What is Hoodia?
Hoodia Gordonii is a cactus of the "succulent" cactus family,
which has grown for thousands of years in the Kalahari Desert region.
Hoodia has been used by the indigenous Bushmen as a natural appetite suppressant
and thirst quencher during their long hunting trips for generations.
How Does Hoodia work?
Scientists believe that the reason for Hoodia's appetite suppressing
abilities is a molecule called "P57". Normally, when you eat
the glucose in your body rises and 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
have no desire to eat.
Does Hoodia Help People Lose Weight?
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 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.
Is Hoodia Safe?
Since Hoodia is a plant (versus a man-made chemical), it
is completely natural and experts say it is safe to eat. Scientists have
been studying Hoodia for almost 10 years and have not found any side effects.
(Not to mention the San Tribesman who have been eating Hoodia for years
with seemingly no ill effects).
What Can You Do?
One way to tell if a Hoodia pill is real is to look for
a document called the C.I.T.E.S. Certificate (The Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Since the Hoodia
plant is a protected plant species it can only be sold to an exporter
who has this certificate.
For more information click
here.
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