April 16, 2008
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As Hoodia grows in popularity, more and more people are asking, “What are the side-effects of Hoodia?” or “Is it safe to take Hoodia for slimming?”
They’re good questions. Hoodia is a fairly recent addition to the weight loss arena. It’s been available commercially since about 1997, then it grew in popularity after it was shown on Oprah in 2004.
In all that time, there have been no widely-reported negative side-effects. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert have used the Hoodia plant for thousands of years to ward off hunger pangs during long hunting treks in the desert. And even relied on Hoodia as a staple part of their diet in times of famine.
This would suggest that it’s safe to take for weight loss - if we use it the same way that the San bushmen have done for centuries…
They’ve used it as a whole plant, fresh or dried - without flowers or roots. We need to do the same. Pure Hoodia is what you need to look for. Adding anything to the Hoodia plant may interrupt its natural balance, and therefore reduce its effectiveness as an appetite suppressant.
On the same note, just because the whole plant is considered safe, (with all its ingredients in place) doesn’t mean a drug extracted from the Hoodia plant is necessarily safe. ‘P57′ is the active constituent in Hoodia; but to remove that one molecule and use it on its own is probably not a great idea.
In our research, we uncovered 3 points of note; which are precautions rather than side-effects:
1. Occasionally, Hoodia might reduce the thirst signals in some people, as well as the hunger signals. Now, if Hoodia had ’switched off’ the thirst signal, you wouldn’t realise you were thirsty. So it would be wise to make sure you’re drinking plenty of fluids thoughout the day.
The accepted wisdom is that adults should be drinking 2 litres of water every day. When you’re dieting, you should be drinking at least 2 litres a day. So pour yourself a 2-litre bottle of water every morning, and make sure you drink it throughout the day.
2. The second point is still undecided. Two experts - one a leading endocrinologist at Brown Medical School; another a weight loss specialist; have a difference of thought on the way P57 is broken doen in the body. Dr MacLean (the endocrnologist) found that P57 was easily broken down by the liver. But Dr. Steelman (the weight loss expert) expressed concern that because P57 was processed by the liver, it could cause difficulties in obese people, because they often have liver abnormalities that could compound any possible side-effects.
Two seeming differences of thought. MacLean saying P57 was ‘easily’ broken down by the liver; Dr. Steelman saying that many obese people suffer from liver problems. It therefore makes perfect sense, that if you’re significantly overweight and/or have liver problems, to seek medical advice before taking Hoodia.
3. People with diabetes need to be more careful when using Hoodia. Remember that Hoodia works by triggering their brain into thinking their blood sugar levels are higher than they actually are. Since diabetics already need help regulating blood sugar levels, it could cause a problem if they don’t eat when they’re supposed to, and their blood sugar level drops too low.
To put these points into perspective:
Being overweight is associated with high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and insulin resistance. This combination of risk factors has been called Metabolic Syndrome X, which affects 70 million Americans and is a common cause of premature death and/or disability.
With this in mind, Hoodia Gordonii could be an important factor in the quest to reduce the incidence of Metabolic Syndrome, and its associated risk factors. As with any weight loss regimen, aerobic exercise and other simple dietary changes will enhance the overall effectiveness of Hoodia.
As a general precaution, pregnant or nursing women, children, and people with liver disease should avoid Hoodia. And anyone taking Hoodia needs to ensure they are drinking enough water, and eating enough food for their needs.
To summarise: “Is Hoodia safe to take?” Yes, Hoodia certainly seems to be an effective appetite suppressant. There are countless testimonials to confirm that. The only caveat being to make sure the Hoodia you buy is pure Hoodia that hasn’t been changed or modified in any way.
About the Author:
Author: Jo Johannson is an avid health & nutrition expert, who reviews many health and weight loss products. To find out why he only advocates the ideal Hoodia slimming pills, please visit