Additional Information About Garcinia Cambogia

You have probably seen programs on TV discussing the benefits of Garcinia Cambogia and probably also see tons of adverts for it. The problem though is that those little segments really do not go into enough detail when it comes to practical info. That is where this article comes in. Here are some facts about this popular supplement and some potential misgivings.

The Fruit

Indians and Asians in tropical climes have been enjoying the Garcinia Cambogia fruit for hundreds of years with no ill effects. What you do need to remember though is that the extract has about double the amount of HCA, the active ingredient, than what occurs naturally in the fruit.

Studies have come up with some interesting results. It appears that the supplement can suppress appetite, prevent carbs in our food from being converted to fat and may help to increase the levels of serotonin in the brain.

This last effect is extremely useful when it comes to emotional eating. Another potential benefit is that the body fat percentage shifts more towards the leaner side, especially of the users follow a healthy diet and exercise.

In one study, it was found that even though the subjects did not appear to lose weight, their body fat composition has changed and they were leaner.

I think that this is an important point – most people are really disappointed if they don’t see a difference on the scale but, for me, it is more important that you see results in the way that your clothes fit, etc. This is a much better indicator that your plan is working as weight can fluctuate all the time.

You do need to remember that muscle does weigh more than fat so your weight loss in terms of the scale may appear to slow down when you are exercising and improving body tone.

It also seems in terms of early studies that the extract can help speed up this conversion so that you may be increasing muscle mass faster. Do bear in mind, however, that most studies are conducted of a three month period. Longer studies have not yet been embarked on. I would advise taking it for a period of three months and then giving yourself a rest period of two or three weeks at least before resuming the supplement again.

It is also important that you view the supplement as a supplementary tool to weight loss. You still need to put in the work.

The advantage is that the Garcinia Cambogia makes this easier and the initial results can motivate you to continue. By the time your three months is up, you should have established habits to last you a lifetime.

As mentioned earlier, more research is warranted. We still don’t know what the long-term effects of taking these higher than normal doses of HCA over longer periods.

Remember that the concentrations in the extract are higher than what occurs in nature and, in any case, people who use this as food tend to view it as a condiment – the eat small amounts at a time and may not eat it every day.

Recommended Dosage

Most experts recommend that you take between 1500mg and 3000mg daily and so far no one seems to have had any negative effects over a ninety day period. It is a good idea, however, to consult your health care practitioner before you start taking Garcinia Cambogia, especially if you do take medication on a daily basis. The supplement has been found to cause dangerously low blood sugar levels if taken in conjunction with diabetes medications. Negative interactions with some Statins have also been noted. As safety during pregnancy or in children has not yet been established, you should not take it if you are currently pregnant or if you are still nursing an infant.

I never recommend mixing and matching weight loss supplements as you can never be sure what the interactions will be. It also tends to be pricey and there is no way of pinpointing which supplement was responsible for the results seen.

With the holiday season fast approaching and New Year’s resolutions just around the corner, I can see that sales of GCE are going to soar. Personally, I don’t think that there is any harm in trying it out, as long as you understand that you also need to adapt to a healthier lifestyle. After all, if you don’t, you have no way of maintaining any weight lost and you certainly don’t want to gain it all back again.

Look around at all the people you know who are constantly trying to lose weight by taking shortcuts – they never manage to maintain the weight loss. Doesn’t it make more sense to adapt your lifestyle while you have help in doing so for lasting benefits going forward? You owe yourself at least that much.