Brindle berry (scientific name Garcinia gummi-gutta) is a tropical plant belonging to the Garcinia genus and is indigenous to Indonesia. Although called a berry, the fruit of this herb resembles a small pumpkin and its color varies from green to light yellow. In recent times, brindle berry has been in focus of the media owing to its supposed impact on weight loss. However, this claim is yet to be corroborated by any clinical study.
Precisely speaking, Garcinia gummi-gutta is among the many Garcinia species that are related closely and belong to the Guttiferae plant family. The fruit of this herb has a slender skin and deep straight up lobes and their size may vary from being equal to a grapefruit to an orange. In fact, Garcinia gummi-gutta resembles a greenish, yellowish or a reddish pumpkin.
However, this fruit may be found in a wide range of colors. The color of the rinds or peel of the fruit turns black or deep brown when they are dried up and preserved either for storing or extraction.
An extract obtained from Garcinia gummi-gutta and its rind is widely used in several natural products meant for aiding weight loss. This extract is actually hydroxycitric acid (HCA) and some people assert that it not only restrains hunger, but also facilitates in burning fats. Studies undertaken on animals have supported such claims, but the results of subsequent trials on humans have been vague.
It is believed that the hydroxycitric acid (HCA) present in garcinia cambogia slows down citrate lyase, an enzyme that facilitates converting additional carbohydrates into fat. The hypothesis is that when the enzyme is inhibited, our body does not allow the surplus carbohydrate to be changed into fat, but promotes carbohydrate oxidation. In other words, it helps to burn the additional carbohydrates.
Extensive studies undertaken on animals have shown that garcinia cambogia helped to lessen the intake of foods by holding back appetite and also reduced the amount of body fat. However, these results were not so prominent in studies undertaken on humans.
However, a number of double-blind studies undertaken with garcinia cambogia as well as a placebo demonstrated that hydroxycitric acid in the fruit doubled or tripled the weight loss during a period of more than 12 weeks in comparison to those not taking garcinia cambogia. The results of some other researches were not promising at all.
The rind /peel of garcinia cambogia as well as its extract are used in the form of a spice and medicine, especially as a weight loss remedy.
Consuming brindle berry or Garcinia cambogia is useful for enhancing the general energy levels, as the calories consumed by us are redirected to produce glycogen - the major source of our body's energy. In other words, if you are following a low carb diet or a weight loss regimen, consuming Garcinia cambogia will not make you feel dizzy or weak.
People following most weight loss program usually experience these symptoms. Instead, Garcinia cambogia will help to sustain your energy all through, thereby encourage you to continue with your weight loss plans. In addition, Garcinia cambogia is beneficial for people who want to maintain a perfect body weight.
Garcinia cambogia can be used in the form of a supplement for losing extra weight naturally as well as maintaining a perfect health and fitness.
In addition, this natural substance possesses anti-viral as well as anti-inflammatory attributes and, hence, it is useful for boosting our immune system and protecting us against various ailments, including problems related to the bowels like dysentery and constipation, rheumatism, delayed menstruation, infections, common cold, tumours, the Ebola virus, liver troubles and also intestinal worms.
Garcinia cambogia may also be excellently used to protect us from problems related to stomach acidity as well as the succeeding ulcers.
Historically, Garcinia cambogia (brindle berry) has been employed for curing gastric ulcers. A study published in 2002 suggests that this herb mainly acts by means of one of its constituents called garcinol. It has been shown that garcinol is effective in lessening acidity in the stomach as well as protecting the gastric mucosa.
The rind or peel of this fruit possesses astringent attributes and this is the main reason for it being used historically for treating dysentery and diarrhea, in addition to treating conditions like duodenal and gastric ulcers. In recent times, it has been suggested that Garcinia cambogia possesses hepatoprotective abilities against external toxic substances, for instance, alcohol.
Findings of a study undertaken recently demonstrated that this herb helped to prevent the liver cells from turning fibrotic. In addition, it was also found to be useful in stopping the harm caused by elevated levels of lipids in the bloodstream.
This herb possesses a distinct sour-sweet flavour and, for several centuries, people in Southeast Asia have used it to prepare meals that are additionally filling.
Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is the active element in Garcinia cambogia (brindle berry). Gradually, this compound is becoming well accepted as a weight loss supplement. It is claimed that HCA not only suppresses appetite, but also lessens the ability of the body to create adipose tissue (fatty tissues) when one overeats.
The extract obtained from the rind of Garcinia cambogia is also known to enhance fat oxidation (burning fats) and, at the same time, increase the intensity of the healthy high density lipo-protein (LDL) cholesterol, which is also known as 'good' cholesterol.
Many clinical trials undertaken on humans have shown that the extracts of brindle berry also reduced the levels of low density lipo-protein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as 'bad' cholesterol, and triglycerides, thereby aiding in weight loss.
Brindle berry also works to slow down lipid synthesis, thereby resulting in the formation of augmented glycogen in the liver. As a result, the liver sends a signal indicating that the person's stomach is full. In turn, the brain sends signals that lessen appetite.
Brindle berry or Garcinia gummi-gutta is cultivated for the plant's fruit. This herb prospers in most tropical or damp forests and is extensively grown in Southeast Asia, Kerala in India and also in the western and central regions of Africa.
In the western coast of south India, Garcinia gummi-gutta is commonly known as 'Malabar tamarind' and is used for culinary purposes along with tamarind (scientific name Tamarindus indica).
While the brindle berry is a substantially huge evergreen tree, the tamarind plant is comparatively small. In a number of places, Garcinia gummi-gutta is also known as 'goraka' or just as 'kattcha puli' (meaning a souring fruit).
The fruit of Garcinia cambogia contains natural compounds like hydroxycitric acid, which makes up about 30% of the fruit's weight. In addition, it also contains xanthones and derivatives of xanthones, in addition to flavonoids and benzophenones.
The dried rind or extract of brindle berry are used in several supplements, which are available in forms of extracts, powders, tablets, capsules and also snack bars. Medicines containing Garcinia cambogia are generally homogenized to enclose a predetermined proportion of hydroxycitric acid (HCA).
The standard dose of this medication is taking anything between 300 mg and 500 mg tablets thrice every day. Preferably, the tablets should be taken with water about 30 minutes prior to your meals.
Seemingly, consumption of Garcinia cambogia does not result in any familiar side effects in adults. However, it is advisable that some people should not use this natural medication.
Experts are of the view that children, pregnant women and nursing mothers, people who have diabetes mellitus, which occurs owing to insulin deficit, and those with Alzheimer's disease or any other type of dementia diseases, should avoid taking Garcinia cambogia.
It is believed that if people who have Alzheimer's disease take Garcinia cambogia, the hydroxycitric acid (HCA) contained by this fruit may form acetylcholine inside the brain.
On the other hand, people with diabetes may be influenced by the inclination of HCA to reduce the blood sugar levels. On the other hand, when healthy adults take this herbal product, it will help to restrain their cravings for carbohydrates, especially sweets.
Being akin to herbs, the same standards do not apply in the case of Garcinia cambogia supplements and medications known as prescription drugs.
In other words, when you are using these supplements in conjunction with specific prescription drugs to treat any ailment or medical condition, it may potentially interact with those drugs, thereby making the drugs (not the Garcinia cambogia supplements) less effectual in curing the condition.
Therefore, if you plan to use Garcinia cambogia for weight loss, it is advisable that you should essentially check with your physician or any qualified healthcare professional whether it would suit your needs.
Majority of the people using products enclosing extracts of Garcinia cambogia (brindle berry) or hydroxycitric acid usually do not experience any difficulty with the supplement. On the other hand, there are people who experience allergic reactions following use of Garcinia cambogia.
However, the signs as well as the symptoms of these conditions/ reactions may differ from one individual to another - the common symptoms being rash, swollen tongue and mouth, hives, congested feeling in the throat that will not only make it difficult to swallow liquids and foods, but also make breathing problematic.
Although majority of the firms manufacturing weight loss supplement will now assert that using Garcinia cambogia does not have any known side effect, several people have reported that they experienced a number of comparatively negligible reactions, counting headaches/ migraines, nausea and stomach upset after taking the supplement.
However, as the number of clinical trials involving Garcinia cambogia extract has been very limited, it may be quite difficult to identify the reasons for such adverse side effects.
It has been claimed that hydroxycitric acid (HCA) present in Garcinia cambogia (brindle berry) instructs our body to restrict the production of a specific enzyme that is associated with formation of fat from excess carbohydrates ingested by us.
It is believed that when the quantity of this enzyme is low in our system, our body will burn all surplus carbohydrates that have been consumed in a day. Once the surplus carbohydrates are burned, nothing remains that can create fat in our body.
Therefore, Garcinia cambogia (brindle berry) is claimed to be a 'fat burner'. Even as HCA burns out the additional fat in the body, it also works to hold back hunger, thereby intensifying the actions of this naturally occurring substance.
