Garcinia cambogia is a fruit that naturally contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA); the extract is popular because of the standardized amount of HCA.

HCA stands for hydroxycitric acid, an organic acid derived from the rind of the Garcinia cambogia fruit.

A standardized extract guarantees the amount of HCA per serving, so you know exactly what you are taking.

HCA capsules are generally taken before meals because this fits the usage pattern of many plant-based extracts. By taking it before eating, the timing aligns with moments when the body is about to process food. This is often mentioned in dosage advice for supplements based on fruit extracts such as Garcinia cambogia.