What Is Hoodia and Is It Really Safe?
If you have been updated with the current weight loss fads, you might have encountered Hoodia gordonii pills or drinks, which makers promise can bring about weight loss the natural way. But what is Hoodia, and is it really safe to take?
Hoodia gordonii comes from a family of flowering plants that resemble cactuses. Members of this plant family have large flowers with strong smells. Many species of Hoodia hail from the Namib Desert, which stretches from Southern Angola to Central Namibia; Hoodia species grow in rocks and hot plains, and are considered a protected species under constant threat of extinction. Hoodia plants are also popular as garden ornaments, however, and the popular Hoodia gordonii has long been investigated by the scientific community for its supposed properties as an appetite suppressant.
How useful is Hoodia gordonii, at least to the world of dieters and health enthusiasts? According to current studies, there are still no conclusive studies on humans that can conclusively identify Hoodia gordonii as a safe, effective appetite suppressant, at least in its pill form. Most studies on humans have been carried out on a small scale, and scientists are currently trying to bring more people in to participate in larger studies of Hoodia gordonii.
Another problem that scientists face is study bias. Although some studies have shown that Hoodia gordonii can allow overweight people to lose as much as ten pounds of their body weight, these studies are usually sponsored by Hoodia gordonii pill manufacturers. Most studies, moreover, are not published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, casting doubt on the reliability of the results. This has led many doctors to refrain from prescribing Hoodia to their overweight patients.
According to people who support the use of Hoodia, however, Hoodia gordonii can allow you to lose weight easily and shed excess fat and pounds because you will feel hungry less often. This promise of Hoodia gordonii has beckoned weight loss enthusiasts, especially former users of the dangerous weight loss drug ephedra. In the case of Hoodia gordonii, the active ingredient is a compound called P57, which scientists have found to be safe in its pure form.
According to current users, moreover, Hoodia gordonii has its own long history of safe use. Hoodia gordonii users often refer to the African Bushmen of South Africa’s Kalahari Desert, who were the first to bring Hoodia gordonii to the world. According to chroniclers of the lives of these bushmen, Hoodia gordonii has been in use for thousands of years as an appetite suppressant, and without any known negative side effects.
The study conducted on P57, however, was not large enough to be conclusive. Scientists have also found that Hoodia gordonii does not only suppress appetite, but thirst as well, which could pose a problem to people who are constantly on the go and who might be dehydrated because they failed to drink water. Hoodia gordonii might also be dangerous to people with blood sugar problems, as such people might not be aware that their blood sugar levels are already dropping even while the brain is thinking that the body is already full. There are also no studies establishing any dangerous contraindications Hoodia gordonii might have.
If you are interested in weight loss, the safest alternative is still exercise and a balanced diet. Diet pills might do the trick quickly, but because their safety is still being questioned, it would be in your best interest to stick to your doctor’s advice. Always consult with your doctor on any weight loss therapies that you might want to undergo, and be sure to put your health and safety first before any weight loss.
And remember - not every company sells true Hoodia. Here are a few that we checked ourselves and they deliver results they claim:
Desert Burn Hoodia - best selling hoodia.
Hoodia Gordonii Plus - buy 4 get 2 free.
Hoodia Balance - Free Lifetime Weight Loss Program Membership.
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