Should You Use Apple Cider Vinegar & Garcinia Cambogia Together 2023?

Look, when it comes to our waistlines, we’re willing to try everything. Exercise? Done. A healthy meal? You got it. Diet pills? Well…what’s in them?

One of the most talked-about weight loss ingredients includes garcinia Cambogia extract, derived from a tropical fruit called garcinia gummi-gutta. Some believe that taking garcinia Cambogia in combination with apple cider vinegar might be able to boost your weight loss efforts, but the effectiveness of this stuff is contested by many.

You’ll find garcinia Cambogia in capsules, pills, foods, and drinks. Should it become a regular part of your routine, though? We think not—in fact, it’s actually the active ingredient in several dangerous weight loss supplements publicly vilified^[1] by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

While it hasn’t necessarily been outlawed for personal use, this tropical fruit extract might be more fraudulent than anything else. Here’s what you should know before trying it out yourself.

What Is Garcinia Cambogia?

Garcinia cambogia extract is a chemical compound derived from one of several plants^[2] hailing from southeast Asia, such as Garcinia Cambogia, Garcinia Indica, Hibiscus Subdariffa, and Garcinia Atroviridis. Its scientific name is Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA) and is derived from the citric acid found in these plants.

Hydroxycitric acid is the active ingredient that is most recognized as the active ingredient in Garcinia Cambogia dietary supplements. How can take Hydroxycitric acid-rich Garcinia Cambogia to help you lose weight?

There are many theories, and none of them have been proven definitively—some believe that this compound inhibits^[3] adenosine triphosphatase-citrate-lyase, resulting in a loss of body weight and the disruption of fat synthesis, as well as the inhibition of pancreatic alpha-amylase and intestinal alpha glucosidase^[4]. Other takes include the notion that taking garcinia Cambogia actually causes the brain to produce serotonin in excess^[5], which may suppress the appetite and result in weight loss and other health benefits.

You’ll find tons of personal accounts online about how Garcinia Cambogia was able to help this person or that person lose weight. When put to the ultimate test, however, it only appears to make the grade when the trial itself has been sponsored by the branded supplement containing the compound. So it goes.

What Is The Proper Dosage Of Garcinia Cambogia?

We should preface this section with the caveat that you shouldn’t use dietary supplements that have not yet been proven to be safe for human consumption. 

With that being said, many of the clinical studies that we found on the topic indicated trial doses from anywhere between 1 g to 2.8 g of Garcinia Cambogia daily. 

To reiterate: there really is no “optimal” dose to take when it comes to Garcinia Cambogia, at least not according to the FDA. While this supplement is unlikely to kill you when taken in moderation, using too much Garcinia Cambogia may result in any of a number of negative side effects, users beware.

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is much, much more common in the western world. This supplement is made by fermenting apple cider and is usually sold by the bottle with a cultured mother resting at the bottom.

It’s full of antioxidants, polyphenols, and other bioactive compounds. This prebiotics are often attributed to many of the digestive benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar medicinally in the morning and might be able to improve your gut health.

Apple cider vinegar has been shown to be moderately effective^[6] in animals as a weight loss aid, and may help ordinary people control their blood glucose, visceral fat area, waist circumference, and serum triglyceride levels naturally and without harmful and intrusive medication. Not only that, but the acetic acid in it may also be able to help you suppress^[7] your appetite and resist food cravings, as well, saving you calories later on.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Garcinia Cambogia Side Effects

Is this tropical fruit extract dangerous? Not really, but it has been shown to cause some problems that might outweigh the health benefits that it brings to the table, including, perhaps, enhanced weight loss.

Should you be worried? Maybe. Some of the most common side effects of taking Garcinia Cambogia for weight loss may include:

• Headache
• Rashes and other skin irritation
• Cold-like symptoms
• Gastrointestinal dysfunction
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Dark urine
• In the most extreme cases^[8], liver problems

This last side effect comes to us primarily from one of the most concerning studies^[9] on garcinia Cambogia—this study showed us how six weeks of garcinia Cambogia use resulted in one man succumbing to advanced liver damage, jaundice, and all. Silly names like “Super Ananas Slim” aside, these over-the-counter weight loss “fat-busters” should be avoided at all costs. 

Again, Garcinia Cambogia is not a banned substance as far as the FDA is concerned. Studies like the one mentioned above, however, serve as a chilling warning—even all-natural supplements and extracts may cause us extraordinary bodily harm if taken to the extreme. Is weight loss worth it? Perhaps, but there are so many safer ways to meet your weight loss goals.

And, as for the rest of the equation? Apple cider vinegar on its own is harmless enough, although it is potent enough to cause a myriad of potential health problems:

• Low potassium^[10]
• Low blood sugar
• Chemical burns^[11] on the skin, esophagus, and eyes
• Erosion to tooth enamel

Diluting apple cider vinegar greatly and only taking it in moderation is all that you need to do if you would like to avoid these negative side effects. One or two tablespoons diluted in about a cup of filtered water is a safe dose for any non-diabetic—if you do have diabetes, please consult your doctor before subscribing to this daily vinegar ritual.

Final Thought: Do They Help You Lose Weight?

The truth? You’ll find tons of popular studies and health articles speaking to the merit of this combination, but don’t be fooled. While statistical data of success in the short term is often at the forefront of these claims, its lasting ability to promote a sustainably healthy weight appears to be dubious at best. 

Can you take either of these natural supplements as part of your healthy diet? Absolutely. Are they the miracle solution that they claim to be?

Probably not. Eat healthy, exercise, and live a happy, active, and exciting life; when you’re able to find balance through positive personal choices, you’ll lose weight naturally, with no weight loss supplement required.

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