Does Hoodia Really Work?
56
Where did it come from?
Hoodia is derived from a cactus-looking plant called the Hoodia Gordonii, which is found growing in the semi deserts of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola. The claims stem from the San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert, and that they would eat the bitter-tasting plant (after cutting off the stem) so that they wouldn't be hungry while they went on long hunting trips.
What makes it work?
The active ingredient in Hoodia is believed to be "steroidal glycoside", called "p57" for short. As far as anyone knows, only Hoodia Gordonii contains p57.
The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer actually purchased the rights to p57 in 1998 for 21 million dollars from Phytopharm, the British company that worked with South Africans to locate the p57 within the plant. Pfizer gave the rights back and
Phytopharm is now working with Unilever.
How did the hype start?
60 Minutes correspondent Leslie Stahl, her crew and a hired Bushman traveled into the South African desert in search of the Hoodia Gordonii plant. Stahl tried the plant, which she described at "cucumbery- but not too bad". She claimed that she wasn't hungry or thirsty at all during the day and felt no side effects like indigestion or an odd taste left in her mouth.
What are the side effects?
Since there haven't been a lot of scientific tests on humans, the side effect issue hasn't been established ...yet. Some claims report liver damage after extended use, which also can lead one to think about serious drug interaction with both prescribed and OTC meds.
It curbs hunger in some, but not in others. It tricks some brains into thinking that they aren't thirsty, and that can be dangerous. As with any diet, a conscious effort to change a personal way of life is imperative, as Twinkies and Ho-Hos are going to make you gain weight if you eat too many, no matter what supplement is taken. Get out and exercise a few days a week, and drink lots of water. And if you want to take some Hoodia for good measure, just be sure to check with your doctor first.
Emma Potter 4 years ago
I have been using hoodia for over 6 months now and it has really worked for me. I was very sceptical about it as some friends had tried it and had not had any effects from it. I found a good supplier who have been trading for some time http://www.hoodia-shop.co.uk I would recommend this company.