Hoodia is one of many dietary supplements that claims to be the way to lose weight. It is advertised as an appetite suppressant that is natural and safe. Before you rush out to the store for this product, you should understand where it comes from, how it works and if there is any actual evidence to support the claims it makes.
Facts
Hoodia has the scientific name "Hoodia Gordonii." It comes from a plant in the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. In this region, the natives use the plant to suppress their appetite during long hunts. Based on this evidence, the plant is sold as a dietary supplement that claims to control appetite for weight loss. According to the Psychology Department of Vanderbilt University, the P57 molecule in hoodia can make the brain into believe its full for up to 24 hours at a time.
Warning
Hoodia can be dangerous if you suffer from diabetes or an eating disorder. Diabetics need to closely monitor their blood sugar levels to avoid jeopardizing their health and life. If you feel full all day, you may forget to eat and your blood sugar can drop very quickly. If you have an eating disorder and are already consuming too few calories or are purging after you eat, hoodia can cause your daily calorie intake to drop even lower. Eating too few calories a day can alter your metabolism and cause your body to store fat and eat at muscle for nutrients. Herbal supplements, like hoodia, are not required to receive approval by the Food and Drug Administration before being sold to the public, so there is no guarantee that the products are safe or effective.
Expert Insight
Insufficient evidence exists to support the claim that hoodia as an appetite suppressant and weight loss product. They also state that there is insufficient information available to say that this is a safe product to consume. Be mindful if you buy this product, you may not even get what you are paying for. You may buy a product that is pure hoodia, or you may get a product that has no real traces of the original plant at all. This can greatly impact the results you receive when taking the supplement.
Considerations
The idea that you can take a pill and lose weight seems too good to be true for a reason. While hoodia might help to curb your appetite, healthy weight loss occurs when you make permanent, beneficial changes to your diet and activity level. Eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods that come from the fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy and grain food groups. Choose options that are low fat, without added sugar or more than 400 calories per serving. Participate in 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to intense activity a day to burn calories and lose any excess fat.
Member Comments