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Garcinia Cambogia 3 Things to Know Before You Buy

Post on: 16 Март, 2015 No Comment

Learn to be a smarter consumer before you buy a weight loss pill

Do your research before you take an herbal diet supplement. Joakim Leroy/Getty Images

Updated December 16, 2014.

You’ve probably seen ads for garcinia cambogia in magazines and in online ads. Many of them include references to clinical studies and some mention the name of Dr Oz in order to gain your attention. But should you really open your wallet to buy garcinia cambogia? Here are three things you need to consider before you make your purchase.

3 Things You Need to Know About Garcinia Cambogia

Clinical studies don’t add up. Many ads for garcinia mention clinical studies that support their claims. But almost none of them provide links or give specific data about those studies. You need to know that just because a company refers to research does not mean that legitimate clinical studies were performed by unbiased scientists or that any studies have proven a weight loss effect that actually would matter to you. In fact, many of the studies have been performed on rats or mice and the few studies that have been performed on humans have shown mixed results.

If you are looking for current research published in a legitimate and widely accessible journal, consider this study published by Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. According to the researchers’ analysis, “there is still little evidence to support the potential effectiveness and long-term benefits of G. cambogia extracts.” Does that mean the product doesn’t work? No. It just means that the research supporting its effectiveness is inconclusive. That is, there is no proof that this product is going to help you lose fat.

Many “news reports” are actually ads. I Googled “garcinia cambogia ” to find out what links would be available to a consumer interested in buying the product. I was pleased to see several links going to “news reports” at well-respected sites, like the Wall Street Journal. But when I followed the link, it actually went to a press release that looked like an article. I followed other links to find that the exact same “article” published on other sites but the names had been slightly changed. As you might imagine, each “article” included links to places where you could buy the product. My opinion? If the supplement had shown any legitimate promise, science journals and other medical sources would be investigating and reporting on its effectiveness.

The FDA does not endorse weight loss supplements. I viewed one site that sells garcina cambogia and saw that it displays an FDA logo on their web page. The way in which the logo is displayed alongside a statement of “honest weight loss claims” makes it looks like the FDA endorses the claims made by the company about the diet pill. The FDA does not endorse or approve weight loss supplements. In fact, “It is the company’s responsibility to make sure its products are safe and that any claims are true,” according to the FDA.

So does this mean you shouldn’t buy garcinia cambogia? The decision is up to you — although I wouldn’t buy it. But if you do choose to invest, don’t fall victim to the advertising claims or the marketing strategies. Talk to your doctor. your pharmacist or your registered dietitian first. If you can’t access one of those sources, the FDA offers great advice to consumers who are looking for a weight loss pill or supplement. Use their guide before you make any decision.