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Hoodia is classified as a dietary supplement as is not approvedby Food and Drug Administration. The term supplement infers that thedrug does not prevent or cure any illness. Just like vitamins, Hoodiais supposed to enhance your regular diet. Hoodia is a small cactus likeplant that grows on the African plains near the Namib Desert in Angolaand Namibia. There are 13 known species of Hoodia each with their owndistinct medicinal properties. For thousands of years tribesmen inAfrica have used Hoodia to starve off hunger during long hunts orperiods of famine. Hoodia has also been known to have a calming effecton the body and can be used to treat indigestion or small infections.
The supplement Hoodia helps consumers lose weight by trickingthe brain into thinking the stomach is full. When the brain thinks thestomach is full it will not trigger the sensation of hunger. Peoplelose weight simply by not eating.
The Science Behind Hoodia
has been marketed in the United States as a weight loss supplement foraround 50 years but only in the past 5 years or so has the supplementgained widespread exposure. Of the 13 species of Hoodia, only HoodiaGordonii is known to contain large amounts the appetite-suppressingingredient known as P57. Almost all Hoodia supplements on the marketare from the Hoodia Gordonii species. Consumers should always check theingredients to make sure the active ingredient is P57 and is from theHoodia Gordonii species. Any other variety will only cause a placeboeffect.
As of March 2008, there have been no scientific studies onhumans to determine the effect of Hoodia. There have been some studieson rats with positive results. Some rats reduced their intake of foodto the equivalent of 1000 calories a day in humans. However,researchers in the study agree that the drug is easily broken down inthe liver and would take a large does in humans to produce asignificant effect. The drug company, Pfizer, did a study on P57 andindicated that there were some unwanted components within P57 thatcould not easily be removed that would leave negative effects on theliver.
Common Forms of Hoodia
Consumers can find Hoodia in a variety of forms. Heavy massmarketing and popularity of the product has spawned off many newproducts. Hoodia can be found in tablets, capsules, liquid pills,coffee and tea products, protein and diet shakes, syrups, powders,energy bars and even lollipops.