There is a new and popular weight loss trend on the market which has everyone talking. Garcinia Cambogia – though nowadays, it is often referred to as Garcinia gummi-gutta. This pumpkin-shaped fruit is greenish or yellowish in color and is found natively in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and various parts of Africa. This fruit is about the size of a big tomato though it can grow to the size of a grapefruit. It is popular in cooking thanks to its sour taste which may be less appealing to eat raw.
Garcinia Cambogia is also now a popular supplement which is used primarily for weight loss and burning fat. It also contains other nutrients and compounds which have been found to be beneficial for other areas of health. Let’s take a look at 5 amazing ways this miracle fruit can help improve your overall health.
1. Garcinia Cambogia Helps With Weight Loss
Today’s obesity rates have skyrocketed. This has had a huge impact on the health industry and it is costing the nation billions in healthcare each year (1). The number of those who are overweight or obese have surpassed those who are of a regular weight which is not good news for society on a whole.
Carrying around excessive weight puts you at a higher risk for developing many health conditions. This risk can be reduced by simply taking the necessary steps to lose weight. This is where Garcinia Cambogia plays a role. The rind of the Garcinia Cambogia fruit contains the compound HCA which research has found provides many weight loss and fat burning benefits (2).
One such study found that the participants who were receiving a daily dosage of Garcinia Cambogia lost significantly more weight than the placebo group (3). Garcinia Cambogia also helps with weight loss by:
- Speeding up metabolism
- Boosting energy
- Suppressing appetite
Take Home Note:
The chemical, HCA, found in the rind of the Garcinia Cambogia fruit helps with weight loss by suppressing appetite and boosting the metabolism.
2. Garcinia Cambogia Gets Rid Of Belly Fat
Not all fat in the body is the same. There are two main types of fat. The first type is the fat that lies right under your skin which you can pinch. This is called subcutaneous fat and it helps plump out the skin and provides necessary padding. The fat in your midsection, called visceral fat, is another story and is much more harmful (4).
Visceral fat tends to build up around your internal organs such as your stomach and intestines. It creates toxins which will affect how your body operates as a higher amount of toxins in the body means the body needs to work overtime to get rid of them. This can lead to sluggishness and a host of other symptoms. One of these toxins is called cytokines which increases your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and inflammation in the body which in the long run can have serious consequences.
Though you may not be typically overweight and the numbers on the scale aren’t too bad, it is important to also consider your measurements to determine how much visceral fat you may actually be carrying around. Women should have a waist measurement of less than 35 inches, while men should have less than 40 inches. Anything more than this can put your health at serious risk even if your weight is not too high. Studies have shown that Garcinia Cambogia is particularly beneficial for reducing waist circumference and visceral fat which will help your overall health in the long-term (2, 5).
Take Home Note:
Garcinia Cambogia’s fat burning properties can reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes by getting rid of visceral fat. This is the harmful fat found in your midsection which will build up around the internal organs.
3. Garcinia Cambogia Reduces Stress
Our current lifestyles have become very fast paced which can be extremely stressful. And all this stress can wreak havoc on our bodies (6). If you experience frequent headaches, muscle tension, exhaustion, anxiety, and sleeping problems, you may well be experiencing the undesirable effects of stress.
When we are stressed, our brain releases stress hormones, the most common being cortisol and adrenaline, to help the body deal with this stress. These hormones are actually a good thing as they prepare your body to deal with the stress and react. This is called your “fight or flight” response. However, if these hormones keep being released into the body, they can have a negative effect on your health.
If your heart rate is continuously being sped up, it can have a long-term harmful effect on your cardiovascular system. This increases your risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. Garcinia Cambogia can help regulate the levels of cortisol in the body which will help cut down on oxidative stress in the body and the damage that stress causes as well as cut down on emotional eating which helps with weight loss.
Take Home Note:
Garcinia Cambogia can help reduce stress and emotional eating by regulating the stress hormones that are released in the body.
4. Garcinia Cambogia Fights Depression
Garcinia Cambogia has been found to increase the production of serotonin in the body (7). Serotonin is our feel-good hormone which helps keep our mood regulated and wards off depression. Serotonin is also important for regulating appetite which makes it an essential hormone for weight loss and management too. When we are hungry, the body releases dopamine which increases our appetite and gets us to eat. While we are eating, serotonin is released which decreases appetite and helps us feel full (8).
Take Home Note:
Garcinia Cambogia helps increase levels of serotonin which reduces depression and comfort eating. It helps maintain a healthy appetite making the weight loss journey easier.
5. Controls Cholesterol And Blood Sugar
Cholesterol is known as a very bad thing. However, there are actually two types of cholesterol, and one of them is in fact good for you. It is important to keep these in balance and not have the bad cholesterol (LDL) be higher than the good cholesterol (HDL). Garcinia Cambogia has been found to improve the HDL cholesterol while lowering the LDL cholesterol which reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke (9). Studies have also found Garcinia Cambogia to regulate blood sugar levels which helps prevent any spikes and drops. This will help you manage your appetite as well as your mood.
