How Hoodia Gordonii Works
Many people ask me what the secret is to staying slim. The answer is always the same: weight control is all about calorie control, plain and simple. Ingest fewer calories than your body expends and you will lose weight. Scientific studies have confirmed the ability of Hoodia Gordonii to suppress appetite, helping obese people lower dietary calorie intake to a degree that promotes weight loss, at least in the short term [2,3]. Controlled clinical and laboratory experiments show that both animals and humans will restrict the calorie intake in their diet when Hoodia Gordonii is taken orally. Some studies have involved elaborate experiments in which obese people have taken Hoodia Gordonii in a controlled environment and they have been able to reduce their calorie intake by up to 1,000 calories per day [4].
P57 is the name given to the active ingredient in Hoodia gordonii that gives the plant its appetite suppressing qualities. P57 reportedly affects the hypothalamus – the area of the brain that controls appetite and hunger. P57 works in the same way that glucose triggers a “full” feeling after ingesting a meal. The difference though is that P57 is about 10,000 times more powerful than glucose (blood sugar), so ingesting even small amounts of P57 tricks the hypothalamus into signaling the brain that you are full.
Is Hoodia Gordonii Safe?
In a study by a major pharmaceutical company, Phytopharm, no serious adverse effects were experienced by any of the subjects, and the safety data are consistent with a satisfactory overall safety profile. I would excercise caution in choosing any herbal supplement though, as the supplement industry is not subject to the same controls as pharmaceuticals. Make sure to purchase from a reputable supplier so that you are assured that you have a quality product. There are countless products on the market today, many of which contain very little Hoodia Gordonii (see our Scams & Rip-offs section for information about what to look out for).
Talk to friends who have used Hoodia Gordonii with success or seek advice from a doctor.
Since Hoodia Gordonii has been on the market, no side effects have been reported. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when using Hoodia Gordonii:
- Eat enough lean protein to maintain your muscle mass and keep your metabolism from slowing down.
- Consume complex carbohydrates like whole grains and vegetables and fruit. Your body uses carbohydrates, not protein, for fuel. So if you try exercising on an empty tank, your performance-and weight loss efforts-will suffer.
- Hoodia Gordonii not only curbs appetite for food, but it suppresses thirst as well. Even if you don't feel like it, drink plenty of water: about eight 8 oz glasses (2 L) per day
Does Hoodia Gordonii Really Work?
Scientists from the South African Council for Scientific And Industrial Affairs (CSIR) set to find out. In their study they discovered that animals given Hoodia lost weight without any apparent side effects. According to scientists from CSIR, Hoodia works by mimicking the effect glucose has on the nerve cells in the brain.
In 2001 Phytopharm completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of overweight, but otherwise healthy volunteers using an extract of Hoodia Gordonii. The large doses of extract caused a statistically significant reduction in the average daily calorie intake. In addition, a statistically significant reduction in body fat content was also observed compared to the placebo group after two weeks.
Researchers at Brown University in Rhode Island had similar results. They found that the steroidal glycosides in Hoodia affect nerve cells in the hypothalamus that monitor blood glucose. This means your brain is "tricked" into thinking there is enough energy (blood glucose) and therefore your body doesn't require food. The result? You don't feel hungry.
Keep in mind that Hoodia Gordonii is no miracle weight loss cure. Like all dietary supplements, Hoodia Gordonii is meant to be used as part of a sensible, balanced diet. Always drink plenty of water, and exercise regularly for weight loss. But Hoodia can be an important part of your weight loss program.
73% of people who can't lose weight report that late night snacking and the abundance of tempting foods are the reasons their diets fail. A natural appetite suppressant like Hoodia Gordonii can make the difference between diet failure and weight loss success.
REFERENCES
- Tulp OL et al. "Effect of Hoodia plant on food intake and body weight in lean and obese LA/Ntul//-cp rats." FASEB J. 15, 4:A404, 2001.
- Tulp OL, Harbi NA, DerMarderosian A. "Effect of Hoodia plant on weight loss in congenic obese LA/Ntul//-cp rats." FASEB J. 16, 4, 2002.
- Habeck M. "A succulent cure to end obesity." Drug Discovery Today. March 2002, pp 280-1.
- MacLean DB, Lu-Guang L. "Increased ATP content/production in the hypothalamus may be a signal for energy-sensing of satiety: studies of the anorectic mechanism of a plant steroidal glycoside." Brain Res. 1020, 1-2:1-11, 2004.