Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) – Benefits, Side Effects, and Uses

In recent times, authors have published many reviews about Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA). Even if you don’t recall its chemical name, you are surely going to know its common name which is Garcinia Cambogia, or Garcinia indica, Garcinia atroviridis and Hibiscus Sabdariffa the plant coming from Southeast Asia claiming the best weight-loss action.

Upon reading this review, you are going to know the health benefits of HCA and which part of the population will benefit the most from its use.

Additionally, you will be able to say which are the side effects of HCA and identify the risks related to the overdose of this substance.

Knowing everything about HCA will help decide which supplement is working for your case. Above all, this article offers you the chance to have an unbiased review of Hydroxycitric Acid and unveil the myth that follows it. Be informed of the latest studies about HCA and build the best shield against fat and stress for yourself. 

What is Hydroxycitric Acid ?

The Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) is the main ingredient in Garcinia Cambogia, a plant that originates from East Asia, India, and Africa. Locals also identify it as Garcinia Gummi-gutta or Malabar Tamarind. People in Eastern Asia used to take the plant rid to remove residues from silver and golden plates. Others have found the plant resin to be an early ingredient in colors and paintings, while the gum has been used as a varnish.

Hydroxycitric Acid can deal with obesity and enforce our immune system against any possible external threat. Regular use of HCA may also give you a natural level of triglycerides and cholesterol, while it can prevent stomach ulcers to persons that are vulnerable to suffer from it.

Where is HCA comes from?

Garcinia Cambogia and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis creates yellow or red fruits that are too acidic to eat. However, people used to preserve food in their peel for ages. Women suffering from menstrual pains, constipation or rheumatisms could find a cure when consuming water boiled in their peels. Google has useful information about all these.

Other benefits of HCA as the main ingredient in Garcinia and Hibiscus include:

  • Shielding your immune system
  • Making a hostile environment for bacteria
  • Reducing the diabetes side effects
  • Balancing the levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in your bloodstream
  • Antioxidant activity in your cells
  • Moving against the proliferation of cancer cells to your body

On the other side, certain studies correlate the consumption of Garcinia Cambogia could affect your liver function.

You can also find HCA in these weight loss supplements :

See leanbean results here

Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) Manufacturing History

If you have the Garcinia Cambogia fruit and need to take pure HCA to reduce your body weight and fat, you need to take the fruit extract. However, when you dry the juice received by the fruit, you take HCA and its lactone like a certain study has shown.

These ingredients are enough to create a dietary supplement to help you block obesity, increase your fat loss, and improve your body energy levels like never before. Take a look below to have a clear view for the treatment HCA can offer against obesity, while improving your overall health.

garcinia cambogia fresh fruit on wood background. fruit for die

How does Hydroxycitric Acid food supplement work?

Hydroxycitrate which is the active substance of Garcinia Cambogia extract has shown to be active as a fat loss burner, alongside exercise and diet, against placebo.

These are some of the most explicit health benefits of HCA:

HCA and Weight Loss

Many clinical trials and animal studies have shown the supremacy of Garcinia Cambogia against placebo in weight and fat loss in individuals. Clinical analysis undergone in rats has shown that hydroxycitrate blocked fat accumulation and reduced body weight.

It seems like hydroxycitric acid enters the Krebs cycle in cell metabolic routes. That means it has to do with fatty acids creation and demolition on the cytoplasm, where it acts as a catalyst. 

Another analysis supports that lipid metabolism becomes faster and reduces fatty acids synthesis in the blood over a week. Subjects who had an intake of Garcinia Cambogia products more than one day per week reported the clinical effects of lower body fat and increased energy.

While most of the studies that deal with HCA are positive about weight loss, some of them are showing no difference from placebo in body fat loss. Most of the scientists agree that adopting a healthy diet, with exercise more than one day per week and intake of hydroxycitrate supplement, would be the best treatment for obesity.

Question answered: Is PhenQ safe?

Blood fat levels decrease

A study found on google, that involved rats have shown the rapid decrease of blood cholesterol and triglycerides as soon as they took Garcinia Cambogia citrate for a few weeks. The period of administration has been frequent and the group that involved exercise has been faster in weight loss than any other.

In real life, you need to take your regular supplements and prescribed medication and ask your healthcare provider about the possibility to combine it with an HCA extract product

In our point of view, high cholesterol HDL and LDL should be at the lowest possible levels in your blood. Chances with HCA are that you will be lowering your dietary fat intake and make insulin hikes a lot less frequent than usual. It can have some beneficial effects on your blood fat levels combined to exercise and supplements use.

Reduces your appetite threshold

Many studies performed in rats have shown a significant reduction in food consumption alongside the feeling of satiety. There is another major human studies resulting in decreased food consumption over a 6-week period, while the energy levels of the subjects group remained unchanged.

However, there is no strong evidence in control studies against placebo. That is why Hydroxycitric Acid is under doubt from many medical professionals across the world.

PhenGold is also a good appetite suppressant supplement!

Increases exercise performance

Many athletes who initiated the intake of hydroxycitrate observed an increased level of body fat burning during a 5-day period. Most of these studies that are easy to find on google, shown that carbohydrate breakdown was not one of the effects of Hydroxycitric Acid. It is important to know that since carbs are the main energy coins of your body, there is a great demand for them during your day exercise sessions.

According to the article author’s view, HCA belongs to the supplements that reduce your food intake, while improving your exercise performance right away.

Lowers blood sugar levels 

Although independent studies you may find on google didn’t show any blood sugar reduction to patients suffering from type-2 diabetes, it lowered the blood sugar levels of healthy persons initiating the intake of HCA.

A study recently performed in rats showed that Hydroxycitric Acid intake significantly reduced the blood levels of leptin and insulin, which in turn improves the glucose breakdown to lower chain sugars.

All these actions had no severe impact on liver function, where the main glucose deposits of the body exist. Humans may benefit from the action of the hydroxycitric acid to their muscle cells, where the blood sugar storage increased and the sensitivity to insulin has equally decreased.

garcinia cambogia fresh fruit with red heart and measuring tape,

Ingredients of Hydroxycitric Acid

There are many separate molecules and chemical compounds that come with the G Cambogia and Hibiscus flower and fruit extract. Let’s see some of them:

Hydroxycitric Acid and its lactone

It reduces your body fat and body weight while fixing your blood fatty acid levels. 

Xanthones and Benzophenones

They are strong molecules reducing oxidation in subjects from reported clinical trials. The analysis shows that phenolic compounds protect your liver and offer you anti-tumor effects.

Amino Acids

Several amino acids are present in the HCA extract. Some of them are:

  • Arginine: It is an essential amino acid that can help you increase the HGH production levels. It also helps your immune system and makes you more fertile.
  • Glutamine: Another amino acid that is irreplaceable from your nutrition. It helps bone and muscle development and reconstruction.
  • Glycine: This is the prostate shield amino acid for men and the one that makes your pituitary gland produce more HGH and support your muscle building before and after the exercise.
  • Lysine: It keeps on being the number one amino acid for the reinforcement of your immune system. It works a lot better when combined with the L-Arginine that is why they are both ingredients in this best price supplement.
  • GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid): A rare ingredient in such supplements that is difficult to isolate in formulas and spray forms. As the reviews dictate, GABA is the neurotransmitter that eases and cools down the nerve synapses in the brain and spinal cord. Independent reviews can show an increase in HGH to people that have been taking GABA regularly.

Who is Hydroxycitric Acid HCA supplement for?

Hydroxycitric Acid is the right supplement for people that want to lose weight. Body fat loss can reach its top with the right level of exercise, diet adjustment, and relevant food supplements.

In these terms, the HCA supplements are good both for men and women that had undergone other obesity treatment with no actual effects.

Any given study has compared a group of people with high blood fatty acid and reported high lipid profile, against placebo.

Hydroxycitrate food supplement group is always superior to the placebo one, showing that HCA is safe and efficient even from the first weeks of treatment.

As a result, hydroxycitrate weight control supplements are good for all people that don’t have a registered intolerance to any of its drastic substances.

→ See Capsicum benefits for your health here

Pros and Cons of Hydroxycitric Acid

There are many pros to make you opt for HCA supplements, other than the obvious weight loss effects.

PROSCONS
Increased Calcium Absorption: You may get stronger bones and teeth, as well as, improve your overall health levels. The daily intake of Calcium would help your body reduce storing fat.
Insufficient scientific data to support generalized use: Even though studies using hydroxycitrate treatment and effects on your body get organized, there is no single study using placebo control.
Prevents Constipation: Since Hydroxycitric Acid may cause diarrhea it can surely help you when you are facing constipation bowel issues.
Minimal results: People who want to lose weight gradually increase the intake of HCA with unknown results. Several clinical analysis you may find on google, showed minimal effects on your weight loss and fat burning, regardless of your diet.

Boosts your metabolism: All subjects from article reports, state that HCA intake every day for several weeks can give you weight loss if you combine it with exercise and the right diet.
Common and potentially dangerous side effects: HCA treatment against obesity may involve larger dietary doses and daily administration of the citrate supplement. It could lead to dangerous side effects, reported on google to be dangerous for a group of consumers.
Better blood circulation: Studies over a certain obesity group have reported clinical results that show less blood clotting and better circulation to subjects taking an HCA citrate product. 
Dosage suggested by experts is questionable: Placebo-controlled studies in rats haven’t shown the precise dose of HCA daily intake. In human subjects, there is no clear clinical evidence to designate safe treatment intake to fight against obesity and fat accumulation.
Prebiotic action: Hydroxycitric Acid extract creates a shield for your digestive system. It may induce good bacteria development in your intestine better than a placebo does in many studies. Clinical data analysis shows that you need to have an administration of this supplement for several weeks.

Unique rates of weight loss: HCA is actively inhibiting the citrate lyase both in rats and humans. This, in turn, can stop forming fat in cells and inhibit weight gain.

Effectiveness of Hydroxycitric Acid

Several studies are online on google to show you the efficacy and safety of Hydroxycitric Acid dietary supplements. Experts’ view tries to see the correlation between obesity, exercise, diet, and the intake of hydroxycitrate in a control group with placebo. 

One of them is the: “Evidence of Garcinia cambogia as a fat burning and appetite suppressing agents”, published on Archives of Pharmacy Practice, 2016. It has shown that HCA is safe as an obesity treatment, however, its effects on weight loss, without exercise and proper diet are questionable. 

Another meta-analysis of HCA against placebo that you may easily find on google would be the: “The Use of Garcinia Extract (Hydroxycitric Acid) as a Weight loss Supplement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials”. Scientists have shown the safety of Hydroxycitric Acid for human subjects undergoing a treatment against obesity.

The fat loss becomes quicker than the placebo group when HCA intake is regular throughout the week. There was not enough evidence to support the side effects on the liver or digestive system. It also seems like the administration of such citrate supplements has no reported health risks for any group during the review period.

Dosage: How to use Hydroxycitric Acid?

This part of the review is one of the most useful in the whole analysis. It contains information and data that you may not easily find on google.

When to start and when to stop

You can start the intake of Hydroxycitric Acid when you decide to alter your diet and include some exercise in your daily life. Studies show that if you take hydroxycitrate products at least one day per week, you can have the initial benefits of Hydroxycitric Acid to your body and improve your health dramatically. 

What are the dosages to respect?

Although, other manufacturers suggest various dosages, reported clinical trials published in articles to vary between 300mg and 2,800mg per day.

However, the highest safe dose of hydroxycitrate in your blood can not exceed 2,800mg per day, if you don’t want to have adverse effects.

What to do if you forget Hydroxycitric Acid?

There is no specific guidance about the doses you are going to forget to take. You may simply go on with the next dose during another part of the day. Google states you can always miss a dose without any serious effect on your body weight loss conditions and the fatty acids concentration in your blood.

What can you do in case of overdose?

There is no lethal dose of HCA that you may receive with citrate products and supplements. If it seems that you exceeded the maximum safe dose, simply increase the consumption of food and water. Your body can extract the citrate surplus without any bad effects on your liver function.

Precautions to take when taking Insulin and Diabetes medications

HCA products should always have the acceptance of your physician. Especially, if you take drugs that lower the blood sugar level. A view of the reported clinical results in groups of people who suffer from diabetes shows a direct relation between sugar levels and citrate dosages.

If you don’t want to have hypoglycemic episodes, you need to lower the initial doses of Hydroxycitric Acid and stay where you feel less dizzy during the day.

How to keep the Hydroxycitric Acid supplements?

Most supplements of Hydroxycitric Acid are extracts of the dried fruits. You can find them in powder form, liquid extracts, tablets or capsules. As a result, you just need to keep them at room temperature, away from heat sources and direct exposure to sunshine.

Risks, Hazards, and Side Effects of Hydroxycitric Acid

Many clinical trials have shown various side effects from the use of Hydroxycitric Acid  in your daily diet:

  • Headaches: They come and go for more than a day per week. Usually, they relate to the high blood levels of citrate products.
  • Nausea and diarrhea: They are both serious effects for your body that need treatment. As your energy increases when consuming HCA, there is a higher risk of lipid oxidation in your cells for an extended period. 
  • Vomiting: It belongs to the less common side effects. Some people don’t like hydroxycitrate acid taste, and they react this way. Lowering the daily dose can ease all issues.
  • Skin Rash: It is the only dermatological issue that Hydroxycitric Acid can cause to certain people. Studies in several control groups reported a low rate of appearance of those kinds of side effects.

Some studies have shown that HCA and its main component -the hydroxycitric acid- may cause acute liver damage to some people. It belongs to the rare side effects reported to the clinical analysis of cases that took a citrate product for weight loss and fat reduction.

There is also a study performed in rats showing the reduction of sex hormones after receiving citrate products for several weeks. Men who deal with obesity and want to prevent their sexual health need to be cautious with the daily intake of hydroxycitric acid.

However, no study addresses the daily administration of citrate products to pregnant and breast feeding women that want to fight obesity. They should better avoid Hydroxycitric Acid and decide to consume less fatty food while engaging in body exercise more than one day per week.

Contraindications

People with known liver problems should never try Hydroxycitric Acid products. HCA may also increase the serotonin levels and cause serotonin syndrome when the intake of citrate combines with some anti-depressants. 

A certain study correlates the liver function with the CYP2B6 enzyme induced by HCA. The hydroxycitric acid blocks the secretion of this enzyme, which is necessary for the metabolism of drugs like anti-depressants, blood thinners, and opioids. As a result, clinical cases reported that no patient taking such drugs should try to have HCA to reduce his weight and body fat.

Finally, HCA extract may interfere with the red blood cell levels in your body. Control groups in several studies reported issues with citrate intake when they had taken drugs for anemia. 

Apple cider vinegar and Hydroxycitric Acid Combined Action

Apple Cider and HCA combination increases the metabolism rates on people taking those supplements simultaneously. It seems that the apple cider vinegar is a fermented product that comes from the metabolic reactions of bacteria and yeast found in apple juice.

Both HCA and apple cider vinegar are available in pills and liquid form. They enter the metabolic path of ketones and fatty acids in the cell’s nucleus. That ability makes them catalysts for the catabolic reaction of fatty acids to produce energy when exercising.

Apple cider vinegar and Hydroxycitric acid are powerful fat burners supplements and can regulate appetite and blood lipid and cholesterol levels. Their combined action has not been monitored with ample placebo controlled groups studies, yet the initial findings are optimistic about the proven results of it.

Risks and side effects of the combined use

Both apple cider vinegar and citric acid are strong acids and can worsen ulcer and other stomach issues from people having gastrointestinal prior conditions. The apple cider vinegar daily dose should never exceed the 15-30ml threshold, diluted in water.

Vinegar can corrode the smalt of your teeth and abnormally increase the potassium levels in your blood, causing arrhythmias and other related heart problems to healthy individuals.

Always keep in touch with your doctor when you try to combine the use of HCA and apple cider vinegar supplements.

HCA Reviews and Testimonials

Aside from any study that compares the placebo effects of HCA to the real ones, the actual review of customers is still valuable. People who take HCA daily for a period over a week can provide an in-depth analysis of its benefits and drawbacks.

However, you should have in mind that all dietary extracts for obesity treatment and weight loss, need some critical time to act. That is why food intake should be carefully fixed and exercise levels increased to the maximum level.

How to buy Hydroxycitric Acid: the complete guide

There are multiple websites to buy HCA in all of its forms.  Garcinia Cambogia or Hibiscus flowers extract can be found online or in your closest pharmacy.

People that are on a diet and keep away from fatty acids are the best eligible customers of Amazon. There are also multiple retailers online, that sell HCA food supplements with free shipping worldwide. 

For every single item you order, make sure you know all the FDA studies and reported clinical trials in published articles that follow it. Google may help you to find relevant information and compare citrate products not only for their price but also for their quality.

Since you cannot buy Hydroxycitric Acid in its pure form, you may always try the extracts from fruits like:

  • Garcinia Cambogia
  • Garcinia Indica
  • Hibiscus Sabdariffa flowers

The most popular supplements are the ones containing the Garcinia Cambogia extract. You may find them in healthy food stores and pharmacies, either physical or online.

What is the price range of HCA supplements?

HCA supplements start from as low as $12.95 for the 60 tabs version, which is enough for a full month supply. The most expensive of them come up to $39.97 for the 180 tabs container that can be good for you for at least three months. 

You may find Hydroxycitric Acid supplements in capsules and liquid form, but they are not that easy to preserve at home. So it would be better to opt for the tabs form, which is convenient to carry with you at work or in leisure time.

What to do before buying it?

Before ordering any HCA supplement, in any possible form, you should examine if it is approved by local health authorities. Especially, the FDA approval is a strong indication that you may use this supplement without any reasonable doubt about your health.

More than that, you will be sure about the efficacy of the supplement that remains the main reason you are buying it in the first place. 

Are there any discounts for members?

There are also some sites that offer you a discounted price of HCA supplements, should you make bulk orders. It would be a good idea to gather your yearly orders into a single one, to take advantage of the price cuts.

Amazon as well as online pharmacies may offer you big discounts if you are a loyal customer. Your local pharmacies and physical health stores can also help you with the daily required dose of Hydroxycitric Acid supplements. Plus, they will try to give you their best available price, cutting their profit margins.

Should I prefer the tabs/capsules or liquid form of HCA supplement?

Many people who have ulcer and other stomach issues prefer to get the liquid form of HCA supplement. However, it is more expensive to buy Hydroxycitric Acid supplements in liquid form and they cannot be easily preserved in the fridge for a long time.

On the other hand, tabs and capsules are easy to have them in your backpack and can stay intact in their box for as long as you wish. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do lemons have hydroxycitric acid?

Aside from Garcinia cambogia, hydroxycitric acid is also present in many citric fruits. These include lemon and oranges.

What is hydroxycitric acid in garcinia cambogia?

Hydroxycitric acid is a chemical found in Garcinia cambogia. It’s used to aid weight loss and exercise performance. The acid controls a person’s appetite and prevents fat storage. It also limits the use of stored energy and thereby preventing fatigue.

How much HCA is needed to be effective?

Experts recommend daily HCA dosage of 900 mg to 1,500 mg. Garcinia cambogia contains 20% to 60% of HCA which is within the optimal range.

Conclusion

If you deal with obesity and need to get quick body fat and weight loss, then Hydroxycitric Acid is the right supplement for you. Combined with body exercise and a diet with less food intake, hydroxycitrate supplements can improve your health in a few weeks.

In our point of view, HCA remains a serious fat burner that is subject to further studies and clinical analysis both in rats and humans. 

Diet and exercise are never enough to give you a firm solution to your obesity problems. HCA can offer you the lipid oxidation boost you need to improve the weight loss in a short period.

Various studies in a group of people with obesity issues have shown that HCA products can offer quick fatty acid reduction effects and substantial weight loss, not depending on the exercise levels of the individuals. 

Each distinct article and study reported are not only in rats but also in humans. That is why Hydroxycitric Acid is the ideal food supplement for obesity, improving the health and energy levels of subjects who receive it.

HCA activity goes beyond placebo effects, studies, and reported clinical analysis: it is the supplement of choice with the most google clicks in the world! 

Garcinia Cambogia extract is the treatment that any health group would like to have, to increase its energy expenditure and get rid of the high fatty acid proportion in its body.

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