Hoodia is a natural plant extract often used in diet products for its supposed appetite-suppressant effects. The diet product's company Applied Nutrition developed a 10-Day Hoodia Diet, which comprises taking appetite-suppressant soft-gel capsules. The capsules are high in caffeine and aim to boost energy levels while promoting the metabolism of fat, carbohydrates and proteins. No hard scientific evidence exists supporting claims about hoodia's dietary effects. Be sure to consult your doctor before beginning any type of diet regimen.
What Is Hoodia?
Hoodia is a cactuslike, flowering plant found on the African continent's southern Kalahari Desert. The hoodia herb that is extracted from the plant's stem and roots is commonly used as an appetite suppressant in dietary supplements. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Kalahari bushmen have used hoodia stems for generations to suppress their hunger and thirst while hunting or during famines.
10-Day Hoodia Diet
The 10-day Hoodia Diet was an appetite suppressant diet program developed by the diet product distributor Applied Nutrition. The company no longer offers its 10-Day Hoodia Diet, which consisted of liquid soft-gel capsules made of hoodia and green tea extracts. The capsule packets are still available however, through various online distributors such as Amazon.com.
Ingredients
As with most dietary supplements, there are a number of ingredients that you should carefully consider. While hoodia and green tea extracts are the primary ingredients, Applied Nutrition's 10-Day Hoodia Diet also includes garcinia extract, natural caffeine, choline bitartrate, inositol and L-methionine. Ask your doctor if any of these ingredients may have adverse effects if you are currently taking medications or other supplements.
Pros and Cons
Hoodia is a popular ingredient in many dietary products. While some contain ample amounts of hoodia, others barely contain traces. Applied Nutrition's 10-Day Hoodia Diet claims to include 200 mg of hoodia per dose. The diet review website DietSpotlight.com considers this to be an adequate amount of hoodia. Other benefits of the diet include the antioxidants provided by the green tea extracts. A drawback to taking this or any other hoodia diet product is the lack of reputable evidence available about the plant. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that there is no reliable scientific information to support its effectiveness as a weight-loss agent.
Warnings and Side Effects
Because of the lack of scientific studies done on hoodia, its safety is unknown. As with any dietary supplement, side effects and potential risks are possible. You should not take hoodia if you are taking prescription medication. Interactions between hoodia and medicines have not been studied. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the quality of hoodia products varies greatly, with reports of some products not containing any hoodia at all. Be sure to talk to your doctor before beginning any type of hoodia regimen.
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