Is Hoodia Gordonii the Right Supplement to Take to Effect Weight Loss?

Many people are attracted to Hoodia because they see it as a natural occurring substance as it is a plant that grows in the deserts of Southern Africa. It is said that the Bushmen of the region relied on Hoodia to stave off thirst and hunger when they went on hunting trips that would keep them away for long periods of time.

How is Hoodia Gordonii Taken Currently

The Bushmen of the Kalahari had to cut the stem off the plant and eat it. The taste is said to be bitter and unpleasant but it obviously did the trick. Today we no longer have to munch on a plant in order to get the benefits from Hoodia. Instead it is sold in a variety of forms such as a tea, liquid, powder or a capsule. You can find Hoodia in many venues such as a health food store and even more conveniently it can be purchased on the internet.

Be Careful of Fraudulent Hoodia

Hoodia contains p57 which is classified as a steroidal glycoside. It is p57 which is said to be the active ingredient. Hoodia has thirteen types and is the only plant that is has been shown thus far to contain p57. The studies that have been done are still in doubt whether Hoodia is effective in pill form and more research needs to be done in order to arrive at a definitive answer.

It has been estimated that approximately 80% of products claiming to be Hoodia Gordonii are in fact fraudulent or contaminated. Even if you browse the internet and go to review sites, you still can’t be sure the information that is contained there is true as many companies that sell Hoodia products set up these sites in order to get people to buy their brand and write disparaging remarks about their competitors. Your best bet would be to buy it at a reputable health food store where you know that purity will be prized.

Are There Any Side Effects Associated with Hoodia?

Though most of the claims regarding Hoodia say that it is a natural supplement therefore has no side effects, this is not entirely true. Hoodia hasn’t been around long enough in the United States and not enough testing and research has been done on the long term affects of Hoodia. Hoodia is not approved by the FDA and some early findings showed that Hoodia can have some negative effects on the liver. Hoodia should be used with caution if you are taking any other type of medications and those that have diabetes should avoid taking it because one of the affects of Hoodia is that it is said to fool the brain into thinking it has enough blood sugar. Taking Hoodia may also result in dehydration as it also tricks the body into thinking it has enough fluids. Those that are pregnant or nursing should avoid using Hoodia and it should not be given to children under the age of 18.