Hoodia
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Weight Loss and Appetite
Suppressant It is believed to work in the hypothalamus to control the feeling of hunger. A quick review shows that here are unpublished studies that showed comparing taking P57 versus a placebo (sugar pill). It showed that overweight men taking P57 ate significantly less than those taking the placebo. In an animal study, rats given P57 showed a significant decrease in appetite and total body mass compared to those not feed P57 over an eight day period. Preliminary studies appear promising in using it as a diet pill to suppress appetite but there’s no quality published study done on human subjects. |
Facts and Questions about Hoodia
Hoodia is use to control appetite. The people of San in South Africa own the rights to use it. Others have said that San bushmen are slim due to eating it. We believe it’s because they don’t each much at all (what’s there to eat out in the bushes other than perhaps cactus?) If they don’t each much because they can’t find food or are poor, they would be slim indeed.As an additional comment regarding weigh loss, suppressing your appetite means you will eat less. Thus, your body metabolism will slow down to compensate. This, but itself will not lead to weigh loss directly. Even if it is proven to suppress appetite you may not see a large drop in your body weight very quickly. Loosing 1 to 2 pounds of weigh weekly is considered to be a safe rate. Maintaining weight loss requires other activities as such an exercise program, dieting and eating a balanced proportions of foods from the food groups.
P57 is a cactus-like plant that is native to Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. San bushmen eat it to control their hunger during their long hunting trips.The active component is suspected to be a chemical known as P57, an oxypregnane steroidal glycoside. It works in the brain to stimulate the sensation of fullness. This will control hunger and thus promote weight loss similar to most diet pills that works in the appetite center in the brain.
Does P57 work?
Yes, in animals such as rats, it worked. But that’s only one study. Other herbal supplements have hundreds to thousands of published research proving their effectiveness. Also, in very small study in overweight men, it showed that it worked. But this result is not published so we cannot comment on how well the research study was. It was conducted by Phytopharm, the holder of the rights on P57.
This is hardly what we call unbiased clinical research. A multinational pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, discontinued clinical research on p57 in 2003. This is also a poor signal about hoodia.
How did it become popular?
It has been featured on Sixty Minutes, in O, The Oprah Magazine and many other media as an effective, safe, and natural appetite suppressant. This is what we call hype. Why would the media talk about it so much? The reason is obvious. The media makes money on what people like to believe, hear or read. Weight loss is a hugh multi-billion dollar industry and if you report on this miracle herb that will cause you to shed pounds and reduce your waistline, the people will listen intensively.
Be careful of company making extreme claims of quick and fast action weight loss with their brand of product. Be wary of companies claiming that their product is pure and only contains p57.
What should I watch out for when buying this?
Planning to loose weight using hoodia as a diet pill? Buying P57 online? Buy from a reputable company. There are news reports that many P57 brands promoted on the internet as diet pills do not contain any of the active ingredient. A lot of products sold claiming to contain pure P57 are found to contain little or none. This is the real danger of buying products online from unknown or small companies. Ensure that the company is authorized and licenced to export it from South Africa and Namibia. They will have a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) certificate.
Suggested Benefits and Traditional Uses
Orally and Transdermally (through the skin)- suppress appetite
- weight loss
Side Effects, Toxicity and Warnings
There are no reports of side effects or toxicity. However, it is not a stimulant like caffeine or ephedra thus, it is not expected to cause insomnia or loss of sleep.Avoid use in children pregnant women or women who are breast-feeding. If have are allergic to plant products or have other medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, blood disorder, anorexia, bulimia, previous history of heart attack or stroke, consult your doctor before you start taking it.
Safety - It is probably safe based on the limited studies done on animals.Dosage & How to Take It
There is no typical dosage data available. Since there are no major reported side effects, start with a safe amount (e.g. 500 mg of the herb) and move upwards based on your response to it.There is no information on using it as a weight loss patch on the skin. We don't know if it can be absorbed through the skin. If p57 is not able to cross the skin, it will not be absorbed by the body and thus it will not work.
We cannot recommend using the weight loss patch formulation. Stick with the pills or liquid formulation instead.
Sample Products List
The products listed below are licensed and have a C.I.T.E.S. certificate authorizing their sales in the USA. The ones listed with an asterisk after their names have documented random independent laboratory testing to prove that they contain hoodia in the amounts claimed.- Desert Burn ZA 750 *
- Hoodoba pure 750 *
- HoodiThin *
- Desert Juice *
- Hoodia XR *
- Pure Hoodia Super Slim 400 *
- Hoodia Balance
- Hoodia Gordonii Plus
- Liquid Hoodia Extreme
- Optimum Hoodia
Diet and exercise plus a little education can help you become and stay healthy. Don't live your life so that medical professionals and drugs are needed to fix you once you're broken.
