Can I Take Garcinia Cambogia With Other Supplements?

Garcinia Cambogia extract is a natural product and the chances of interactions with other natural substances is low. At recommended doses, it is considered safe for normal healthy adults, except in situations like pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Interaction between Garcinia and other natural substances is rare, but there are some combinations which can result in adverse effects. It is best to check with your doctor before you start taking Garcinia supplements if you are already taking other drugs or supplements. A doctor’s advice is also necessary if you are suffering from any chronic health conditions.
Some supplements may contain a combination of Garcinia and other natural weight loss products. Garcinia is also often fortified with potassium, calcium and chromium salts to make it easier to absorb. Sometimes these additives can interact with certain prescription drugs. Make sure that you tell your doctor the exact composition of the supplement that you are planning to take.

What You Must Know About Drug Interactions:

There are three common outcomes when two substances interact within the body:

1: The substances may produce similar benefits and the combined effect could be more than what is desired or considered healthy. In such cases, either the combination should not be taken or a dosage adjustment may be required for both substances.

2: One substance may prevent the other from functioning. As long as there are no risks to health, this combination may still be safe if sufficient gap is maintained between the intake of the two substances.

3: The third type of interaction can cause the combination to create an undesirable effect that the body cannot handle. This kind of interaction usually results in side-effects or other health problems and the combination should not be taken. In such cases, there should be a gap of several days before one supplement is stopped and the other one is started and it should be done only after checking with a doctor.

It is evident that combining supplements may not be the best thing to do. There are many combinations and possibilities and only a doctor can give you the right advice. However, there are some known interactions between Garcinia and other supplements, which you should be aware of.

Garcinia And Ephedra:

Taking stimulants like Ephedra is not recommended while taking Garcinia. The body may not be able to handle this combination and there is a risk of side-effects.

Garcinia And Antilypemics:

There is a category of supplements, called antilypemics, which lower the lipid levels in the body. Taking Garcinia and antilypemics can theoretically cause a condition called rhabdomyolysis, which can result in the destruction of muscular tissue. No case has been reported so far of an adverse effect while taking pure Garcinia supplements with antilypemics. However, there was an instance when a supplement containing a combination of Garcinia with some other natural substances taken along with antilypemics resulted in this condition. There was no harm done and the symptoms disappeared when the supplements were stopped.

Garcinia And Gymnema Sylvestre:

An increased weight loss effect was observed in a clinical trial when Garcinia supplements were taken along with the extract of Australian cowplant (Gymnema sylvestre). This combination can cause an undesirable effect and hence should be avoided.

Garcinia And Anti-diabetic Supplements:

Garcinia is known to reduce the levels of sugar in the blood. As anti-diabetic supplements and natural substances can have the same effect, it can result in an undesirable lowering of blood sugar when taken in combination.

Garcinia And Medication For Depression:

Certain antidepressants work by controlling the amount of serotonin in the body. These are commonly called SSRI (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) drugs. Garcinia is believed have an influence on the levels of serotonin. Hence, the combination can result in a higher combined effect. A doctor’s advice is necessary before taking Garcinia supplements if you are taking antidepressants.

Niacin-bound Chromium And Garcinia Supplements:

This combination can result in a higher weight loss effect than what is desired. This effect was observed in one study and hence dosage adjustments may be needed if the combination is taken.
Garcinia Cambogia is safe for most healthy people. Always consult your doctor when taking Garcinia with other supplements or if you are taking prescription medicines or are suffering from any health conditions.

Experts Weigh The Latest Diet Pill Fad — Garcinia Cambogia

Mary Kay Kleist

Mary Kay Kleist is a meteorologist for CBS 2 Chicago. Kleist joined...

Read More

(CBS) –
Losing weight can be frustrating. Plenty of people are looking for the magic bullet to help them achieve their goal.
You may have seen the ads on the web lately for what claims to be the newest, fastest fat-burner. But what is it and does it work?

CBS 2′s Mary Kay Kleist checks out garcinia cambogia.
TV’s “Dr. Oz” talked about it on his show. With research from Georgetown University, people rushed to buy pills that supposedly will help you lose weight without diet or exercise.

“Everybody’s looking for the magic pill,” says Mike Carlucci, who tried the product.
The pumpkin-shaped fruit that grows in Southeast Asia and India supposedly suppresses appetite and blocks fat from being made in the body. Dr. Harry Preuss from Georgetown University studied the extract and says it has “great metabolic effects” that prevents conversion of carbohydrates into fat.
Dana Vento lost 8 inches off her waistline by taking garcinia and exercising a little more.

“It was very rewarding to see the difference, and I think in moms that’s a big deal when you can lose some of that belly fat,” she says.
Others had no luck with it.
“As far as I’m concerned, the research isn’t very accurate, in my case, because it didn’t work at all,” Carlucci says.
Melinda Ring, medical director for Northwestern Integrative Medicine, says it may not work for everyone, depending on factors.

“Just because one particular extract of the HCA worked doesn’t mean that every other garcinia brand is going to have the same effect,” she says.
Because supplements are not all created equal, here’s what to look for: the words garcinia cambogia; at least 50 percent HCA (hydroxycitric acid); potassium (for absorption); and zero fillers, binders or artificial ingredients.

Garcinia is definitely not for everyone. People with certain medical conditions should avoid taking it. That includes women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, garcinia is not recommended for people with diabetes, Alzheimer’s or those taking statin medication for high cholesterol.

So, could this tiny pill be a miracle weight loss supplement? Maybe.
“I think it can be a beneficial adjunct to a well-rounded approach to weight loss,” Ring says.
Patients were only studied for 12 weeks on the supplement; so, until larger, longer studies are conducted, it’s recommended to limit use to three months and make sure you eat healthy and exercise daily.

Garcinia Cambogia Extract Review/ Rating Garcinia Cambogia

Product Description

Garcinia Cambogia Extract is derived from the rind of a fruit called tamarind, naturally found in tropical Africa for the most part. It contains ingredients that have proven substantially effective at blocking fat and burning fat. The secret is using an extract with enough HCA (hydroxycitric acid).
In one study of 60 participants who were overweight, they were given 440mg three times per day. This was a placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Those who were given HCA experienced significant weight loss, but those who were given a placebo did not.
Some argue its effectiveness because of another study that didn’t result in significant weight loss. But the participants in that study were on a high fiber diet, which can cause interference with the absorption and use of the HCA.

Why Garcinia Cambogia is Different

Garcinia Cambogia sets itself apart from the many other weight loss supplements, because it’s the only one that can not only burn fat, but block new fat at the same time. Essentially, when you use this extract, the HCA will start working with your liver.
At first, it will start to extract fat deposits to use as energy. This means you start burning off fat very fast and you start to get a much leaner appearance. As you continue to use it, your liver is ‘trained’ to act differently. Instead of taking food you eat and turning it into fat as it would in the past, it will now start to close the door on fat formation – the food you eat will start being used for energy instead of being stored as fat.
So you start out by burning fat you already have, but then it keeps working with your liver to transform it into a fat blocking, fat burning machine. Add to that the fact that it can also help decrease your appetite due to increase of serotonin in your brain and it’s pretty obvious why we decided this is something we wanted to offer.
Consider this: Garcinia raises the level of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin helps you feel fuller, happier and more satisfies so you don’t feel the need to eat as often. That’s why it’s often recommended for emotional eaters. 5-HTP helps serotonin in another way, by making it easier for your brain to access the serotonin. So using these two together proves to be a powerful appetite suppressant.
You could use just these two alone and separately, but we’ve also made SDF-2 (Super Fruit Diet 2) to be our number one appetite suppressant. It includes both Garcinia and 5-HTP, among other natural appetite suppressants.

Lose Weight and Look Younger

Another thing that you’ll love about Garcinia Cambogia is the fact that it’s full of antioxidants. So now you’re looking at being able to lose weight and burn fat much easier, but you’re also getting all the anti-aging benefits that go along with antioxidants.

Who Should Avoid Garcinia?

Garcinia Cambogia shouldn’t be used by children under 18. It shouldn’t be used by women who are pregnant (or may be pregnant) or who are nursing. Consult with your medical professional before using if you have a medical condition or if you are taking any medications.
 


http://newlifebotanical.com

Additional Information You Want to Know About Garcinia Cambogia

Julie Chen, M.D. Become a fan Integrative medical doctor

I was recently on a national TV show that focused on fastest fat-burning supplements. The main supplement in question was Garcinia Cambogia. What I loved about the show is that it gave great exposure to a little-known supplement that might help people with weight loss. However, there is still some information about this supplement that we simply did not have enough time on the show to go over and definitely not in as much detail as I would like.

Before I continue with this discussion on Garcinia Cambogia, I would like to first and foremost mention that I do not sell this product and do not endorse any brands. However, I have helped my patients in my clinic of integrative medicine in San Jose, Calif. with the usage of this supplement. So, I am going to lay out as much practical information on this supplement as I can for you readers, based on some of the studies that are out on this topic. I will also address some misgivings or concerns about what, in my opinion, still need to be done on this supplement in regards to research.

Garcinia Cambogia is a fruit that's been eaten for centuries in India and Asia. Within the natural fruit rind, there is about 20-30 percent of the hydroxycitric acid (HCA). When patients purchase the Garcinia Cambogia Extract (GCE) used in the supplements, there is usually about 50-60 percent of the HCA used as an active ingredient in the supplement.

Based on the studies, there is potential that this supplement can help with weight loss by helping patients feel full more quickly and help turn the food we eat into a usable energy source in our body instead of being stored as fat. It also may help with mood based on a serotonin effect so that people who overeat due to emotional stressors, this might be particularly helpful.

One other benefit from studies show that patients may in fact gain more lean body mass using this supplement, especially if they exercise and eat right. One preliminary study suggests that even if the weight on the scale doesn't budge, there was a shifting of body mass towards more lean muscle mass with fat loss which is why the weight didn't change, but the body composition did.

I like to point this finding out to my patients because so many people become discouraged early on in their weight loss journey because they follow the numbers on the scale. But, I always tell patients that they have to pay attention to how their clothes fit. If the clothes are fitting looser and you look more toned, even if the number on the scale isn't changing yet, it doesn't mean that your body isn't shifting towards a healthier body composition.

In fact, many times, I see in my patients several months of same weight despite clothing becoming looser before the numbers on the scale start to budge. This healthier body composition change early on it the weight loss journey is a good thing because the exercise and healthy foods are helping your body to have a higher composition of muscle instead of fat and we know muscle weighs more than fat so the numbers on the scale may not budge, but you are definitely on your way towards a leaner you.

It seems based on preliminary studies that GCE helps along this natural process of a healthier lifestyle so that you may build that much more muscle and far less fat. One thing to keep in mind from the studies though is that patients only were studied for 12 weeks on the supplement. So in general, just to keep things very safe and conservative, I do not recommend using the supplement for more than three months.
Keeping that in mind, you should not use this supplement as the only tool to help you lose weight. I always encourage my patients to eat healthy and exercise daily so that the supplement can help give you a boost at the beginning of your weight loss journey, but at three months, you'll have to keep it going by the healthy lifestyle patterns you've developed along the way and stop taking the GCE until we have more research results for longer term usage.

While the preliminary studies are promising, further larger studies need to be done to definitively give us the information we still need such as whether it is safe to take daily indefinitely or if six months is just as safe as three months. While people have been consuming the fruit for centuries, the extract form with the higher HCA still needs to be studied in larger studies and also with longer durations.

For now, the smaller studies suggest the dosages of 1500-3000mg/day are relatively safe for three months of use, but as always, I caution all readers to check with your physician first before starting any new supplements. Those who have diabetes or are on cardiac medications should not take this supplement due to concerns about interactions with medications and safety. Also, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should avoid it as well until we find out more definitive information on safety for fetus and babies.

When in doubt as to whether you should be taking this supplement, always check with your physician. While I am not in favor of taking this supplement with other weight loss supplements due to lack of data for safety, I hope that with the growing public interest that more studies on safety and usage will be done on a larger scale for this promising supplement.

So, as the holiday season has just ended and as we move forward into spring and summer seasons, I want you to keep in mind that while GCE can help you to get your weight loss efforts into gear, you need to make your healthy diet and exercise routine as the core of your weight loss journey.

If you only depend on supplements for weight loss, the ultimate long term weight loss goals are rarely ever optimally sustained. It is with a healthy change in lifestyle habits that you will be able to sustain the weight loss you've achieved with the help of some fat burning supplements like GCE along the way.

References:
Downs BW, et al. Bioefficacy of a novel calcium-potassium salt of (-)-hydroxycitric acid. Mutation Research 579 (2005) 149-162.
Ohia SE, et al. Safety and mechanism of appetite suppression by novel hydroxycitric acid extract (HCA-SX). Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 238 (2002) 89-103.
Garcinia Cambogia Extract: 90045-23-1. Material prepared for National Cancer Institute by CSWG by Technical Resources Internationl, Inc. nder contract number N02-07007

 

Success Stories: Joan

"I'm healthier now than I've ever been in my life!"

Joan Morgan Johnson	3 Years Ago
Highest weight: 238 lbs. Current weight: 159 lbs. Total weight lost: 79 lbs. Height: 5'7" Age: 50 Time it took to lose the weight: 18 months Has kept it off for: 2 years

Throughout my early life I heard my mother and grandmother talking about the "Morgan curse": that after a certain age women in the family got fat. My four sisters and I were all thin as youngsters, and then when we hit middle age, the weight just seemed to pile on. The "Morgan curse" had struck!
Of course, it wasn't really a family curse. But over a decade I gained about 10 pounds a year (less than a pound a month). By my 51st birthday I had put on almost 100 pounds.
Because I had grown up as a thin person I never had to think about what I ate, when I ate or why I ate — ever! I wasn't an emotional eater. I just didn't realize that the food I was eating was pretty unhealthy. I grew up outside Philly and I ate Philly cheese steaks every day for lunch. That's just what we did!

Strategies That Work For Me

• Eating healthy – fruits, vegetables and protein (like fish and chicken) and making exercise a part of my daily routine.
• I weigh myself nearly every day and track my weight weekly.
• Hydration is a big part. I drink tons of water when I'm exercising and eat very little salt.
• I switched from whole milk to low fat milk, then to low fat soy milk.

How I Did It

In the fall of 2005 I signed up for an online weight loss program and there I first began to learn the importance of putting healthy things into my body, like fruits and vegetables. Then in the spring of 2006 I spent a weekend really looking at myself and the things I needed to change. After my weekend of introspection I decided to stop drinking wine. Then I got serious about what I was eating.
To do this I became very aware (and have remained very aware) of what I ate. I started keeping track of what I was eating. I coupled the consciousness raising with several questions that I still ask myself throughout the day, "Do I really want this?" "Will it set me back?" "Is eating a pastry or chocolate worth it?" The answer to that question is usually "no."
Once I had tackled my food intake, I began walking three to four miles almost every day. When winter came and it was too dark or too cold to walk outside, I did aerobics and weight training indoors. Eating healthy and exercising really helped me to associate what I ate with how much I'd have to exercise to burn it off.
Losing weight can happen if you are patient and if you make exercise a priority in your life and not something to fit in when it's convenient. It takes discipline and willpower, but I am living proof that it is possible.

Biggest Challenge

I would like to get to 135 pounds, but I am also not willing to starve myself to do that! Keeping the exercise piece going has been my biggest challenge, fighting complacency and following through.

Maintaining the Weight Loss

I'm not at my goal, but I'm very okay with where I am. I have no plans of going back to the way I was. I don't make excuses with why I eat the way I eat. I like the way I eat now.

The Biggest Thrill

My energy level has skyrocketed! People say, "You look 10 or 15 years younger!" Everyone wants to know how I did it. I love telling people that I lost the weight by using a revolutionary system of eating less and exercising more!



http://www.cdc.gov

Success Stories: Curtis

"I was the most fit person at my 20th high school reunion!"

Curtis Shearnin	15 Years Ago
Highest weight: 220 lbs. Current weight: 196 lbs. Total weight lost: 24 lbs. Height: 5'9" Age: 40 Time it took to lose the weight: 13 months Has kept it off for: 14 years

I was a chubby kid. I didn't grow up in a wealthy family. We ate beans, rice, and potatoes, because you could stretch those types of foods. I‘m sure we had vegetables, but I didn't eat them! My mother tried to get me to go outside and play, but I wanted to stay in the house reading. Kids teased me. The worst was when my mother took me to buy clothes and I had to buy "husky" jeans.
I'll never forget the moment in my senior year of high school. They'd taken a picture of me in the fall, and when the yearbook came out that spring, somebody showed me a group picture and said, "There you are, Curtis." I thought, "That's me!?" It was this huge person. I knew then that I had to do something. I tried joining a gym, but I didn't stick with it. It was too exhausting.
In my early 20s, I started a new job where they had a "fitness challenge" for employees. I won by losing the most weight – 37 pounds! Thus began my whole dance with fitness. Walking was the thing that really got me to lose. But my coworkers and I ate lunch out a lot, and I'd been taught to "finish everything on your plate." When the weight crept back on, I started bringing my lunch.

Strategies That Work For Me

• A sandwich-size Tupperware dish — when it's full, that's all I get to bring for lunch!
• I drink lots of water. I don't drink sodas and I try to limit juices. I might have an orange juice for breakfast, but then that's it for the day.
• I eat breakfast every day. On the mornings I work out, I buy some scrambled eggs, whole grain toast and a little fruit from the buffet bar at the sandwich shop near my office.
• Our office is spread out and I walk to get things done. I'll take the long way or take the stairs. Then I feel like I'm extending my workout throughout the day.

When I went to my 20th high school reunion, everybody had aged tremendously. I had been the heavy, fat kid in high school – but there I was, the most fit person in the room!

How I Did It

I really had to change the way I ate. I used to eat for the taste of the food, instead of stopping when I was full and satisfied. And I started exercising several times a week. Now, I control how much I eat and try to eat small portions. I eat a lot of veggies, tuna, chicken and fish.

Biggest Challenge

Keeping up with the exercise. I have to exercise three to four times a week. No finding excuses! It's the only way I can control my weight. And vanilla crème sandwich cookies. They are my weakness. When I go to the store, I can't go down the cookie aisle!

Maintaining the Weight Loss

It's the eating, the water, the trying to do the right thing. If I miss three days, the "I don't want to go to the gym" thing sets in. It's easier just to stick with exercising three to four times every week.

The Biggest Thrill

Being able to put on a pair of jeans that I couldn't even button — and they fit. They're loose!



http://www.cdc.gov

7 Smart Solutions for a Slimmer Memorial Day BBQ

Katherine Brooking Become a fan Registered dietitian; Co-author, 'The Real Skinny: Appetite for Health’s 101 Fat Habits & Slim Solutions'

Ready to fire up the grill for the summer season? You're not alone! A recent survey found that 80 percent of Americans own a grill -- and the vast majority of them will be using it this summer.
Although grilling can be one of the healthiest and tastiest ways to cook, a typical BBQ menu of burgers, brats and dogs, and creamy sides can be a diet disaster totaling more than 2,000 calories. Plus, it may pack in more than a day's worth of saturated fat. But with these seven simple steps, you can create a leaner cookout menu.

1) Nix the Chips
Instead of a ginormous bowl of potato chips, tortilla chips or pita chips, opt for healthy nibbles to start the party off right. I put out a tray of mixed baby veggies -- great for snacking -- with a trio of healthy dips like hummus, black bean dip and muhammara. Also I always serve in-shell pistachios because they are so convenient, they taste great, and are a good source of protein and fiber -- three times the protein and fiber as flavored tortilla chips. Research suggests that they're also a more "mindful" snack as the empty shells may provide a visual cue for how much you've consumed. Need another reason to go nuts snacking on pistachios? Recent research published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that the health benefits of nuts increases with the number of servings -- something that can't be said for potato chips.

2) Start with Summery Salads
Before you dive into your BBQ favorites, go for some greens. Eating salads can be a great way to start your summer meals. Not only do they boost important nutrients in your diet, one study found that eating a large salad as your starter can reduce the overall calories you eat in that meal by 12 percent! I always have at least one huge tossed salad (and often two) with healthy add-ins like nuts and seeds, carmelized onions, beans and legumes, and chopped cooked veggies.

3) Slim Down the Sides
Skip the creamy potato and pasta salads, which can pack in over 350 calories per cup and enjoy succulent summer veggies grilled to perfection. Corn on the cob, summer squash, asparagus, bell peppers and eggplant are sure to please your taste buds while adding less than 50 calories per cup. Just pick your favorites and toss in plastic bag with oil, pepper or your favorite seasonings.

4) Marinate
Whether you're grilling fish, pork, chicken or beef, always use a marinade. Marinades add flavor (so you won't have to pile on heavy sauces later) and tenderize meat. They also have a huge health benefit: They help reduce cancer-causing compounds that can result from charring.
Eating charred meat on a regular basis may increase the risk of certain types of cancer, but that doesn't mean you have to give up on grilling. Studies have shown that you can cut these carcinogens with a simple marinade of oil, lemon juice or vinegar, and seasonings. I use canola oil as a base, as its light texture and neutral flavor go perfectly with herbs and spices, plus it's heart-healthy.

5. Build a Better Burger (or Dog)
If you're opting for burgers, use the leanest ground beef possible (I often buy ground sirloin for my burgers, as it's leaner) or use skinless turkey breast or Portabella mushrooms. For added moisture, mix meat with an egg, chopped onion and other veggies. If you choose breast meat, be sure not to overcook.
For hot dogs, you can slash saturated fat by choosing chicken or turkey based options over beef. There are also some great tasting vegetarian dogs on the market that are low in both calories and saturated fat. In fact, with some brands of veggie dogs you can slash calories and saturated fat by over 50 percent vs. regular beef hot dogs.

6. Go for Guilt-Free Desserts
For something sweet, in-season fruit is the perfect choice. There are an endless number of healthy desserts you can make when you start with fruit. It can be as simple as a fruit dessert topped with fresh mint sprigs or a Greek yogurt and fruit layered parfait or a cobbler. One of my favorites? Mango. Wow your guests at your next cookout with this Mango-Yogurt Parfait or Strawberry Cheesecake Bites (just 40 calories each).

7. Sip Smart
If you want to stay swimsuit fit this season, one of the best things to do is reduce liquid calories. Skip sodas and other sugary beverages and reach for sparkling water (or plain tap) or unsweetened iced tea instead. As for alcohol, it's okay to enjoy in moderation (one drink per day for women, two for men), but keep in mind that beer, mixed drinks, and liquor all have calories. If you want to keep calories to a minimum, try a light or ultra-light beer. Some have as few as 55 calories a bottle. Or try one of my favorites: a fruit-infused mixed drink like this spritzer with watermelon.