Hoodia is a plant native to South Africa with appetite suppressant properties. African hunters use it when they lack food in the desert. Recently, hoodia appeared on the market of dietary supplements and is advertised as a miracle slimming agent. Does hoodia really help you lose weight?
Hoodia gordoniiis a plant belonging to succulents, i.e. desert plants adapted to life in difficult conditions without water. It grows in the area of South Africa. The peoples there believe that chewing the flesh of the plant suppresses the appetite, so they traditionally use it during their stay in the desert, when access to food is limited.
The specific properties of hoodia were noticed by the pharmaceutical industry and soon supplements with plant extracts began to be produced. According to their producers, preparations with hoodia are to be an effective slimming agent.
How much truth is in advertising slogans and can you count on quick weight loss by using hoodia?
Hoodia - action
The effect of hoodia on appetite was first observed in the 1930s during a study of the culture of the San people of the Kalahari desert. In the 1970s, scientists from South Africa isolated from the plant a substance they believe is responsible for suppressing appetite - P57. Its purpose is to "trick" the brain that the stomach is full and therefore endure the feeling of hunger. It is worth noting that the scientific research concerned only a specific variety of hoodia - hoodia gordonii, and it is this species of succulent that is an ingredient of most slimming preparations.
Hoodia - effects of use
Although hoodia can be found in many weight loss supplements, none of the previous scientific studies have confirmed that this plant suppresses appetite in humans. The breakthrough research was published in 2011 in the prestigiousAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition . The scientists selected 49 overweight women for the experiment, to whom they administered hoodia gordonii extract or a placebo for 15 days. Participants could eat as much as they wanted and their meals were the same.
The results of the study showed that in both groups, both those taking the placebo and the hoodia gordonii, the caloric intake was at the same level. Not recordedalso significant changes in weight in the surveyed women. Scientists have observed a number of side effects caused by the consumption of hoodia gordonii. Participants taking the plant extract had elevated heart rate, blood pressure, increased levels of bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase in their blood. Some developed nausea, vomiting and skin allergies.
Hoodia - does it help you lose weight?
A scientific experiment from 2011 showed that hoodia does not significantly affect appetite and weight loss, but can cause side effects. None of the plant extract supplements have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Also, the possible side effects resulting from long-term use of hoodia have not been thoroughly understood. The fact that one of the largest food companies in the world stopped the production of its hoodia slimming preparations after 4 years says a lot. As a justification, the company raised doubts about the safety and effectiveness of supplements with this plant.
Hoodia - watch out for dangerous fakes
Despite scientific research contradicting the effectiveness of hoodia, on forums and blogs you can find enthusiastic entries from people who allegedly managed to lose weight thanks to this plant. It is not an individual matter to consider anonymous accounts credible or not. However, it should be borne in mind that many specifics available on the market that advertise themselves as supplements for slimming with hoodia contain minimal amounts of this ingredient or no content at all. This plant is under protection and obtaining it requires many permits, therefore producers often use cheaper substitutes.
Besides, there are no top-down standards regulating the production and sale of this type of preparations. It often happens that illegally produced herbal supplements are contaminated with dangerous substances - they may contain, for example, heavy metals or toxic fillers. This also applies to hoodia supplements. For security reasons, it is better to choose products from reputable companies and buy them in specialized stores than via the Internet.
One should also remember about contraindications. Hoodia supplements should not be taken by people with diabetes, suffering from heart disease and hypertension, with blood clotting problems, suffering from anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders.