For years I’ve been writing about supplement combos.  Most of the time, it’s a combo offer that appears on a apparently legit Mens Health website, and inevitably talks about some miracle supplement celebrities have been secretly using to shred off excessive pounds and pack on lean muscle.  But todays supplement combo is different….today, it’s on a page that looks just like the GQ website.  And today, the storyline is a bit different.  In this article I’m reading here, the authors / editors of GQ magazine are apparently testing out a combo called Optimal Garcinia Cambogia and Absolute coffee cleanse.

According to them, tons of athletes have been using this supplement combo, including Lebron James, Reggie Bush, and Colin Kapernick, and have been getting INSANE results with them.  I know “the King” lost a bunch of weight recently (like 45 lbs.), but did he really use Optimal Garcinia Cambogia and Absolute Coffee Cleanse.  While I don’t know Lebron personally (sure wish I did though), I’m willing to bet that no, he did not use them.

What you’re about to read will delve a bit into deception, and expose what a flat out scam this probably is.  But first, let’s explore what these products are intended to do.

What is Optimal Garcinia Cambogia?

Based on the notion that Garcinia Cambogia, which has been featured very heavily in the media for its purported weight loss benefits, Optimal Garcinia Cambogia is just that….a garcinia cambogia supplement.  According to various sources, this extract contains a key ingredient called HCA (or Hydroxycitric Acid) which is extracted from the fruit of rind.

Basically, HCA is a derivative of citric acid, which has been shown in studies of RATS to suppress epididymal fat accumulation. (more on this below)  However, their is no conclusive evidence that shows that HCA has ANY weight loss benefits in humans.  The official Optimal Garcinia Cambogia cleanse website features numerous benefits with their supplement, including:

• Suppressed appetite

Well, that’s literally it….the only benefit they mention is suppressed appetite.  So how does it do this?  Well, according to them Garcinia Cambogia helps prevent fat from being made and moving towards glycogen, which is an energy sources that helps burn more fat.  The simple truth to the matter is this though…you can’t just starve the body until submission.

What happens when you starve  the body of food is it essentially “shuts down”, to help preserve itself.  It doesn’t know you’re on a diet, it just thinks that there is no food coming in and it doesn’t know when to expect the next meal.  So, instead of “burning fat” it starts to attack muscle deposits first.  After all the muscle has been depleted, it then moves to fat, but only after practically all of your muscle is gone.  Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients and how they are supposed to work before we draw any conclusions.

Optimal Garcinia Cambogia Ingredients and How They Work

Just how does it do this? HCA suppresses appetite by boosting serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a “happy” chemical. The higher the levels of serotonin in the brain, the happier you feel. Ever hear the term “emotional eater?” Low levels of serotonin are directly linked to depression. With that depression comes the need to attain comfort and satisfaction, usually through food. HCA boosts your serotonin levels, theoretically ending that vicious cycle of overeating.

Now, as to the fat blocking abilities: Proponents of Garcinia Cambogia claim that HCA can inhibit a key enzyme that is responsible for converting carbohydrates into fat. That fat is then stored for later use. By blocking this enzyme, HCA effectively reduces the fat creation process.

Studies have proven the benefits of appetite suppression and fat blocking via HCA; thereby, leading to a successful weight loss. So if your weight loss goal is entirely achievable through the use of Garcinia Cambogia, then what is the catch? These studies were performed on rats, not humans. In animal trials, the supposed “holy grail” of weight loss did, indeed, suppress epididymal fat accumulation. The rats in these studies showed a remarkable improvement in total body fat reduction. (“Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of hydroxycitric acid or Garcinia cambogia extracts in humans.” 2012. Para. 1)

When it comes to human trials; however, there is no conclusive evidence that shows Garcinia Cambogia as an effective means for noticeable weight loss. In fact, in several of the studies that were performed on humans, the placebo group ended up losing more weight than the group that was supplementing with Garcinia Cambogia. Now, even if you leave the results of those few studies to chance, no study has confirmed a significant impact on human weight loss via the supplementation of Garcinia Cambogia. (“Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of hydroxycitric acid or Garcinia cambogia extracts in humans.” 2012. Para. 1)

What is Absolute Coffee Cleanse?

Finding info on the Absolute coffee cleanse was a bit more difficult than Optimal Garcinia Cambogia.  There’s no mention of the exact ingredients, only the “fact” that it contains healthy all natural ingredients.  I don’t know about you, but when I am taking a supplement I want to know exactly what I am putting into my body. My best guess is it literally only contains the one ingredient…and that would be green coffee bean.

What we do know is there are TONS of before and after pictures from supposedly “real guys” who have taken this supplement, and they do look quite amazing.  But are they really real?

One thing that caught my eye about Absolute Coffee Cleanse was that they say “credible sources have been talking about Green Coffee’s ability to boost metabolism, lower cholesterol, and improve your immune system”.  There is “some” truth to this statement.  After researching a bit, I did see WebMD talking about some light research that indicated taking green coffee bean for a period of 12 weeks could result in modest weight loss over a period of 12 weeks. (3)

However, the findings are still VERY preliminary, and their is no “hard” evidence that this is truly the case.  Let’s dive into these ingredients a bit more and see how they are REALLY supposed to work.

Absolute Coffee Cleanse Ingredients and How They Work

As mentioned above, the ingredients are a mystery, so I am going off of the assumption that, as this is a coffee cleanse, that the supplement contains the green coffee bean extract. So what is a green coffee bean? Chances are you’ve seen one after it’s been roasted. The little bean that is ground up to make your morning cup of coffee is the green coffee bean after it’s been put to the fire. When taken in its original form, the green coffee bean has been touted to pack quite the punch. One thing that caught my eye about the Absolute Coffee Cleanse was that the main page makes reference to the credible sources promoting the use of the green coffee bean.

The potential benefits of the green coffee bean include the ability to boost metabolism, lower cholesterol, and improve your immune system. These claims do hold weight. Studies have shown the benefits of the green coffee bean when it comes to overall health, especially with weight loss. Several clinical trials have reported that the group supplementing with green coffee bean extract showed a remarkable improvement than those taking the placebo. Still, some of these studies have been called into question for authenticity, calling for more rigorous research standards. (“The Use of Green Coffee Extract as a Weight Loss Supplement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials” 2012. Para. 1)

Although major clinical trials are still pending, the green coffee bean has been cast in a positive light, compared to a more powerful green tea (but we’ll see about that). If that isn’t enough, just remember that Dr. Oz recommends it. He was also brought to trial by Congress for making exaggerated claims about dietary supplements so best to stick to the research.

Our Problem With Optimal Garcinia Cambogia and Absolute Coffee Cleanse

Although credible reviews are lacking amongst supplement blogs and on the actual website, it turns out that GQ put out a “study” on the supplement combo. Apparently, several dozen volunteers were provided with this weight loss duo and the results were astounding. There’s just one simple problem: It never really happened.

GQ magazine never sponsored an official study. Celebrities such as Lebron James and Colin Kapernick took no part in using either of these supplements. And the astounding results are nothing more than made up. While GQ never sponsored an official study, they did sponsor an advertisement, adding to the already over exaggerated marketing of the product. Everything about the page, including the comments, the before and after pictures, and the reporter is completely fabricated.

Just in case that’s a little hard to believe, here’s the proof:

That’s right guys…it’s not some test GQ ran through.  It’s an ad that someone created to make it appear that it’s a legit GQ article.  Everything about the page, including the comments, the before and after pictures, even the reporter is flat out fake.  So, why would they do something like this?

The Free Trials of These 2 Supplements

You see, these supposed free trials are just that….trials.   You can use it for a specific period of time, usually around 14 days after ordering, and then your credit card will be billed a VERY hefty amount.  For example, the upfront charge for Optimal Garcinia Cambogia is $4.95….however, 14 days down the road they will bill you $79.95 for the product.  Bet you didn’t expect that, did you?

It’s no different with the Absolute Coffee Cleanse.  There’s a $4.95 upfront charge, but what they hide in the fine print is that you will be charged $78.85 on day 15, and then $78.85 on day 30 and every 30 days after until you cancel.  Trust me guys, 95% of people totally skip over that part.  I mean really, who reads the terms and conditions of everything they are signing up for?

As I have mentioned in several of my other reviews, there are literally thousands of people across the country that are sucked into ads like this.  They promise instant weight loss without having to diet and exercise, and it can be REALLY tempting to believe.  The true story is that they are more interested in getting your credit card info so they can bilk you out of $100’s of your hard earned money, and can likely care less whether or not you ACTUALLY lose weight from using their supplements.

Recommendation

The short answer is: I would absolutely NOT recommend this brand of Garcinia Cambogia and Green Bean Coffee combo.

Now for the longer answer: There are several, very obvious, reasons why I would advise any smart consumer to steer clear of this brand of supplement:

First and foremost would be the cost and the contract. $80 for a one month supply of a supplement that has very little science backing its use for weight loss is absolutely ridiculous. Even more so if one were to buy both! The fine print contract locks you into a process of an expensive monthly auto-ship. While it may be easy to sign up, chances are the procedure to cancel is anything but.

Even if price were not an issue, the results that you’re promised have never been proven. The brand relies on vague and false advertising to make itself more appealing to a gullible public. Stock photos and a few cliche lines of dialogue and all of a sudden you have “credible” testimonials. This brand is far from celebrity endorsed so the hype is just that: hype.

Lastly, the science for either supplement just isn’t that impressive. Sure, rats have had success losing weight but when’s the last time you were jealous of a rat on the beach, showing off its new bikini. For the outlandish price of these supplements, the science simply doesn’t justify it.

With that said, while I may not recommend this particular brand of Garcinia Cambogia and Green Bean Extract, that doesn’t mean I am advising not to try it at all. There are several supplement options out there, particularly on the Amazon website that have spectacular reviews at a fraction of the cost without the worry of a hidden contract. Since the science shows promise, I would recommend trying out Garcinia Cambogia and/or Green Coffee Bean Extract as a part of a healthy supplement plan. Make sure the Garcinia Cambogia has at least 60% HCA content. Anything lower is laughable and ineffective.

As always, remember that each person is different. While some may swear by a supplement, others may claim it to be completely useless. Experiment with a month supply and decide on your own if the supplement is worth incorporating as a permanent part of your weight loss and general health maintenance program.

Have You Used Optimal Garcinia Cambogia and Absolute Coffee Cleanse? Leave Your Review Below!

References:

1. Márquez, F. “Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of hydroxycitric acid or Garcinia cambogia extracts in humans.” 2012. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22530711. Web.
2. Onakpoya, Igho J. “The Use of Green Coffee Extract as a Weight Loss Supplement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials” 2012. http://www.hindawi.com/journals/grp/2011/382852/abs. Web.
3. Green Coffee Bean – http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1264-green%20coffee.aspx?activeingredientid=1264&activeingredientname=green%20coffee

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Can I return unopened bottles of the Coffee Cleanse, Garcinia Cambodia XT, and the Trim Carcinia for my money back? -barbara

SupplementCritique.com is a review website. You'll have to contact the company you purchased from to discuss any possibility of refunds. Many companies do offer refunds for unopened bottles, so you may be in luck.- Rob

Author: Rob Miller

Rob Miller founded SupplementCritique.com over 7 years ago, and has been the chief editor ever since. He has a diploma in Advanced Dietary Supplements Advisor, and worked at GNC for 3 years. He KNOWS supplements, both inside and out. Rob currently resides in Jupiter, FL, with his wife of 4 years.  Learn more about him in his Bio here. Follow him on Twitter , Facebook, LinkedIn, or find him on Google +. View all posts by Rob Miller