Native to India, garcinia cambogia(also known as citirimax, citrin, hydroxy citric acid, HCA, and Malabar Tamarind) is a drooping evergreen tree that bears a fruit long used as a food source in India. Garcinia is closely related to mangosteen, one of the so-called “superfruits.”
Because the body becomes more efficient at burning its own lipids (that is, fats), blood serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides reportedly drop. It is strongly suspected that this might reduce the risk of both diabetes and cardiovascular disease by fighting so-called “Syndrome X.” If true, this would be of considerable importance, given the rising rate of obesity in the modern world.