What the Heck Is Garcinia Cambogia?

You’ve probably heard all about it by now – http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HD4SFYEgarcinia cambogia, the latest weight loss sensation touted by +DrOz as a miracle: the Holy Grail of weight loss. According to its press, garcinia cambogia helps you lose weight faster by blocking your body from absorbing fat and encouraging it to burn stored fat for energy. In addition, it functions as an appetite suppressant, and – will miracles never cease? – makes you feel better and more energetic. Who wouldn’t look at that list and wonder, “Where do I sign up for that stuff – and why have we never heard of it before?”

Here’s a little secret – you probably have heard of garcinia cambogia before, just not by that name. Weight loss science loves using scientific names. It makes what they do sound so much more official and scientific, and makes it harder for the layman – that’s you, the dieter without a scientist’s education or research lab – to go hunt down the ingredients themselves. So, here’s the skinny on garcinia cambogia, including where it’s from, what it is, how it’s used and why you need to take garcinia cambogia supplements to get the full benefit of these miracle diet pills.

The Tamarind – Tropical Fruit and More

Garcinia cambogia is the scientific name of a tropical fruit native to Indonesia, the Malabar tamarind. It grows in Southeast Asia, India and Central and Eastern Africa. It is similar in just about every way to the more familiar tamarind, used for culinary and medicinal purposes throughout those countries. The fruit is about the size of an orange, but has deep vertical creases in the rind which make it resemble a small pumpkin. Its sour flavor makes it a natural for use in pickling and preserving, and the dried, ground rind of the tamarind is an essential ingredient in many curry recipes.

Garcinia Cambogia for Weight Loss

The active ingredient in garcinia cambogia is hydroxycitric acid, more commonly known as HCA, which seems to activate the liver to produce a fat-burning enzyme. When activated, the liver burns glucose – the end product of nearly all food that you eat – for energy instead of storing it as fat. In addition, those enzymes trigger the brain to produce more serotonin, which has a number of beneficial effects, particularly in managing stress.

So Why Not Just Eat Tamarinds?

Garcinia cambogia extract pulls out the effective ingredients and concentrates them in the most effective dosage for weight loss. If you were to just eat garcinia cambogia rinds – aside from the horrible taste – you’d have to eat an awful lot of it to get enough of it to make a difference. And since you can’t measure the amount of HCA in any single fruit or rind, you’d only be guessing at whether you’re taking an effective dosage. When you use garcinia cambogia diet supplements, you’re getting a standardized dose of HCA – you know exactly how much you’re taking in each and every capsule. This is vital if you’re using it to help you lose weight.

One Final Word

Always be sure that you buy 100% pure garcinia cambogia extract. At least one product that combined garcinia extract with several other ingredients was pulled from the market because of suspected liver damage. This has never been an issue with pure garcinia cambogia.

Six Tips for Effective and Safe Weight Loss Using Garcinia Cambogia

Garcinia cambogia has taken the weight loss world by storm, thanks to its celebrity endorsement by +DrOz, but there are a lot of people out there who are still wary of using garcinia cambogia supplements. After all, there’s a whole history of miracle diet supplements that have proven to be ineffective at best, and downright dangerous at worst. That doesn’t seem to be the case with garcinia cambogia extract. To date, even the most rigorous studies have found that 100% pure garcinia cambogia extract is 100% safe when used according to the recommended dosages and precautions.

One: Important Precautions with Garcinia Cambogia

The biggest thing to remember if you’re considering garcinia cambogia for weight loss is to remember that the active ingredient, HCA, affects the way your liver metabolizes sugar and stores fat. If you have a history of liver or kidney problems, it’s important to talk to your doctor about using garcinia cambogia supplements before starting on your weight loss regimen. You should also talk to your doctor about using garcinia cambogia if you have diabetes or if you regularly take any medications for any other condition. These aren’t precautions specific to garcinia cambogia – they’re common sense precautions to take whenever you decide to change your daily habits, routines or diet.

With the precautions out of the way, here’s a list of blockbuster tips that can ensure your safety and increase the effectiveness of garcinia cambogia supplements for weight loss.

Two: Choose the Right Garcinia Cambogia Extract

Your safest option is to choose a supplement that provides 100% pure garcinia cambogia extract, which has been proven safe for use. Avoid any products that combine garcinia with any other extracts or weight loss ingredients, even those that have been proven safe to use alone. To date, there are no studies to track the effects and interactions of combining garcinia cambogia with other ingredients.

Three: Use As Directed

More doesn’t necessarily equate to better. No matter how tempting it is, don’t exceed the recommended dosage or take garcinia more often than the product label recommends.

Four: Take the Capsule or Tablet At Least a Full Hour Before Meals

One of garcinia cambogia’s most beneficial effects is to suppress the appetite by making you feel full. Take it at least one hour before meals to give your system time to absorb the supplement so you get the most benefit from it.

Five: Drink Lots and Lots of Water with Your Tablet

Water helps speed the absorption of the garcinia cambogia and get the ingredients into your system. It also is vital to the healthy functioning of your liver and kidneys.

Six: Start Slow.

Remember that more is not always better. Everybody’s body reacts differently, so it’s important to establish the best, most tolerable dosage for your body. As with any other kind of medication or supplement, it’s always best to use the lowest effective dosage of garcinia cambogia.

Keep those tips in mind, and you’re sure to get the most benefit from garcinia cambogia. Good luck on your weight loss journey!