Hoodia Gordonii
Hoodia
Gordonii is probably the most talked about diet supplement of all. It is derived from a cactus-like South African plant and has been
known to the indigenous bushmen for years.
How Does Hoodia Work?
Hoodia works by fooling your brain that you are full. Nerve cells in the hypothalamus detect your blood sugar levels and tell you whether you are full or not. Hoodia tricks this part of your brain into telling you that you do not need to eat. The bushmen use Hoodia during long hunting trips and to keep their children's' hunger at bay during lengthy journeys.
How is Hoodia Made?
Hoodia Gordonii is found in the semi-desert areas of South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. It grows on clumps of upright green stems - similar to a cactus. After about 5 years of growth its pale purple flowers appear and the plant can be harvested.
The active ingredient in Hoodia is P57. It has so far proven impossible to completely isolate this component, so most Hoodia products contain some other harmless compounds from the plant. There are 13 different types of Hoodia but they all contain P57.
Which supplements contain Hoodia?
It has been claimed that over 80% of online Hoodia products are fake. This is a result of its unproven status and the fact that it is as yet not properly regulated by the FDA. Always buy from a reputable online merchant and be sure to do your research.
Hoodia is usually sold in capsules, powder, liquid or tea. There are many products available but the most famous is the Trimspa X32 diet pill, endorsed by the late Anna Nicole Smith.
Does Hoodia have side effects?
As far as we know, Hoodia has very few side effects, one of the reasons for its burgeoning popularity. The closest to controversy that the drug has come was in a New York Times article that suggested some unwanted effects on the liver. These were caused by other parts of the Hoodia extract that are not easily removed. As far as we know there is so far no definite answer.
It is important to note that there have been no comprehensive studies on the effects of Hoodia on humans. Until that is the case, dieters should be extremely careful in using Hoodia products.
Hoodia and Email Scams
In the first few months of 2006, literally billions of emails were sent out by spam marketers with references to Hoodia. These emails promised diet pills with Hoodia extract and rapid weight loss - however the pills being marketed generally did not contain any of the active ingredient.
Far from tainting the reputation of Hoodia, these emails tended to spread the message faster. Luckily, the Hoodia extract can indeed be found in many reputable diet pills, just be sure to do your research!