Garcinia Cambogia, also called citrin and malabar tamarind, is a fruit traditionally used throughout the world as both food and medicine.*

In Southeast Asia, it is used as a flavoring ingredient for curries and condiments, a food preservative, and a digestive aid. In ayurvedic medicine, garcinia is said to activate digestion and is sometimes used as a purgative.*

Garcinia has also been included in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for edema, delayed menstruation, liver disorders, constipation and bowel complaints, intestinal parasites and rheumatism. Garcinia is considered to be purgative, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-hepatotoxic, antiparasistic and antimicrobial.*

The rind of Garcinia Cambogia contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which is now know to help suppress appetite and facilitate weight loss.*

In the early 1970s, researchers found that HCA was a potent and competitive inhibitor of citrate lyase, a lever enzyme which is vital in regulating fat metabolism. HCA can fill the receptor sites of citrate lyase, resulting in decreased synthesis of fatty acids from carbohydrates, and less stored fat in the liver and tissues.*

Garcinia's active ingredients include bioflavonoids and xanthones.