ingredients that may not be good for you at all.

SHOULD I TAKE IT?

So, should you take it? Well, it’s really up to you.

If you feel like you want to try a natural weight loss supplement and your doctors agree with that decision, Garcinia Cambogia may be a good option provided you buy a high-quality supplement. You should always read the product label and check the list of ingredients. 

But I have to say that there’s no guarantee that Garcinia Cambogia will help you lose weight, especially if you buy it from an unreliable manufacturer. 

I highly recommend that you exercise regularly and eat healthy. And if you’re still having trouble with weight loss, you should check your hormone levels. Your hormones may be the real reason why you’re struggling.

I’ve written a couple of blog posts on that subject so you can check them out.

Hope you find them helpful!

How a hormone imbalance can cause weight gain

My hypothyroidism story 

6 unexpected reasons why you can’t lose weight

Insulin resistance and how it can affect your weight

Leptin resistance – Are you resistant to weight loss?

Is stress causing your weight gain?

Love Rachael xx