Garcinia Cambogia Extract is one of the MOST popular weight loss supplements on the market. It is recommended by a lot of health experts as a proven fat burner.
That said, there a lot of questions to be answered especially if this is the first time you are hearing about this supplement.
As such, we have created this post to be your one-stop solution to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Garcinia Cambogia Extract.
If you have any questions that we have not answered, please be sure to leave them in the comments and we will update this post accordingly.
What You Must Know About Garcinia Cambogia
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and ANSWERS about The Garcinia Cambogia Extract:
1. Does Garcinia Cambogia Contain Caffeine?
Does Garcinia Cambogia contain caffeine? The answer to this question may vary depending on the type of Garcinia product you are taking.
If your product is labeled 100% Pure Garcinia then you are sure it does not contain any caffeine in it.
On the other hand, if you are taking a blended product, it is highly advisable to check the ingredients list. If the product does have caffeine, the manufacturer will always indicate this.
Note that only products manufactured in the USA adhere to these guidelines!
2. Does Garcinia Cambogia Help To Control Hunger?
Dieting is hectic.
Ironically, most dieters find themselves battling appetite rather than focusing on losing fat. Hunger is the most natural thing in the world. Our bodies get accustomed to a certain level of satisfaction and we tend to feel deprived when our weight loss regimen makes us eat less or change our eating habits.
We’re the losers in the battle for the bulge when we give in to those food cravings and eat more than our bodies need to stay healthy.
Now to the big question: does Garcinia Cambogia help to control hunger?
The answer is a big YES.
Garcinia is high in fiber and contains a substance called hydroxycitric acid (HCA). The HCA in this supplement suppresses appetite by increasing serotonin levels.
By increasing the rate of serotonin secretion, Garcinia HCA improves one’s mood and suppresses the urge to respond to stressful situations in life with food.
As you take in fewer calories, your body switches into a fat burning mode. It starts releasing stored fat in your fat cells and in the process you start losing weight.
3. Does Garcinia Cambogia Raise Or Lower Blood Sugar?
If you are asking the question “Does Garcinia Cambogia raise blood sugar level?” then the answer is: No.
Scientific studies have shown that Garcinia Cambogia significantly delays the rate of glucose absorption in the small intestines by over one hour.
This is pretty advantageous to the user as they stay full for longer than usual and accumulate less calories. Due to this delay in absorption of glucose through the villis to the bloodstream, one may experience a temporary decrease in the level of blood sugar.
This is contrary to the belief that Garcinia Cambogia may raise blood sugar level.
There is overwhelming evidence that Garcinia Cambogia does not raise blood sugar level. However, if you are diabetic, we highly recommend that you see your doctor before taking Garcinia or any other type of supplements.
4. Does Garcinia Cambogia lead to permanent weight loss?
Stop taking Garcinia supplements does not lead to rebound weight gain, but that does not mean that it is some magic remedy that will keep you slim and fit forever unless you lead a healthy lifestyle.
The Main Factors That Make People Put On Excess Weight includes:
- Excess intake of food, especially foods rich in fats and sugars
- Stress or emotional eating
- Snacking
- Sedentary lifestyles
Once you achieve your weight loss target by taking Garcinia supplements, you can keep the weight off by taking care of the four factors listed above that led to the accumulation of excess fat in the first place.
If you regained weight after stopping your supplements, it has more to do with your lifestyle than with stopping Garcinia.
5. Is Garcinia Cambogia Safe For Diabetics?
When you are diabetic, you have to be very careful with what you put in your system. Eating certain kinds of food at certain times can send your sugar level through the roof.
Taking supplements also require the same if not more precautionary measures. So even though Garcinia Cambogia is a natural supplement, we can understand if you are asking the following questions:
- Is Garcinia Cambogia safe for diabetics?
- Are there any studies done?
Previous studies have shown Garcinia to be able to control blood sugar levels in the body. However, any benefits or safety risks for diabetics are still in theoretical stages at the moment.
More thorough studies need to be done, as to this supplements overall effectiveness and adverse reactions, for people with different health conditions.
Even though the product is 100% natural and does lead to good health rewards to those who take it, all diabetics are advised to consult their doctor for advice before taking any product of this nature.
6. How Long Should I Take Garcinia Cambogia Before I Stop?
As with any other medically-approved diet supplement, the amount of time it takes for Garcinia Cambogia to produce results depends on several factors, such as a person’s health, age and several other conditions.
It is therefore quite confusing to determine how long it should take for the substance to start working.
But there is no doubt that if used consistently and correctly, this supplement can lead to significant weight loss.
There are a number of factors that play a part in determining how long a person will need to use this supplement. For starters, the amount of active ingredients in the formulation is very important.
Garcinia that comes with less than 50% HCA content and is not manufactured in a cGMP and FDA approved facility may be less efficient or may not be effective at all even after following the right dosage for a prolonged period of time.
The next factor that may determine how long a person will have to take Garcinia is their weight.
Obese individuals, or individuals with large quantities of excess body fat, may have to use the supplement for a long period of time in order to realize effective results.
On the other hand, people with relatively less quantities of adipose tissue may achieve their weight loss goals faster and, therefore, cease using the supplement sooner.
Another factor that will affect how fast a person loses weight and stops using Garcinia is the type of diet they eat during the supplementation period.
People who eat a diet that has a lot of fat foods are likely to need higher Garcinia doses for longer compared to those who eat weight-friendly meals.
Other factors that may affect how fast a person loses weight and stops taking the supplement include: your age, sex, body type, medications, physical activity and genetics.
Young adults, male users and people who indulge in vigorous physical activity tend to lose weight faster than older people, female users and those who live sedate lifestyles.
People who use medications that can result in weight gain, such as calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, corticosteroids and insulin, may have to use the supplement for longer since these medications usually affect weight loss.
7. I Tend To Eat A Lot Of Sweets Will Garcinia Eliminate My Sweet Tooth?
Taking Garcinia Cambogia supplement has been scientifically proven to help reduce sugar cravings and cravings for other high-carb foods. So, if you are wondering how to get over your sweet tooth challenge, you now know what to do.
Scientific research has shown that Garcinia Cambogia is capable of regulating blood sugar levels and thereby eliminating sugar cravings. Further, it has been proven that drastic spikes in blood sugar are what drive many people to raid to fridge in the quest for additional sugar.
Generally, there are three types of sugar cravings. When you learn what is causing yours, you can better deal with them using your natural supplement.
With products such as Garcinia Cambogia, you can take on even the worst sugar attack, and come out feeling stronger.
Garcinia Cambogia can be very beneficial to your sweet tooth problem. One of its biggest attributes is that it helps in appetite suppression and improves your mood.
8. Does Garcinia Cambogia Extract Work For Men? Or Just Women Only?
If you are wondering whether Garcinia does work for men, the answer is – YES.
Although men and women have fundamentally different bodies and different amounts of body fat, this supplement has been shown to work in both male and female sexes.
This has led to the growth in popularity of the supplement among male fitness enthusiasts. Garcinia Cambogia is now increasingly common in many weight loss products designed for men.
Obesity is a common problem in men, just like in women. Many men face the same exact weight loss struggles as women do. But most weight loss products available in the market today are designed to meet the needs of women.
Garcinia is one of the few natural supplements that set themselves apart with the ability to promote weight loss in both men and women.
9. Does Garcinia Cambogia Contain Lead?
Lead is a very dangerous element. It can be harmful to you if you ingest or inhale it. According to the United States Environment Protection Agent, lead poisoning can cause a number of severe effects to the neurological system.
According to a 2010 article posted by the New York Times; mercury, lead and arsenic are finding their way into most herbal dietary supplements. A good number of herbs tested by the FDA were found to contain traces of heavy metals.
Most of the samples tested were further found to contain pesticide residues. So, this leads to the big question
“Does Garcinia Cambogia contain lead?” The answer is NO.
Garcinia Cambogia is 100% Natural
The mother-plant thrives naturally along river-banks in South East Asia where it is native to. No pesticides are needed to nurture it to maturity because it’s extremely resilient to changes in weather and infestations.
An average Garcinia tree takes about ten years to mature. It does not require much care to thrive. Weeding may be necessary at some point but not mandatory. Pruning may be recommended but only in very rare circumstances.
The Garcinia tree is ever-green. No wonder it is a respected symbol of resilience in most parts of Indonesia and Malyasia.
Since the tree does not require pesticides to thrive, it goes without saying that the end product is 100% natural. Free from any of the heavy metals discussed above.
This therefore confirms our stand that Garcinia Cambogia is free from lead or any other hard metal for that matter.
10. Is Garcinia Cambogia Safe For Weight Loss?
Is Garcinia Cambogia safe? Yes it is 100% safe.
The Garcinia Cambogia fruit have been eaten safely in South East Asia and parts of Africa for many years. The extract is safe if taken in normal amounts.
What Evidence Proves That Garcinia Cambogia Is Safe?
There is overwhelming evidence that Garcinia Cambogia works.
Human trials as well as animal trials have been conducted and almost all of them have come to one conclusion:
Garcinia Cambogia is safe both under short term consumption and in the long run.
Creighton University, 2002
A study conducted in this university back in 2002 reported that Garcinia Cambogia HCA is a safe extract to use.
The hyped study found the lethal dose in rats was greater than 5000 mg/kg. The recommended daily diet of this supplement is less than 2500mg per day. As you can see, this gives the supplement a very wide margin of safety.
11. Is Garcinia Cambogia Gluten Free?
In case you have been diagnosed with gluten intolerance and therefore you suffer from either wheat allergy or celiac disease, you must follow a gluten-free diet all your life if you want to prevent symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, muscular pain, hives or migraines.
According to multiple medical studies, Garcinia Cambogia fruit rind contains no gluten whatsoever and therefore the pure extract itself that is incorporated into each capsule is 100% gluten free.
However, as you probably know, many manufacturers tend to add various excipients ( such as fillers and preservatives) into their dietary supplements, hydrolized wheat protein being one of the most common additives that instantly triggers the occurrence or worsening of symptoms typically associated with gluten intolerance.
This is why it is absolutely imperative for any gluten intolerant person to choose carefully and wisely the right Garcinia Cambogia supplement – one that clearly states on its label gluten-free and wheat-free.
12. What is Gelatin Made From in Garcinia Cambogia?
Gelatin is a popular alternative to veg caps both in the pharmaceutical and herbal supplements markets. The latter is a nice alternative for strict vegetarians.
Gelatin is made from animal jelly after prolonged boiling.
Specifically, a nitrogenous colloid formed after hard boiling of various connective tissues such as ligaments, bones and tendons is what forms gelatin.
Gelatin has unique chemical and biological properties. For instance, it easily dissolves hot water and forms a fine jelly on cooling. It is used in various situations as food although its nutritious qualities are of a low order.
Scientists refer to it as a form of “denatured collagen protein”. The jelly is rich in hydroxyproline and proline amino acids.
Where Is Gelatin Sourced From?
Gelatin is sourced from connective tissues of vertebrate animals and fish like skin, cartilage, tendons, hoofs and ligaments.
The tissue is processed by boiling in steamy water or with some acid. The long process of manufacture involves removal of foreign elements and purification.
The end product is tasteless, colorless and brittle. It easily dissolves in hot water and can take up to ten times its weight of cold water.
So in a nutshell, the gelatin used for Garcinia Cambogia capsule is gotten from animal and fish tissues (not from pig) Gelatin has an expansive shelf life in capsules under proper packing.
This therefore ensures longevity for the extract and safety during shipping and storage.
Besides that, as gelatin is highly soluble in water, it easily gets dissolved in stomach. Within a short time after taking the capsule, the extract is freed into stomach for quick absorption to the blood stream.
13. Can I Drink Alcohol While Taking Garcinia Cambogia?
An important concern for many people wanting to lose weight with Garcinia is its compatibility with alcohol. This is not surprising considering that for many people totally abstaining from alcohol is a difficult thing to digest.
The good news is that Garcinia is not known to have any adverse interaction with alcohol as long as you don’t take them together.
The bad news is that you are better off staying away from alcohol because it can prevent you from achieving your weight loss goals.
Alcohol provides about 7 calories per gram. Consumption of alcohol, which otherwise does not provide any benefit to the body, is not advisable. If you must drink, you must do it with self discipline and only in very modest amounts.