Tag: Garcinia cambogia

Q: I’m taking Zoloft for depression. I feel so much better, and I assumed it was OK to keep taking my vitamins. But are there supplements I should watch out for? — Cecilia H., Ossining, N.Y.

A: Congrats on taking charge of your depression and feeling better. Yes, there are certain supplements that interfere with selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and with serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) too.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter found in your gut, your blood and your nervous system. It’s considered a natural mood stabilizer. You probably weren’t getting the right balance, and the sertraline has helped you re-establish that.

Talk to your doctor about all the supplements and herbal preparations you may be using. When you do, here are some specifics to discuss.

Ask your doctor about the risks of taking St. John’s wort, garcinia cambogia, L-tryptophan (or 5-HTP) and SAMe (S-adenosyl-methionine) supplements with your antidepressant. Consumer Labs says they can increase your risk of experiencing serotonin syndrome, when an overabundance of serotonin in your system triggers everything from goosebumps and shivering to muscle rigidity, diarrhea and heavy sweating. (If that happens, do not ever abruptly stop taking your prescription.)

Ask about the potential benefits of these supplements: A study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that omega-3 fish oil (specifically EPA) in combo with SSRIs caused a significant reduction in depressive symptoms. It was also true to a lesser extent for vitamin D and methylfolate, a form of folic acid.

Q: I was on a plane, and the person next to me was watching one of the latest action movies. I won’t single it out, but it was nonstop violence — and rated PG-13! How can this not negatively affect impressionable youngsters? — Jesse J., Sioux Falls, S.D.

A: The Harvard School of Public Health has warned that a “ratings creep” (it’s a voluntary system) has allowed more violent and sexually explicit content into films that are seen by young teens.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently reported that gun violence in PG-13-rated films has more than tripled since 1985. And public health and mental health experts agree that nonstop violence in films (and on TV and in video games) can make kids more aggressive and damage their emotional development. So our advice to parents:

1) Do diligent research when your teen wants to see a movie. Find out how much and what type of violence a film contains, and check out Common Sense Media (commonsensemedia.org). In its Parents’ Guide, it gives ratings for categories such as positive messages, positive role models, sex, violence, language, drinking, drugs and smoking and a review.

2) Ask around and find out what other parents have to say. If you’re not sure about the content, watch the movie first or watch with your youngster.

3) Talk to your kids about violence in the media. Help them evaluate what is gratuitous and reject its message.

Remember, if teens want to see a movie, with all the streaming available these days, chances are they will, even if you say no. So be proactive and help them avoid the upsetting and mind-bending violence that’s out there.

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Medical Officer at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. Submit your health questions at www.youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.

Downing a shot of apple cider vinegar (ACV) each morning is considered the epitome of wellness right now-though, uh, it’s definitely not going to help you lose weight (sry, Megan Fox and Miranda Kerr).

Now, people are taking it a step further and chasing garcinia cambogia pills with apple cider vinegar in hopes of torching fat. Really, guys??

Wait, what the heck is garcinia cambogia?

The extract comes from a tropical fruit called tamarind grown in Indonesia. You can cook with a tamarind paste made out of the pods to flavor dips and sauces.

However, the extract is also packed into diet pills because one of its compounds, hydroxycitric acid (HCA) has been said to decrease appetite and prevent fat storage-TV doctor Mehmet Oz even claimed the extract was the “simple solution you’re looking for to bust your body fat for good,” in one of his 2012 shows.

While, yes, garcinia cambogia does have HCA, its effects on weight loss are anything but definitive–and may even be dangerous

So, why do people pair garcinia cambogia with apple cider vinegar?

It all started with a 2017 ad that portrayed itself as a CNN article (you can see the fake story here), which claimed that a Cornell University student lost 37 pounds by drinking a combo of ACV and garcinia cambogia.

The “article” was debunked as totally fake soon after, but bloggers are still touting the benefits of pairing the two together. One site even claims that, when paired, ACV can boost garcinia cambogia’s fat-zapping powers.

But here’s the thing: “Studies show that garcinia cambogia has little to no proven effect on body weight-but can cause side effects such as headache, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, and even liver damage and in rare circumstances liver failure,” says Amy Gorin, R.D.N., owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition in the New York City area. Horrific.

In late 2017, the Food and Drug Administration also warned that at least one brand of garcinia cambogia pills contained a hidden ingredient called sibutramine, which has been known to increase blood pressure and heart rate and interact with other medications in life-threatening ways.

As a reminder, apple cider vinegar doesn’t do sh*t for weight loss, either.

Sure, apple cider vinegar is an ingredient you can safely use in recipes. But as a weight-loss aid, it’s…meh.

While research indicates that it may help control post-meal blood sugar spikes, and thus decrease cravings for sugary foods-specifically a 2017 study published in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice-it didn’t look at weight loss specifically.

Plus, if you drink too much of the stuff, it could wear away your tooth enamel and irritate your gastrointestinal tract, says Gorin.

Overall, pairing ACV with garcinia cambogia is pointless at best-and harmful at worst. Go ahead and use the former on salad dressings if you’re so inclined, but keep the latter where it belongs: in the trash.

The bottom line: Combining garcinia cambogia and apple cider vinegar for weight loss is probably pointless, and may even be dangerous.

Downing a shot of apple cider vinegar (ACV) each morning is considered the epitome of wellness right now-though, uh, it’s definitely not going to help you lose weight (sry, Megan Fox and Miranda Kerr).

Now, people are taking it a step further and chasing garcinia cambogia pills with apple cider vinegar in hopes of torching fat. Really, guys??

Wait, what the heck is garcinia cambogia?

The extract comes from a tropical fruit called tamarind grown in Indonesia. You can cook with a tamarind paste made out of the pods to flavor dips and sauces.

However, the extract is also packed into diet pills because one of its compounds, hydroxycitric acid (HCA) has been said to decrease appetite and prevent fat storage-TV doctor Mehmet Oz even claimed the extract was the “simple solution you’re looking for to bust your body fat for good,” in one of his 2012 shows.

While, yes, garcinia cambogia does have HCA, its effects on weight loss are anything but definitive–and may even be dangerous

So, why do people pair garcinia cambogia with apple cider vinegar?

It all started with a 2017 ad that portrayed itself as a CNN article (you can see the fake story here), which claimed that a Cornell University student lost 37 pounds by drinking a combo of ACV and garcinia cambogia.

The “article” was debunked as totally fake soon after, but bloggers are still touting the benefits of pairing the two together. One site even claims that, when paired, ACV can boost garcinia cambogia’s fat-zapping powers.

But here’s the thing: “Studies show that garcinia cambogia has little to no proven effect on body weight-but can cause side effects such as headache, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, and even liver damage and in rare circumstances liver failure,” says Amy Gorin, R.D.N., owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition in the New York City area. Horrific.

In late 2017, the Food and Drug Administration also warned that at least one brand of garcinia cambogia pills contained a hidden ingredient called sibutramine, which has been known to increase blood pressure and heart rate and interact with other medications in life-threatening ways.

As a reminder, apple cider vinegar doesn’t do sh*t for weight loss, either.

Sure, apple cider vinegar is an ingredient you can safely use in recipes. But as a weight-loss aid, it’s…meh.

While research indicates that it may help control post-meal blood sugar spikes, and thus decrease cravings for sugary foods-specifically a 2017 study published in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice-it didn’t look at weight loss specifically.

Plus, if you drink too much of the stuff, it could wear away your tooth enamel and irritate your gastrointestinal tract, says Gorin.

Overall, pairing ACV with garcinia cambogia is pointless at best-and harmful at worst. Go ahead and use the former on salad dressings if you’re so inclined, but keep the latter where it belongs: in the trash.

The bottom line: Combining garcinia cambogia and apple cider vinegar for weight loss is probably pointless, and may even be dangerous.