Hoodia gordonii, the South African succulent favored by the San Bushmen of the Kalahari desert may just be a dieter's dream, or possibly just another weight loss supplement with empty promises. It was only a little over one year ago when CBS sent a "60 Minutes" news correspondent to the desert of Kalahari to ask questions and try the plant herself. After chewing a Hoodia leaf, she said there was no desire for food for almost 24 hours. Soon after, a BBC news reporter soon reported the same thing.
After these news segments, the interest in this plant skyrocketed, as well as sales for this weight loss supplement although little research has been done to confirm the assumption it has no side effects. Further reports mention that consumers who are buying weight loss supplements over the Internet or at their local health food stores may not be getting what they’re paying for. Nutritionists have always said that dieting achieved by starving the body is not a good idea, and who can argue with this, right? The only known clinical study was conducted on rats, and because hoodia is considered as an appetite suppressant that affects the body centrally, there are unknown risks to organs, nervous and circulatory systems within the body.
Hoodia may be as safe as purified water, but without research, who knows for sure. Some people in the industry have questioned whether the products that claim of containing hoodia as a primary ingredient actually do contain the supplement at all. Critics have also argued that there isn’t enough cultivated hoodia to account for all the new created weight loss products claiming to have it as an ingredient. While the hoodia plant grows in the unforgiving sands of the Kalahari desert, it apparently is not easy to propagate or reproduce in nurseries or in commercial fields.
Many dieters are even told that for hoodia pills to work effectively, they must be coupled with reduced calorie intake, reduction of carbohydrates, fats, and to drink lots of water and exercise. One of the hoodia manufacturers even recommends walking one to two miles a day, and drinking one ounce of water for every two pounds you weigh. Seems like a great way to lose weight in itself.
Who would even know if hoodia even worked effectively or not if you were told to do all this, right? So, what do you think? Is hoodia just another weight loss dream and product to make the sellers rich? Or, does it really have any substantial proof to back its effectiveness?
More information on Hoodia Gordonii, its ingredients, and directions can be viewed from our Hoodia weight loss supplements section.
