Whenever I review a weight loss or fat-burning supplement, I tend to scrutinize a little too hard. Why? Because almost every weigh loss supplement in the market these days is tied with too many controversies. And not just that, it’s hard to find honest reviews online, as most of these supplement manufacturers invest heavily into online reputation and do everything within their potential to suppress negative reviews. In fact, they wouldn’t want you to read through this too, because unlike sponsored posts, I prefer to write about my opinions or personal experiences.
I like experimenting with supplements, but not with my health, so whenever it’s about trying a supplement for my cutting phase, I am super-careful. And like every time, I don’t rely on the façade of success that these supplement manufacturers rely on to sell their products, because you will hardly find any real customer testimonials about them online.
Today, I am going to review Garcinia Cambogia (from Vita-Web) and Hydroxycut Pro Clinical, the two weight loss supplements that have created a lot hype lately. I have already done a review on Hydroxycut vs. Slimquick, so do make sure to check it out too.
| Garcinia Cambogia | Amount per serving | Hydroxycut Pro Clinical | Amount per serving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium as calcium carbonate | 50mg | Caffeine | N/A |
| Chromium as chromium amino acid chelate | 200mcg | Papaya (Carica papya) | N/A |
| Potassium as potassium chloride | 500mg | Blackberry (Rubus fructicosus) | N/A |
| Garcinia Cambogia extract with 60% HCA | 1000mg | Amla extract (Phyllanthus emblica) | N/A |
| Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) | N/A | ||
| Saffron extract (Crocus sativus) | N/A |
The amount per serving for the ingredients on Hydroxycut Pro Clinical hasn’t been disclosed, so we will have to rely on our review without it. Honestly, these “patented” blends just make me curious about their efficacy. In fact, most products with a poor reputation usually don’t disclose the amount per serving of their ingredients.
But now, let’s talk about the ingredients on these two supplements and whether they back any scientific reasoning for their “weight loss miracles”, starting off with Garcinia Cambogia.
Garcinia Cambogia—ingredients
The major ingredient on Garcinia Cambogia is Garcinia Cambogia extract with 60% HCA. So what’s this Garcinia extract and HCA?
Hydroxycitric acid or commonly known as HCA, is the major medicinal component in Garcinia Cambogia extract. Different clinical trials suggest different effects of HCA on weight loss and fat burn. For instance, in a 4-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 150 patients with obesity were treated with a weight loss regime (1200 calories diet and dietary supplement that included 55mg of Garcinia Cambogia extract, 19mg of chrome, and 240mg of chitosan). The results suggested significant reduction in weight and fat loss and an increased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Other effects included reduced food intake too.
Are the ingredients on Vita-Web Garcinia Cambogia safe?
Garcinia Cambogia can be safely taken as a fruit or extract by mouth for as much as 12 weeks, but take caution, it does have side effects. Garcinia Cambogia is linked to lower blood sugar levels, so it could interact with the treatments of diabetic patients. Then, the effects of Garcinia Cambogia haven’t been studied on pregnant women or those who breastfeed.
Amongst the more serious side effects includes health problems for patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Hydroxycut Pro Clinical—ingredients
Hydroxycut has a lot of active ingredients that have been linked with effective weight and fat loss, but I would like to start with caffeine as it has been one of my favorite pre-workout ingredients. Apart from giving you a power boost, there are different studies corroborating an improved metabolism with the consumption of coffee. This is exactly the reason why you would see caffeine on literally every professional weight loss or fat burning supplement. Hydroxycut also incudes coffee bean extract that has a very great reputation with supplementing weight loss.
The other ingredients on Hydroxycut aren’t separately tested; however, a combination of four active ingredients on the product (Komijin extract, wild olive extract, wild mint extract and Lady’s mantle extract) was given to rats and chickens, and the results concluded impressive improvements in their metabolic rates. However, I would still say that you can’t apply the results of any lab tests conducted on animals to be applied directly onto humans.
Are the ingredients on Hydroxycut Pro Clinical safe?
Hydroxycut has a strong reputation for aiding weight and fat loss, but not many people know they are losing weight at the cost of their health. In 2009, more than 20 reports were issued by FDA about the severe reactions caused by Hydroxycut having Garcinia Cambogia extract and other compounds like chromium polynicotinate. However, it’s not still certain if Garcinia Cambogia extract was the primary reason for the adverse effects.
So do we have a winner?
I have used Hydroxycut and I can say that it does work. However, if you are going to use a caffeine-rich supplement, make sure you stay hydrated. For Garcinia Cambogia extract, I am a little skeptic about its efficacy. There are numerous studies that have shown a positive weight and fat loss effects of the extract on the rats, but no significant impact on the humans. But that’s not just one of my many concerns. Nearly every online review about Garcinia Cambogia sounds biased, with only a few of them on WebMD or liveScience to have addressed the real issues.
Also remember, you have to cycle any weight or fat loss supplement you use. So even if you are seeing results, you need to stop using the product for sometime before using it again.
| Product | Price | Capsules/bottle | Daily Dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garcinia Cambogia | $21.97 | 60 capsules | 2 capsules (max. 6 capsules) |
| Hydroxycut Pro Clinical | $29.32 | 150 caplets | 2 capsules (max. 4 capsules ) |
| Value | Value | Value | Value |
| Value | Value | Value | Value |
