Hoodia (hoodia gordonii) is a cactus plant grown in Africa, traditionally used to reduce hunger for native African residents during long journeys. According to natural health expert Dr. Andrew Weil, hoodia has become a popular weight loss supplement in America, though minimal scientific evidence of its effectiveness exists. Anyone interested in taking hoodia as a weight loss aid should consider the potential risks and benefits, and seek approval from a doctor prior to beginning use.
History
Hoodia, also known as kalahari cactuso xhoba, is a flowering cactus plant that derives from the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa. According to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), Kalahari hunters known as "bushmen" have eaten hoodia stems in order to manage hunger as well as thirst during long hunting ventures. Dried hoodia stems are found in dietary capsules, powders and chewable tablets often with other ingredients, such as green tea or chromium picolinate. Liquid extracts of hoodia and teas are also available and used for similar purposes.
Uses
Hoodia is known for its numbing impact on hunger and appetite. According to the NCCAM, hoodia is marketed and sold as a weight loss enhancer and appetite suppressant. People seeking weight loss and hoping to reduce caloric intake take a form of hoodia, such as a capsule, before or in between meals as a means of preventing overeating and easing the process of calorie restriction. Partakers often depend upon hoodia as an aid to weight loss and dieting ventures.
Effectiveness
Scientific studies of hoodia's effectiveness on weight loss and appetite are lacking. A portion of a study published in the Dutch journal Tropical Animal Health and Production, in April 2009, showed that chickens that were given 300 milligrams of hoodia-enhanced food daily demonstrated reduced body fat by up to 18 percent. However, other portions of the study showed no influence of hoodia supplementation on chickens' fat content whatsoever. According to the NCCAM, no studies of hoodia's impact on human's appetite or weight loss results have been published. In other words, as of 2010, hoodia's effectiveness for weight loss remains scientifically unknown.
Risks
Since scientific research on hoodia is lacking, potential risks of hoodia supplements remain unknown. Many herbal supplements pose adverse side effects, including possible interaction with other medications. In addition, the NCCAM explains that the quality of products containing hoodia range in quality. Some hoodia supplements have been found to contain no hoodia at all. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications or are at heightened risk for serious diseases or conditions, avoid supplements with questionable effectiveness and unknown short- or long-term risks. Though everyone taking hoodia may be at risk for unknown side effects, additional health conditions or medications often add to these risks.
Considerations
A healthy dietary lifestyle and regular physical activity are safe and proven methods of weight management. If you have difficulty controlling your appetite, talk to your doctor or a qualified dietary professional who can guide you toward safe, natural means of doing so. Those who experience emotional hunger or eating (hunger and eating due to emotional causes rather than physiological) may benefit from behavioral therapy. Until more is known about hoodia supplements for weight loss, experts such as Weil, advise against them. Be sure to gain approval from your doctor before seeking weight loss and before taking dietary supplements of any kind.
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