Hoodia and green tea are two tools for dieters who need more than willpower to shed unwanted pounds. Some of the appetite-suppression and fat-burning claims made by marketers about hoodia and green tea are backed by scientific research, but the products are not without risks, especially to pregnant women and people with preexisting medical conditions, including liver and kidney problems.
Hoodia Study
A United States study found that hoodia may help suppress appetite by sending a signal to your brain that you are full. David B. MacLean and Lu-Guang Luo, researchers at Brown University, said that a steroidal glycoside present in hoodia helped rats on low-calorie diets feel satisfied. The study, published in 2004 in "Brain Research," showed that rats fed P57, an element in hoodia, were less hungry than rats on low-calorie diets that did not take the supplement.
Hoodia History
Hoodia was among 1,000 plants screened beginning in the 1960s by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research for their possible use as food or drugs. The council's findings that the plant, hoodia gordonii, suppressed appetite led to the plant's popularity as a natural weight-loss supplement. It became over-harvested and because of scarcity, some products advertising hoodia as an ingredient do not contain any of the plant. In one analysis, about 60 percent of hoodia products contained hoodia, and in another, fewer than a third of the products contained any of the plant. Hoodia, native to the Kalahari Desert, was first used by indigenous people to ward off hunger during long hunting trips.
Green Tea's Fat-Burning Properties
Green tea contains catechins, which may have fat-burning properties, studies show. In a 2007 study published in the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition," Michael Boschmann and others found that men who consumed 300 mg of catechins in green tea metabolized fat more quickly than men given a placebo. Boschmann, who led the German study, said that the catechins in green tea boosted the men's metabolism and helped them lose weight.
Clinical Study
Another study, reported in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," found that men who drank green tea lost 5.3 lbs. in three months, compared to 2.9 lbs. lost by men who drank black tea. Both green and black tea contain catechins, but green tea contains many more. In the comparison study, some men drank green tea containing 660 mg per cup and some drank black tea that contained 22 mg. The men who drank green tea also lost a higher percentage of abdominal fat.
Precautions
The catechins found in green tea have no known side effects, but green tea contains caffeine. Caffeine may be unhealthy for people who suffer from kidney disease, anxiety or high blood pressure. A four-year study published by the "British Medical Journal" also linked caffeine to low birth weights in babies. Most cautions about caffeine intake warn against ingesting more than 100 mg a day if you are among the groups at risk. You can drink decaffeinated green tea, but it is not entirely caffeine-free. Dónal OMathúna, who has a PhD in pharmacy, says hoodia may be unsafe for anyone with liver disease. Pfizer dropped plans to market hoodia in the U.S. after P57 was found to cause liver problems. Anyone with preexisting medical conditions should consult a physician before consuming either hoodia or green tea.
References
- "The Irish Times"; Can Hoodia Help the Obese as Well as the Hungry?; Donal O'Mathuna; 2009
- "Drug Week"; Obesity Therapy; 2004
- "Drug Week;" Obesity and Diabetes: Researchers For Clinical Research Report Details of New studies and Findings in the Area of Obesity and Diabetes; 2007
- "Biotech Business Week"; Obesity: New Obesity study findings have been reported by K.D. Maki and colleagues; 2009
- BMJ: Maternal Caffeine Intake During Pregnancy and Risk of Fetal Growth Restriction
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