Garcinia Cambogia is a small, pumpkin-shaped fruit native to Southeast Asia and parts of Africa. While the fruit itself is pretty rare in U.S. grocery stores, it’s the source of an increasingly popular weight loss supplement. Garcinia Cambogia’s peel extract contains Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA), a substance that many believe may aid in weight loss (1). Some evidence suggests that HCA may increase serotonin in your brain, acting as an appetite suppressant. (2)(3) In addition, some research suggests HCA may increase fat metabolism and be useful for reducing belly fat among obese people. (4) However, the research is far from conclusive. One of the largest studies on Garcinia Cambogia until this point was largely pessimistic about the extract’s role in weight loss. (5)
While the evidence is split on its effectiveness as a weight-loss tool, there is a wide range of Garcinia Cambogia supplements on the market. These range in terms of potency, and some research indicates that you should look for supplements that contain 50-60% HCA. (6) With so many varieties of Garcinia Cambogia on the market, it’s important to distinguish one product from another.
Best Garcinia Cambogia Supplements
- Best Garcinia Cambogia: BulkSupplements Garcinia Cambogia
- Best Garcinia Cambogia Capsules: Pure Garcinia Cambogia with Organic Coconut Oil
- Best Garcinia Cambogia with Minerals: Vitamin Bounty Garcinia Cambogia
- Best Garcinia Cambogia Blend: NOWFoods Citra Max
- Best Garcinia with Apple Cider Vinegar: Pure Garcinia Cambogia Extract & Apple Cider Vinegar
Editor’s note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended to diagnose, prevent, and/or treat health problems. It’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor before beginning a new fitness, nutritional, and/or supplement routine. Individual needs for vitamins and minerals will vary.
Best Garcinia Cambogia
BulkSupplements lives up to its name when it comes to buying a lot of Garcinia Cambogia at once. They offer pouches that range from 3.5 ounces to 55 pounds. Additionally, they have both gelatin and vegetarian capsules available. The powder is sugar, soy, dairy, yeast, gluten, corn, and additives.
BulkSupplements Garcinia Cambogia
This supplement is 60 percent HCA and provides 500 milligrams of Garcinia Cambogia extract per 500-milligram serving. As is the case with most of BulkSupplement’s offerings, there are no additional ingredients used beyond the Garcinia Cambogia.
For folks who prefer supplements in powdered form, BulkSupplements offers Garcinia Cambogia with 60% HCA. This powder is lab-tested for purity and contains no additional ingredients.
Who Should Buy BulkSupplements Garcinia Cambogia
- Those who want a pure Garcinia Cambogia extract absent any additional ingredients.
- Folks who would rather save money buying in large quantities.
Who Shouldn’t Buy BulkSupplements Garcinia Cambogia
- Anyone who prefers a Garcinia Cambogia blend or supplements with added minerals.
- People who don’t want to purchase a scoop separately to measure servings.
There isn’t much to knock with this BulkSupplements offering. The variety of volumes available is jaw-dropping and the price is unmatched for a pure Garcinia Cambogia supplement like this.
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Best Garcinia Cambogia Capsules
Each liquid softgel provided by Sport’s Research’s pure Garcinia Cambogia supplies 500 milligrams of its namesake standardized to 65 percent HCA. The capsule is made from kosher, non-GMO vegetable glycerin and organic coconut oil.
Pure Garcinia Cambogia with Organic Coconut Oil
This supplement is caffeine-free, certified organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free. Each batch is third-party tested for quality assurance and they are produced to certified Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
In addition to Garcinia Cambogia, Sports Research offers Extra Virgin Coconut Oil in these unique capsules at a competitive price point. Each single-capsule serving provides 500 milligrams of Garcinia Cambogia (65 percent HCA).
Who Should Buy Pure Garcinia Cambogia with Organic Coconut Oil
- Anyone who values their Garcinia Cambogia supplement to have a coconut flavor.
- People who prefer the expediency of swallowing a softgel rather than mixing a powder in liquid.
- Folks who only want to purchase third-party tested supplements.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Pure Garcinia Cambogia with Organic Coconut Oil
- Anyone who prefers their supplements in powder form.
- Those working with a tighter supplement budget.
These are a bit pricier than other comparable options on the market. However, there is the likely worthwhile trade-off of knowing your supplements are third-party tested and GMP-certified.
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Best Garcinia Cambogia with Minerals
Each two-capsule serving of Vitamin Bounty’s product contains 1,000 milligrams of Garcinia Cambogia standardized to 60 percent HCA. It also includes 50 milligrams of calcium and potassium, as well as 200 micrograms of chromium.
Vitamin Bounty Garcinia Cambogia
Each batch is tested for potency, made in the USA, and bottled in an NSF-certified facility. It is gluten-free and comes at a price point of 28 cents per capsule.
Each serving of Vitamin Bounty’s Garcinia Cambogia capsules contains 1000 milligrams of Garcinia Cambogia with 50 percent HCA. The capsules are free of artificial flavors and chemicals and are compatible with vegetarian diets.
Who Should Buy Vitamin Bounty Garcinia Cambogia
- Anyone who wants supplements manufactured in the USA.
- Folks looking for an additional boost of calcium and/or potassium.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Vitamin Bounty Garcinia Cambogia
- Those who follow a vegan diet (these capsules have gelatin).
- People who want their supplements in powder form.
The biggest knock against Vitamin Bounty’s option is that it isn’t compatible with vegan diets. However, all of its other stats make it a really good pick overall, particularly when considering the addition of calcium and potassium.
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Best Garcinia Cambogia Blend
In addition to the 750 milligrams of Super CitriMax®, consisting of Garcinia Cambogia and 450 milligrams of HCA, this supplement provides 50 milligrams of calcium, 150 micrograms of iodine, and 100 micrograms of chromium. Each veggie capsule has a sleek ingredient make-up of just cellulose, magnesium stearate, and stearic acid.
NOWFoods Citra Max
Their manufacturing process is GMP-certified and each batch is packaged in the USA. It is free of soy and sugar, compatible with vegan and kosher diets, and unflavored.
NOWFoods Citra Max capsules include iodine, ginseng, and chromium in addition to HCA. Each batch is third-party tested for quality assurance.
Who Should Buy NOWFoods Citra Max
- Folks on a tighter budget.
- Anyone who keeps kosher.
- People who follow vegan diets.
Who Shouldn’t Buy NOWFoods Citra Max
- Anyone who prefers a powder supplement to capsules.
This supplement is on the less expensive side of the market compared to most competitors but still provides a decent dose of Garcinia Cambogia.
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Best Garcinia with Apple Cider Vinegar
Herbal Beauty rounds out the list of our top picks with a supplement that provides 2,300 milligrams of Garcinia Cambogia with 95 percent HCA per two-capsule serving. They combine it with 700 milligrams of apple cider vinegar in a non-GMO, filler-free capsule.
Pure Garcinia Cambogia Extract & Apple Cider Vinegar
This supplement is GMP-certified, made in the USA, and comes in at a price point of 13 cents per capsule. It is free of artificial ingredients, is organic, and compatible with vegan diets.
This supplement offers a very strong dose (1,500 milligrams) of Garcinia Cambogia delivered via veggie capsules. It is non-GMO, gluten-free, and includes 180 milligrams of potassium.
Who Should Buy Pure Garcinia Cambogia Extract & Apple Cider Vinegar
- Those who value the addition of apple cider vinegar.
- Anyone who follows a vegan diet.
- Folks trying to keep their supplement spending low.
Who Shouldn’t Buy Pure Garcinia Cambogia Extract & Apple Cider Vinegar
- People who prefer powder supplements.
- Those who don’t want the HCA percentage to be so high (this one is 95 percent).
The HCA percentage is significantly higher in this product than any of the others on our list. So if that is appealing to you, this is a great choice.
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How We Decided Our Picks
Although the research on Garcinia Cambogia’s effectiveness as a weight-loss supplement is far from conclusive, some evidence suggests it may play a role in suppressing appetites and cutting fat levels in the blood (7). As a result, this supplement’s popularity has spiked in recent years, with more and more manufacturers introducing their own version of Garcinia Cambogia to the market. First, however, it’s important to know what features to look for with so many options out there.
Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA)
The active ingredient in Garcinia Cambogia is Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA), an acid found in the peel of this pumpkin-shaped fruit. Studies show that to see any effects from Garcinia Cambogia, it’s important that HCA is in the 50-60% range. Therefore, each supplement will have different HCA values — check the label and see what’s listed.
Additional Nutrients, Purity, & Cost
Some Garcinia Cambogia supplements include additional amounts of various nutrients — such as chromium or calcium — while others stick to HCA.
With any supplement, it’s important to know what you’re putting into your body. Pay attention to third-party tests for purity and read the ingredients label to make sure you’re getting what you think you’re getting. The simplest way to figure out cost is to divide the cost by the number of servings listed on the label to determine the cost per serving.
[Related: The Lifter’s Guide To Magnesium: What This Nutrient Does For Strength]
What To Consider Before Buying
As with many dietary supplements, it’s important to consult with a medical professional before adding Garcinia Cambogia to your diet. In addition, HCA may play a role in suppressing your appetite. Still, exercise and a well-balanced diet will always be your friend in achieving any weight loss goals.
Though it’s probably not a fat-burning wonder supplement, Garcinia Cambogia may have appetite-suppressing qualities. Before adding it to your diet, consult with a medical professional. If you do decide to check out Garcinia Cambogia, try to be diligent about how frequently you take it so you can really keep track of any effects you may or may not feel.
References
- Onakpoya I, Hung SK, Perry R, Wider B, Ernst E. The Use of Garcinia Extract (Hydroxycitric Acid) as a Weight loss Supplement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials. Journal of obesity. 2011;2011:509038.
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Ohia SE, Awe SO, LeDay AM, Opere CA, Bagchi D. Effect of hydroxycitric acid on serotonin release from isolated rat brain cortex. Research communications in molecular pathology and pharmacology. 2001;109(3-4):210-216.
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Ohia SE, Opere CA, LeDay AM, Bagchi M, Bagchi D, Stohs SJ. Safety and mechanism of appetite suppression by a novel hydroxycitric acid extract (HCA-SX). Molecular and cellular biochemistry. 2002;238(1-2):89-103.
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Hayamizu K, Ishii Y, Kaneko I, et al. Effects of garcinia cambogia (Hydroxycitric Acid) on visceral fat accumulation: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Current therapeutic research, clinical and experimental. 2003;64(8):551-567.
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Heymsfield SB, Allison DB, Vasselli JR, Pietrobelli A, Greenfield D, Nunez C. Garcinia cambogia (hydroxycitric acid) as a potential antiobesity agent: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1998;280(18):1596-1600.
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Semwal RB, Semwal DK, Vermaak I, Viljoen A. A comprehensive scientific overview of Garcinia cambogia. Fitoterapia. 2015;102:134-148.
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Vasques CAR, Schneider R, Klein-Júnior LC, Falavigna A, Piazza I, Rossetto S. Hypolipemic effect of Garcinia cambogia in obese women. Phytotherapy research : PTR. 2014;28(6):887-891.