Nathaniel Fried
Garcinia Cambogia is a tropical fruit that’s readily available in Africa, Southeast Asia, and India. In its natural state, it looks like a small pale yellow or green pumpkin. However, unlike the average pumpkin, garcinia has a thin skin and can be as large as a grapefruit or as small as an orange – definitely not pumpkin size!
When you dry or cure the fruit, the color can change from the pale yellow or green color to black or brown. Many people also use it in cooking, especially curry, due to its sour flavoring and ability to aid in digestion.
However, even though this tropical fruit can lift a dish from average to something extraordinary, there’s also more to it than meets the eye. Here are a few of the many benefits of this wonderful fruit – be it in culinary dishes or a supplement form.
1. Weight Loss and Appetite Loss
Even though studies on garcinia’s connection to weight loss have had several variables, the evidence to date looks promising. Garcinia contains hydroxy citric acid, or ACA, which blocks enzymes involved in the storage of fat. In many studies, weight loss averaged out at around one or two pounds – which may not seem like a lot – but it’s merely the beginning.
However, garcinia can also work to reduce your appetite by increasing happy and calm feelings in your brain. If you overeat with the presence of negative emotion, you may find this is no longer a problem if you consume garcinia – as a supplement or in your food.
2. Lower Cholesterol
If you want to get a head start on making sure your cholesterol levels remain in check, then it might be time to start including garcinia in your diet. There have been several positive studies involving cholesterol levels and consuming garcinia. It can both lower blood serum cholesterol levels and increase your “good” cholesterol levels too.
However, if you are already on medication for high cholesterol, including more of this fruit in your diet may not be a good idea. Consult a medical professional for advice.
3. Blood Sugar Stabilization
Blood sugar levels are something that several people struggle to keep in check, or stabilize. That’s where garcinia comes into the picture. Current research shows there are some positive connections between the fruit and your blood sugar. It can help your cells with their glucose intake.
However, it’s imperative to speak to a medical professional before you look at changing, altering, or adding ingredients to your health care plan.
4. Joint Pain
Some research suggests that garcinia may be beneficial for easing joint pain, but studies are in their early stages. Fortunately, there is no harm in purchasing a supplement and seeing if it makes a difference for you. Many people swear by garcinia for removing aches, pains, and joint stiffness.
5. Exercise Performance
The same chemical, HCA, that helps people to lose weight, can actually help women to perform for longer too. When you start working out, you may be able to benefit from far more advanced stamina than if you didn’t try a garcinia supplement. However, studies show that men do not benefit from the HCA in the same way.
6. Gastric Ulcer Support
You may be scratching your head, wondering what the connection would be between garcinia and a gastric ulcer, but its more closely connected than you think. When you suffer from a gastric ulcer, you can be in immense pain because of acid making contact with lesions in your stomach lining.
Garcinia may be able to reduce stomach acidity so that your medication can work to kill bacterial colonies and you suffer less pain in the process.
7. Hemorrhoid Management
Anyone who has had hemorrhoids will know the sheer pain and discomfort that comes with them. Blood vessels protrude out of your anal cavity and can bleed and itch. Surgery can solve the problem, but non-surgical options involving astringents and corticosteroids for shrinking the inflamed tissue are a preference. Hemorrhoid cream with natural ingredients can also help in relieving pain and itchiness. Garcinia rind has astringent properties which may help to shrink swollen tissue.
What to Look Out For
For all the benefits of garcinia, there are also a few things of which you need to be made aware. Some people, in severe cases, may suffer from dizziness, digestive upset, and liver damage as a result of consuming natural garcinia cambogia. You may be able to avoid adverse side effects by using supplements rather than the raw ingredient.
Conclusion
Several products on the market offer all these benefits above, but few of them provide them as a collective. If you are yet to try garcinia as a fruit, then it might be time to broaden your culinary horizons and put your hand to a curry. Otherwise, you can try it in supplement form which may be equally as beneficial, if not more so.
Author’s Bio:
My name is Alison Hefer, I am originally from Cape Town, South Africa but I have spent the last few years in beautiful New Zealand. I write articles for various websites including Goodhealth.co.nz and regularly contribute articles about the always changing world of SEO to Clickthrough.co.nz. I am a busy blogger/mom by day and avid writer by night.My career goal is to one day write a novel of my own.
