I kid you not, the story behind Hoodia is an interesting one.
This rare plant can be found growing in the Kalahari desert in South Africa and Namibia. For years, the San people from these regions have eaten the roots and stems of the Hoodia cactus to reduce hunger during long treks when food was not readily available. The active ingredient in Hoodia which is supposedly responsible for this appetite suppression and feeling of satiety has been named P57. African law limits the amount of this plant exported, so the natural supply cannot meet the demand for it.
So…that means what you buy in stores now as Hoodia, is not from the actual plant. In fact, it has been reported that some of the supplements sold via the Internet do not contain any active Hoodia compounds at all!
Several drug companies have studied Hoodia’s use as a weight loss supplement, although no mechanism of action has yet been determined. In 2003, Pfizer, one of the companies originally interested in Hoodia, determined that they would no longer pursue its manufacture. Does that tell you anything?
There are no known adverse reactions to taking Hoodia, but little else is known about its safety or interactions with other drugs.
So if you still think Hoodia might work for you, its buyer beware! You may not be getting what you think you are. That, in combination with the fact that the evidence for its usefulness in this way is extremely slim, makes this one better left on the shelf.
|
Sue Roberts, MPH MS RD/CN is a certified nutritionist and registered dietitian.
Get a copy of her FREE ebook, “The Secrets about Weight Loss Supplements: What You Need to Know” at http://www.YourOnlineNutritionist.com . |