Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Natural Remedies for Losing Weight - Garcinia (Hydroxycitric acid - HCA)

Garcinia Cambogia hails from India and Southeast Asia and is a pumpkin shaped fruit with a chemical structure similar to citric acid. Also called Malabar Tamarind, you will find this as a condiment in curry dishes.

HCA apparently does reduce appetites and promotes weight loss in animals, as proven by several studies. However, when humans were studied, it was found HCA did not burn excess calories. In fact, it was labeled as no better than a sugar pill. Many claims on diet and weight loss remedy packages insist there are no side effects for HCA. No one seems to be sure whether there is or isn't which doesn't bode well for HCA as a natural remedy for losing weight.

Bottom line? It's really unclear whether or not HCA offers weight loss benefits or not. The best that can be said about it is that it likely won't hurt you, although no real studies have been done addressing whether or not it's safe to take long term, or take at all. One double blind study found of 60 overweight people who used 440 mg of HCA 3 times a day showed weight loss. Yet another study (also double blind) of 135 overweight individuals who got either 500 mg of HCA or a placebo 3 times a day bombed out - showed no effects re: weight loss. The best available data today shows this product is not effective for weight loss.

You will definitely have to think long and hard about this particular product, even if you choose to use it in combination with another weight loss remedy. If you are gong to be spending money to buy products with dubious track records, then you are likely getting what you paid for. Try and thoroughly research HCA or any other natural remedy for losing weight to find out the pros and the cons before you take a leap of faith into something that might not work.
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