Hoodia Gordonii

Vienna Miller asked:


You’ve seen the name everywhere. Hoodia Gordonii has taken the weight loss world by storm. Being touted as the next miracle weight loss pill, Hoodia is now being put into everything from multivitamins to Trimspa.

But does Hoodia work?

Considering the debacle that was Ephedra, consumers are right to be cautious about this new weight loss pill. Does Hoodia actually work to help you lose weight? Does it really do what the pill manufacturers say?

Well, Hoodia has been shown to have some specific effects in the area of weight loss. But there are certain things you should know before running out to buy the latest Hoodia pill from your drug store.

Here are 3 ways Hoodia helps you lose weight and 3 other things you should know to make Hoodia work best for you.

#1) Hoodia Makes You Physically Less Hungry

Pure Hoodia contains a molecule scientists called “P57″ which, they believe, is responsible for making you feel full.

Normally, when you eat food, this food turns to glucose. When the glucose in your body rises it eventually signals to your brain (the hypothalamus) that you are full.

It is believed that “P57″ molecule in Hoodia mimics the effect that glucose has on your brain, telling part of your brain (the Hypothalamus) that you feel full. Consequently, you are physically less hungry.

One of the first studies of Hoodia Gordonii was done in the UK on obese patients. Half of the volunteers were given Hoodia Gordonii, the other half were given a placebo.

The subjects were allowed to do nothing but read, watch television and eat. After 15 days it was found that those taking Hoodia had reduced their calorie intake by 1000 calories a day. Despite having unlimited access to food, the Hoodia subjects lost weight without feeling hungry.

#2) Hoodia Turns Off The Desire To Overeat

Some people have reported that not only does Hoodia make them feel full, but it also shuts off their desire to eat.

As many of us know, we can feel physically satisfied but still eat for a variety of reasons like emotions, timing and social influence. In fact emotional eating is actually responsible for more overeating than physical hunger.

Hoodia can help some people lose weight by quenching this desire to eat and breaking the emotional attachment to food.

By quenching this emotional attachment to food, Hoodia can help the individual to develop new emotional coping skills that don’t include using food for comfort.

Note: Hoodia may not have this effect on everyone, however many people have reported having less of a desire to eat after taking Hoodia.

#3) By Turning Off Your Appetite Hoodia Allows You To Start Making Positive, Healthy Food Choices

How many times have we planned to eat healthy and then that old, ugly hunger rears it’s ugly head and demands food NOW. We end up reaching for anything that’s fast, easy and usually unhealthy.

By turning off your appetite, Hoodia allows you to start to make positive, healthy food choices. It takes the pain out of building new healthier eating choices. Since you probably don’t want to be on Hoodia forever, this is a great way to lose weight and transition your eating to a healthier, lighter diet – with less pain and deprivation.

So those are 3 ways Hoodia Gordonii can help you lose weight. Does that mean that it will? Not necessarily. In order for Hoodia to help you achieve your weight loss goals there are several factors you must consider:

1) Make Sure You Buy From A Pure Source.

Unfortunately, there are scam artists who are taking advantage of the current demand for Hoodia by packaging fake Hoodia, fillers or even sawdust – and then selling it as Hoodia.

Look for genuine South African Hoodia from a seller who displays both a C.I.T.E.S certificate on their website along with Lab Assays and testing of their Hoodia pills. If you’re not sure about which Hoodia brand to buy, do more research until you feel comfortable with your decision.

2) Make Sure You Are Taking Enough Hoodia.

The correct dosage varies depending on whom you talk to but most people start with about 400 mg three times a day before meals. They then increase the dosage up as high as 1000 mg three times daily until they find the dose that works for them.

Also, give it several days for the Hoodia to take effect before you increase your current dose.

3) Make Sure You Consult Your Doctor Before Taking Hoodia or Making Any Change To Your Diet or Exercise Routine.

This one is a given but surprisingly many people don’t do it and it can result in you wasting your time and effort for no good reason. If, for example, you have a medical condition that makes it hard to lose weight, Hoodia may not work for you as you’d hoped. Talk to your doctor before trying anything new.

So those are 3 ways Hoodia works to help you lose weight and reach your goals. Hoodia does work. Make sure you follow these suggestions and you’ll be well on your way to weight loss success with Hoodia.

Fit Yummy Mummy!

Ivan A Cuxeva asked:


There are several weight loss pills marketed today, however one which has become quite popular is called Hoodia Gordonii. This pill is made of a plant with the same name, it is also known by several other names such as Hoodia cactus, South African desert cactus, Ghaap, etc. The pronunciation of its popular commercial name is Hoo-dee-ahh. This plant grows primarily in the semi-deserts of South Africa where it was discovered by local tribes and used for its amazing properties. The specific areas where this plant has been found are: Angola, Botswana and Namibia.

One of the reasons Hoodia emerged and gained popularity is due to ban of the dangerous pill “Ephedra” which is known to cause several dangerous side effects and even death. Hoodia has not shown dangerous side effects after being tested in first animals and then people. The properties of Hoodia were first tested by South African indigenous tribes (the San Bushmen) who ate this plant during extended hunting trips, they knew that this plant had substances which suppressed their hunger and thirst allowing them to push themselves far enough until they were able to get some food.

The Hoodia plant resembles a cactus which is why it is referred to as the desert cactus, however this plant shouldn’t be confused with traditional desert cactus which lack the properties of this plant. It is also said that Hoodia is actually a succulent plant once it is properly prepared, however the process of harvesting the plant involves a lot of work, for instance the plant takes about five years for the it purple flowers to appear which indicates it is ready to be cut and processed.

The active ingredient which suppresses hunger and thirst is called p57 and has only be found in this desert plant, p57 is a steroidal glycoside which triggers chemical reactions within our body allowing us to loose weight. According to studies conducted by the manufacturer Phytopharm which involved 18 humans, it was found that the use of this substance reduced the food intake of all subjects which allowed them to reduce the intake of 1000 calories on average.

p57, Hoodia’s active ingredient has shown no dangerous side effects, however running the risk of stating the obvious, people who take several pills for different medical conditions should consult their physician before using Hoodia pills, pregnant woman should stay away from any diet pill until the baby is born and their doctor indicates it is safe to start a weight loss program.

Fit Yummy Mummy!

Patsy Hamilton asked:


Some ingredients in hoodia gordonii supplements are stimulants. These are the hoodia herb combos and one should follow the manufacturer’s suggested dosage. If any side effects are noticed, such as increased heart rate or nervousness, these are most likely attributable to some natural stimulant that is included in the product. Clinical research and patient use has indicated that no side effects are experienced when using 100% hoodia gordonii products.

How much hoodia should I take? Some people report that it takes 3000mg per day to adequately control their appetites. Others report that 1500mg does the job for them. This may be a factor of body weight. Since ingredients in hoodia supplements vary, it is best to follow the manufacturers suggested dosage. Some companies advise one or two capsules in the morning and then one or two in the afternoon with a full glass of water. Some suggest one capsule with a full glass of water one hour before meals or three times per day. Sometimes this depends on the milligrams of hoodia in each capsule.

How much hoodia should I take if I am pregnant or nursing? The one word answer to this question is none.

How much hoodia should I take if I have not consulted my doctor? The one word answer, again, is none. While there is no evidence that taking hoodia gordonii as a weight loss supplement is dangerous or can complicate existing medical conditions. Clinical research is incomplete at this time. There are some informal studies and some doctors recommend hoodia for their patients, but only your doctor knows your complete medical history. To repeat, the ingredients in hoodia supplements vary and it is important to let your doctor know what those ingredients are.

How much hoodia should I take to lose weight? Taking hoodia alone will not make you lose weight. It may suppress your hunger. People, unlike other animals, do not just eat because they are hungry. People eat out of habit, boredom and many other reasons. No matter what the ingredients in hoodia gordonii can do, they can not take the place of a reasonable diet and appropriate exercise.

For answers to other questions like; how much hoodia should I take, visit the Hoodia Info Blog.

Fit Yummy Mummy!

Travis Van Slooten asked:


I’ve been researching and writing about hoodia supplements for over a year now and I can’t believe I haven’t written an article about hoodia, 60 minutes, and the BBC reports. What sparked my interest in finally writing this story was because I was fed up with all the bogus 60 minutes and BBC endorsements of specific hoodia diet pills.

Visit almost any website that is selling or promoting hoodia supplements and you’ll likely see the words prominently displayed, “As featured on” or “Endorsed by,” followed by the CBS 60 Minutes logo and the BBC logo. What you are led to believe is that the hoodia diet pill being promoted was featured or endorsed by these two media programs. Not only was a specific hoodia supplement not featured or endorsed by 60 minutes or the BBC, but no hoodia diet pill was tested or endorsed at all!

Leslie Stahl, a 60 Minutes reporter, featured a story on hoodia on November 21, 2004. Ms. Stahl traveled to the Kalahari Desert, where the hoodia gordonii plant is grown in the wild, and actually ate a small piece of the plant. She said after eating the plant she noticed a marked appetite suppressant quality. She said she wasn’t hungry all day. Ms. Stahl concluded that natural hoodia probably worked as an appetite suppressant.

That’s all she said about hoodia. 60 minutes did not endorse any specific hoodia supplement. The CBS program didn’t even feature a hoodia supplement to begin with! You would never know this unless you actually read the transcripts of the 60 minutes program yourself. Unfortunately, all too many hoodia sellers have capitalized on this story and have twisted it to their advantage to sell more of their products.

The BBC report is another example where hoodia sellers have taken a story and have spun it to their advantage. The BBC did a documentary on hoodia in 2003. Tom Mangold, a well-known BBC correspondent, also traveled to the Kalahari Desert to try the hoodia gordonii plant himself. Mr. Mangold and his camera man each ate a small piece of the plant. The pair reported that they, “did not even think about food” for the rest of the day. Even more amazing, they reported that they didn’t want breakfast the next morning and their appetite during lunchtime was nearly nonexistent.

Again, you’ll notice the BBC story did not even test a specific hoodia supplement, let alone endorse one. Just as Leslie Stahl had done in her 60 Minutes story, Tom Mangold of the BBC actually ate the plant itself. Neither reporter tried a specific hoodia product. And they certainly didn’t endorse a specific brand.

The next time you visit a website promoting or selling a hoodia supplement that claims their product was featured or endorsed by 60 Minutes and the BBC, immediately click to another website. Any company that is willing to misrepresent a media story so that it works to their advantage so they can sell more of their products obviously isn’t honest. If they aren’t willing to be honest about something as simple as the media coverage of hoodia on 60 Minutes and the BBC, how honest do you really think they are about the quality and authenticity of the product they are selling?

Fit Yummy Mummy!