Is Hoodia Safe For Weight Loss?

Is Hoodia Safe for Weight Loss?

Jo Johansson

As Hoodia grows in popularity, more and more people are asking, "What are the side-effects of Hoodia?" or "Is it safe to take Hoodia for slimming?"

Hoodia is a fairly new addition in the area of slimming. It's been sold commercially since 1997, but it gained popularity after it appeared on the BBC and was discussed on the Oprah Winfrey show in 2004.

>From the countless thousands that have taken Hoodia in those years, there have been virtually no serious side-effects reported. The Bushmen of South Africa - where Hoodia grows in the wild - have been using the Hoodia plant for centuries to help keep curb their appetites during strenuous hunting expeditions through the desert. Sometimes, during periods of lack, they had to rely on Hoodia as a staple part of their diet.

So it would seem that Hoodia is safe to take as an appetite suppressant... if we take it the same way the San bushmen have done for countless centuries.

They've always used the whole plant, either dried or fresh, but avoiding the roots and flowers. Therefore we need to do the same, and find a product that is pure Hoodia - nothing added and nothing taken away. Adding anything to pure Hoodia is likely to disrupt its natural balance, and consequently reduce its effectiveness as an appetite suppressant.

Equally, just because the whole plant is safe, (with all its ingredients intact) does not mean a drug derived from the Hoodia plant is necessarily safe. 'P57' is the active ingredient in Hoodia; but to isolate that one molecule and use it alone is probably not such a good idea.

In our research, we uncovered 3 points of note; which are precautions rather than side-effects:

1. Occasionally, Hoodia may reduce the thirst signals in some people, as well as the hunger signals. Now, if Hoodia had 'switched off' the thirst signal, you wouldn't realise you were thirsty. So it would be wise to make sure you're drinking plenty of fluids thoughout the day.

Adults should drink 2 litres of water each day. When you're dieting, you need to drink more than that, to help detox your body. So it might be a good idea to pour yourself a 2 liter bottle of water each morning, and make sure you sip it throughout the day.

2. Point number 2 is still being debated. Dr. Steelman - a weight loss specialist, said he was concerned that the P57 molecule in Hoodia was processed by the liver, since obese people often have liver problems that could exacerbate any potential side-effects. Yet Dr. MacLean - a leading endocrinologist at Brown Medical School, found that P57 was easily broken down by the liver.

Two seeming differences of opinion. MacLean saying P57 was broken down 'easily' by the liver; Dr. Steelman saying that many obese people suffer from liver problems. It does make sense then, if you are significantly overweight and/or have liver problems, to seek medical advice before taking a course of Hoodia supplements.

3. People with diabetes should be careful when using Hoodia. Diabetics need help with regulating their blood sugar levels. If Hoodia 'tricks' their brain into thinking their blood sugar levels are higher than they actually are, it could cause a problem if they don't eat when they're supposed to, and their blood sugar level drops too low.

Let's place these precautions into some sort of context:

Being overweight is linked directly to high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and insulin resistance/diabetes. This particular combination of symptoms is called Metabolic Syndrome X. This 'disease cluster' affects about 70 million US citizens, and is now a common cause of premature death and/or disability.

It seems that Hoodia could play a vital role - together with aerobic exercise and dietary changes, to fight metabolic syndrome and reduce the risk associated with any of the diseases above.

As a general precaution, pregnant or nursing women, children, and people with liver disease should avoid Hoodia. And anyone taking Hoodia needs to ensure they are drinking enough water, and eating enough food for their needs.

To summarise: "Is Hoodia safe to take?" Yes, Hoodia certainly seems to be an effective appetite suppressant. There are countless testimonials to confirm that. The only caveat being to make sure the Hoodia you buy is pure Hoodia that hasn't been changed or modified in any way.

Author: Jo Johannson is a keen health & nutrition expert, who reviews many health and slimming products. To discover why he only recommends the http://www.hoodiaguide.co.uk/slimming/pure-hoodia.html best Hoodia slimming pills, please visit http://www.hoodiaguide.co.uk) www.HoodiaGuide.co.uk.