Garcinia Cambogia

Published on Fri May 16, 2014 - 3 min read

Published by: Bryan Bradford

By Bryan Bradford, Chief Nutrition Officer of Sunflower Shoppe Natural Foods

May 16, 2014

Ever since Doctor Oz first talked about this supplement on his show several months ago, we have been hearing from our customers wanting to know more about the supplement Garcinia Cambogia. I will address some of the most common questions we get for you today.

What is it?

Garcinia Cambogia (pronounced Gar-SIN-e-ah Kam-boh-jee-uh) is a fruit that is native to Indonesia. The rind contains a constituent called Hydroxycitric acid (HCA). Another name for it is Citrimax.

How does it work?

According to research studies, this supplement works in several ways.

Appetite Reduction– If you take the supplement up to an hour before you eat, and before you get very hungry, it has been reported to reduce cravings and appetite causing you to eat less at your next meal and stay full on the smaller amount for longer.

Serotonin Production– When you are tired, sad, under stress or angry you will reach for food high in simple carbs and sugar because this will naturally increase the amount of serotonin that is available for the body. Serotonin helps your moods and helps you sleep better. Garcinia Gambogia will increase the amount of this neurotransmitter available so you won’t be tempted to indulge in unhealthy foods.

Stabilize Blood Sugar Levels– Unstable blood sugar levels are the main catalyst for inflammation in our bodies. Garcinia Cambogia helps by slowing down the digestion of the food we eat, which keeps sugar levels from getting too high or too low. When our levels get too high our body has to work hard to get the level back to a normal range and the hormone insulin will send signals to the body to store all extra calories as fat. When the levels become too low and crash after they were too high, we will feel tired, irritable, shaky and get a headache.

Cholesterol– This supplement shows positive effects on cholesterol HDL and LDL levels.

Efficient Fat Use– It causes the body to use extra calories for energy rather than storing them as fat. It also encourages the body to release stored fat to meet your body’s energy needs.

Overall Gut Health– Some research even shows a benefit for gastrointestinal health such as bowel cramps, carminative (relieves and helps lessen intestinal gas), rheumatism (joint pain) and stomach ulcers.

Please refer to the attached Science.gov research studies.

Are there any cautions or concerns I need to be aware of?

You should always check with your doctor before beginning any supplement. You should not take this supplement if you are pregnant or nursing, on a prescription anti-depressant, or taking a blood thinner of any kind. It is also wise to monitor your blood sugar levels while taking this supplement. Do not take this supplement if you are on prescription statins or if you suffer from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Also ask your pharmacist if you are on any prescription before taking this supplement.

*No supplement can replace a healthy diet and regular exercise program, but supplementation with the right products can help support your efforts.

This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

For more information about this or other health and wellness topics, come see us at Sunflower Shoppe where great health is just a way of life!

SOURCES:

http://www.science.gov/scigov/result-list/fullRecord:garcinia+cambogia/#ResultList=0%7C0%7C_%7CRANK%7C0

The content and opinions expressed in this “Shoppe Talk” blog are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any illness or to provide medical advice. We are not medical doctors and we do not prescribe medication. If you have any questions about the relationship between nutrition and supplements, we recommend that you seek the advice of a qualified and licensed health practitioner. Our opinions are based on the literature and data from a variety of medical doctors, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, biochemists and other professional researchers. You are encouraged to make your health care decisions based on your own research and the advice of a qualified health care professional.