Garcinia cambogia, a tropical fruit also known as the Malabar tamarind, is a popular weight-loss supplement. People say it blocks your body's ability to make fat and it puts the brakes on your appetite. Loss of excess weight could help could help keep blood sugar and cholesterol levels  in check, too.
How It Works
The active ingredient in the fruit's rind, hydroxycitric acid, or HCA, appears to block an enzyme called citrate lyase, which your body uses to make fat. It also raises levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which may make you feel less hungry.
Mostly found in the Western Ghats from Konkan region in Karnataka to Trivandrum in Kerala and in Ooty in Tamil Nadu at highest altitudes, the tree of Garcinia cambogia grows from small to medium size, with drooping branches. The tree being sturdy doesn’t require any special irrigation methods and is commonly found by the river banks and moist forests. The tree flowers in summer and the fruits ripen during monsoon, with each tree bearing hundreds of fruits and each fruit containing five to eight seeds.
The fruit with neatly arranged, thick and deep vertical lobes similar to pumpkin looks pale green in colour when raw but acquires yellowish tinge and then turns purple as it fully ripens.
Upon ripening, these fruits are harvested and then deseeded, in order to sun dry the rinds. Drying under the sun decreases the amount of water in the peel, thus preventing the growth of microbes. The process makes the rind turn black in colour and hard, increasing the shelf life.
The dried fruit or the skin of the fresh fruit is used in the preparation of chutneys and curries, in traditional cooking in the coastal regions of our country and is recommended for maintaining gut health.
The rind of Garcinia is high in phytochemical content including hydroxycitric acid and other compounds like polyphenols, luteolin and kaempferol. Every 100 grams of rind approximately contains carbohydrate 17.2 gm, fat 0.5 g, proteins 2.3 gm, fiber 1.24 gm, 15.14 mg of iron, 250 mg of calcium, 10 mg of ascorbic acid and 18.10 mg of oxalic acid.
In fact, doctors believe that the presence of HCA works effectively in those suffering from eating disorders like binge eating, anxious, stressed and would slow down the negative thought process. In other words, this component provides a calming effect that is similar to eating food.
It reduces lipid amounts, a hormone that can regulate food cravings and sends signals to the body when the stomach feels ‘full.’
In addition, it also stimulates Serotonin, a hormone that can curb appetite.
Health Benefits of Garcinia cambogia:
1. Aids in Weight Loss:
The extract of the fruit is hugely promoted as a super weight loss supplement. Besides reducing hunger pangs and making you feel full, this wonder fruit also increases the levels of the hormone serotonin, a major appetite suppressant.
2. Reduces Belly Fat:
If you are wary of fat around belly and buttocks, regular intake of Garcinia cambogia supplements could help in reducing in fat levels. Studies reveal that this super sour fruit works wonders in reducing oxidative stress on the body and prevents the overaccumulation of fats around the belly.
Researchers revealed that Garcinia cambogia, by preventing an enzyme called citrate lyase can prevent the production of new fats in the body. According to PubMed Central, if you are taking 2,800 mg of the supplement daily for eight weeks, it can yield the following results.
The total cholesterol gets lowered by 6.3% while increasing good cholesterol or HDL by 10.7%.
It can bring down bad cholesterol or LDL by 12.3% and blood triglycerides by 8.6%.
It is also revealed that fat metabolites are excreted between 125 to 258% more in the urine
3. Fights Free Radicals:
Studies reveal that concentrated syrup extracted from Garcinia cambogia is loaded with antioxidants that can effectively fight free radicals that can damage DNA, lipids, biomolecules and protein. Dilute the syrup in cold or hot water to derive its benefits.
4. Controls Blood Sugars:
The rind of Garcinia cambogia plays an effective role in controlling blood sugar levels in the patients suffering from type-2 diabetes mellitus. It aids in improving insulin sensitivity, facilitates the flow of glucose to the cells, muscles and reduces the concentration of glucose in the blood. The HCA reduces the levels of oxidative stress in the pancreas and decreases the levels of high plasma glucose levels.
5. Promotes Heart Health:
Numerous studies reveal that Garcinia cambogia plays an important role in bringing down the levels of bad or LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Regular consumption of the fruit rind prevents the accumulation of fat in the liver, intestine and adipose tissue.
6. Diuretic Properties:
Edema is a condition in which water gets accumulated in the body. Consuming Garcinia cambogia works as a diuretic thus increasing the urine output and clears extra water and electrolytes.
7. Natural Antacid:
This fruit is highly recommended for those battling gut issues. It works as a natural antacid and facilitates proper digestion. Ayurvedic health experts suggest consuming fruit rind mixed with fresh curd and salt for instant relief from gastric ulcers and burning sensation in the tummy.
Conclusion:
Garcinia cambogia or the Malabar Tamarind as it is popularly known in southern parts of India, has been used extensively since time immemorial in both, food and medicine. In recent times, its effectiveness in suppressing appetite has made it a global phenomenon and it is being consumed widely as a weight loss supplement. Moreover, it holds significant advantages in improving digestion, promoting heart function, alleviating arthritic joint pain and as a powerful antioxidant, in eliminating harmful free radicals from the body.
Dose: 1 to 2 Capsules twice Daily minimum 30 mins prior to food.