Also known by the name Malabar tamarind, Garcinia Cambogia is today becoming a very popular supplement for managing problems related to being overweight and obese.
There is a real problem of a fat and unhealthy nation and world staring down our faces and it no longer can be ignored as a myth.
It is likely that one out three people in the country and also across the world could be overweight or obese. There are many reasons for the same.
Reasons For Obesity and Overweight Problems
The biggest and most obvious reason is our modern day lifestyle especially, the middle, upper middle class and wealthy classes of people.
Technology has ensured that they have everything at their beck and call. They use the swankiest cars for commuting to and from their workplace.
The TV remote has ensured that millions have become couch potatoes.
Talking about potatoes, our food habit also has become highly unhealthy with more focus on highly processed food that is rich in saturated fatty acids.
This makes fat start building up in various parts of the body and the problem is not helped in any manner by our sedentary habits and lack of exercise.
What Could It Lead To?
As long as we are in the early 20s, there are reasons to believe that our body will be able to digest even iron and nothing will get deposited in our tummy, abdomen and other areas.
Being overweight and obese could come with its own set of problems. It could lead to increased blood pressure as the heart needs to pump blood more rapidly.
Cholesterol buildup in the veins is also another big possibility because of obesity and overweight problems.
How Could Garcinia Cambogia Help?
Garcinia cambogia belongs to the tropical fruit category and is a poplar and much sought after weight loss supplement.
It helps to reduce weight and manage it efficiently in some unique and efficient ways. To begin with, it helps to reduce appetite.
Secondly it also has some substances that could help in giving a thrust to the metabolic function of the body.
Thirdly, there are some other compounds in Garcinia Cambogia that are known to inhibit the impact of certain enzymes and hormones that help to convert unused carbohydrate into fat.
Hence, it works in three different ways and that could be useful for many who are looking for the right weight management supplements.
The Main Ingredients
Though there are a number of ingredients and components that make up the garcinia cambogia fruit, there is one important ingredient that makes a big difference as far as weight management is concerned.
It is referred to as HCA or hydroxycitric acid. This is an extract from citrus fruit and Garcinia Cambogia belongs to the citrus family.
This compound has seemingly a wonderful capacity to suppress appetite and also has some more interesting properties.It could help improving the metabolism functions making it more efficient.
Further, there are some unverified claims that it could also play a role in inhibiting the function of certain enzymes and hormones that could help conversion of unused carbohydrates into fats.
Some Other Substances
Apart from the above, garcinia cambogia is a rich source of antioxidants and packed with rich vitamins and minerals.
These include vitamin A B, C, D and also some vital minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium.These could help in improved bone health and also better absorption of nutrients by the body cells.
The Side Effects
There are some side effects in all weight management drinks, capsules, pills and powders. The same is the case with garcinia cambogia.
The most common side effects are headaches, vomiting and nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, palpitations and lack of sleep.
These are extremely temporary in nature and should resolve within a few days.
There are a few instances of a bit more complicated side effects like increased levels of blood pressure, blood sugar and so on.
In some cases toxicity also has been reported in renal and hepatic functions.
Garcinia Cambogia And Diarrhea
There are a number of articles on the internet that talk about the risk of increased diarrhea and intestinal problems when one uses garcinia cambogia extract for long period of time.
In fact, there are also stories where there have been instances of discontinuing this weight loss supplement because of stomach related issues.
So where, does the truth actually lie? It is important to find answers for the same, so that there is clarity based on facts rather than being driven in by opinions and hearsays.
Doe Garcinia Cambogia Impact The Gastrointestinal Tract?
The purest form of Garcinia Cambogia contains some of the best concentrations of antioxidants and they are completely harmless.
They are of the same quality and concentration as you would perhaps find in other naturally occurring herbs, plants and supplements.
Hence, it would be naïve to believe that garcinia cambogia could be the reason for such problem.
Rather, there have been many instances where this fruit based extracts have played a big role in improving the overall functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Things To Be Careful About
While there is no doubt that the safety record and tolerability parameters of garcinia cambogia is quite good, it could cause some initial hiccups.
This is because the fruit and its extracts are rich in soluble as well as insoluble fibers. These could cause some irritation in the gastrointestinal tract for the first few days.
However, this will be only for a few days and it will only be a matter of time before the supplement settles down and does not cause any irritation to the gastrointestinal tract going forward.
However, if there are some existing problems like IBS or other such problems, then the onus lies on the users to be a bit careful.
They should preferably try out the supplement for a day or two and in case there is no problem, they should continue it.
Further, if they have any pre-existing conditions that impact the digestive systems, then it would be always better to take the help of doctors and go by their recommendations.
Some Questions That Are Worth Answering
Does Garcinia Cambogia have substances that could irritate or damage the GI tract?
The answer is a firm no. There are no synthetic substances provided you do your research and buy the right brand of garcinia cambogia.
It might contain some quantities of soluble and insoluble fibers and these are anyways consumed by almost each one of us in our daily foods and recipes.
Why does Garcinia Cambogia cause diarrhea in some users?
Yes, it is a fact that some users complain about diarrhea, nausea and vomiting during the first few days of the use of Garcinia Cambogia.
This is basically because of the body trying to get adjusted to a new intake. Further, Garcinia Cambogia also impacts the hormones and enzymes positively and this also could be one of the reasons as to why there could be a few instances of diarrhea.
The body is getting adjusted to the new changes and since the metabolism also changes, this also could lead to mild to moderate diarrhea. But in nine out of ten cases, you can be sure that it will stop in a day or two.
What about those who have pre-existing GI problems?
If there are new users of garcinia cambogia and if they are suffering from pre-existing GI issues and problems, then they must take the help of doctors and medical practitioners.
If necessary some tolerance tests should be carried out and only then should they start using garcinia cambogia. You have to bear in mind that the supplement has to be used for a reasonably long period of time for the best of results.
Review Of Some Brands Of Garcinia Cambogia
We now have reasonably good information about the various reasons as to why Garcinia Cambogia could be a good option for weight management.
It has helped many obese and overweight people to lead normal lives and aspire to also be healthy for long period of time. We will now have a look at some of the major brands of garcinia cambogia for the benefit of our readers.
Potent Organics Garcinia Cambogia
This is often referred to as one of the best sources of pure and original Garcinia Cambogia. It consists of 95% of HCA in its purest form.
It is non GMO and also is gluten and dairy free. It also is free from gelatin. It is considered to be an efficient natural appetite suppressant.
This is a high concentration 3000 mg garcinia cambogia and is famous for its purity and effectiveness. It has zero filler and could be one of the best choices.
Herbal Youth Garcinia Cambogia
This comes in a bottle of 60 capsules and it ultra powerful and contains 95% of the best quality HCA in it. It works very well as a natural appetite suppressant.
The Final Word
While there is no doubt that there are quite a few things positive about garcinia cambogia as far as its ability to control and manage weight, the information pertaining to its negative impact on the GI is wrong.
It is quite safe on the stomach provided the users do not have any pre-existing medical conditions.It also is a rich source of antioxidants that are available in other such medicinal supplements and nutraceutical products.
It does offer value for money as a safe, time tested and proven weight loss supplement that is kind on the digestive system in particular and the entire body in particular.
It can be used for long periods of time, provided all the health parameters are normal.
Diana Paul is a certified nutritionist who writes for leading health blogs. She is a master herbalist, yoga teacher, forager, and wild-crafting writer She is focused on helping people transform life blocks to opportunities. Based in NYC, she often holds health seminars and lectures.