The fruit Garcinia Cambogia is also called malabar tamarind or brindleberry comes from Indonesia and southwest India. Its shape is similar to a small pumpkin, orange or a grapefruit. It is pale yellow in color.

Garcinia Cambogia was originated from Southeast Asia and Southern India. The fruit has many species. Garcinia Cambogia has very thin skin with lobes on it. This herb was not very popular outside these areas. This herb was found in villages and was used to naturally flavour the food especially Indian cuisines.

Because of its bitter flavour it was also used in place of lemon for making chutneys and curries. Garcinia Cambogia was used to treat many medical problems in the past.

It is helpful in curing bowel infection, rheumatism and obesity. For obesity it was used by inhibiting the appetite in patients. It was discovered in 60’s that this herb can be used for weight loss purposes.

It is claimed that HCA in high doses can help with the suppression of epididymal fat accumulation. Garcinia Cambogia contains
an acid which is called hydroxycitric acid which helps in reducing appetite. HCA don’t permit an enzyme in the body to convert carbohydrates into fats. This fruit is called queen of fruits in Southeast Asia.

Related: Best FDA Approved Garcinia Cambogia Brands Reviews That Dr Oz Would Love

How Garcinia Cambogia helps with Weight Loss?

HCA is an active ingredient in Garcinia Cambogia which has fat burning properties. It tends to block an enzyme called citrate lyase, from converting carbohydrates into fats. It also increaser the serotine levels in brain which helps in reducing appetite, that is why when you take weight reducing pills containing Garcinia Cambogia , you feel less hungry

According to a study from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) this small fruit is largely advertised as a weight loss supplement.

Dr Ingrid van Heerden says we should be careful about using Garcinia Cambogia as it is not much tested

The first step is HCA upsurges serotine levels in the body. Serotine levels when little are connected with the emotional eating, depression and anxiety. HCA discourages food desires and hunger in the body.

In the next step it constrains the capability of the body to change sugars into fats. Which means, in spite of a good and healthy diet, your body will not turn energy into fats often.

With these two actions your weight is reduced in one to two weeks, if the good amount is provided.  In some people the weight loss pills containing Garcinia Cambogia were not effective due to low fat diet.

Is it Safe to Use Garcinia Cambogia if You Are on Metformin & Blood Pressure Medications?

Just like caffeine, Garcinia Cambogia tends to affect blood pressure in the body. High blood pressure means when your body shoots the blood in the veins higher than normal rate.

High Blood pressure is vey dangerous and tends to increase risks heart diseases and brain damage. Garcinia Cambogia increases heart rate of the body.

Garcinia Cambogia can slowdown the metabolism of blood pressure medicine. One must, if has to use, should take Garcinia Cambogia in moderate amounts.

Some people who take high blood pressure medicines with Garcinia Cambigia do not face any negative impact. But there are always chances of medication interacting with herbs.

You must talk to your doctor before taking these weight loss pills.

Metformin is from class of drugs that are taken to lower blood sugar levels by inhibiting the liver to make more glucose levels in the body. Drug interactions are found among people who take Garcinia Cambogia and Metformin together, FDA reports based on the study done on 35 people.

According to FDA report, most common drug interactions when taking Garcinia Cambogia and Metformin together for one month are feelings of jittery. For one to 6 month of taking them together, the interactions are high blood pressure, dyspnea, heart palpitations urticaria, feeling abnormal, eye disorder and decrease in vitamin d in the body. For talking Garcinia Cambogia and metformin for more than 6 months together side effects were even higher including cough, drug became ineffective, hyperactivity disorder, seasonal allergy and sleep disorder.

There is an evidence that supports the fact that Garcinia Cambogia and Metformin should not be taken together because it can interact with your diabetes. This herbal medicine can drop blood sugar level too low when combined with metformin medicine.

The herb interacts with the the way body handles insulin and thus not recommended to diabetic patients with controlled blood sugar levels. Studies suggest that Garcinia Cambogia reduces the rate at which sugars are absorbed in intestine thus reducing the blood sugar to dangerous levels.

There are two types of diabetes Type 1 and Type 2. In type 1 body is unable to produce insulin. In type 2, the body produces incorrect amount of insulin in the body, sometimes its too high and sometimes its too low.

Studies show that Garcinia Cambogia can make it easier for the body to process sugars, which results in low sugar levels. Which is helpful for the Type 2 patients but for type 1 it can be very very dangerous.

Generally Garcinia Cambogia is known to assist body use glucose in a good manner. A study in mice shows the decrease in insulin levels on mice who tookGarcinia Cambogia as compared to the mice that did not take the herb. So it can also help control the level of glucose in humans.

It is suggested that patients with diabetes must not take Garcinia Cambogia and Metformin together without the guidance of doctor especially if you are on low blood sugar medicine .

Verdict:

Clinical studies have shown that Garcinia Cambogia is safe to use, but it should not be used with other medications. The intensity of effects vary from person to person, and on lifestyle. FDA has also warned that excess of this medicine can damage your liver badly. It is also dangerous for people who are taking medicines for asthma and allergies . Garcinia Cambogia is also dangerous when taken with blood thinners.

The Garcinia Cambogia extract helps manage Cortisol levels in your body. This is a hormone related to stress levels. It helps emotional eaters because of amplified Serotonin levels. This helps to balance the mood swings and decrease anxiety and
depression.

There is still a lot of research to be done on this herb. But mainly this herb is now extensively used as a appetite suppressor. It can reduce 10 pounds in one month without any change in diet. It has been around now for a long time, that is why people trust its safety.

References
1. Thazhath SS, Wu T, Bound MJ, et al. Effects of intraduodenal hydroxycitrate on glucose absorption, incretin release, and glycemia in response to intraduodenal glucose infusion in health and type 2 diabetes: A randomised controlled trial. Nutrition. 2016 May;32(5):553-9. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2015.11.004. Epub 2015 Dec 7.
2. Yonei Y, Takahashi Y, Hibino S, Watanabe M, Yoshioka T. Effects on the Human Body of a Dietary Supplement Containing L-Carnitine and Garcinia cambogia Extract: A Study using Double-blind Tests. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition. 2008;42(2):89-103. doi:10.3164/jcbn.2008014.
3. Vasques CA, Rossetto S, Halmenschlager G, et al. Evaluation of the pharmacotherapeutic efficacy of Garcinia cambogia plus Amorphophallus konjac for the treatment of obesity. Phytother Res. 2008 Sep;22(9):1135-40. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2323.