Health Network News

As Hoodia becomes more popular, people are starting to ask questions about it: “Are there any side-effects of Hoodia?” or “Is it safe to take Hoodia for weight loss?”

Hoodia has only been added to the weight loss marketplace fairly recently. Although it’s been available as an appetite suppressant since 1997, it wasn’t until 2004, when it was highlighted on the Oprah Winfrey TV show, that it grew dramatically in popularity.

In all that time, there have been no widely-reported negative side-effects. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert have used the Hoodia plant for thousands of years to ward off hunger pangs during long hunting treks in the desert. And even relied on Hoodia as a staple part of their diet in times of famine.

This would suggest that it’s safe to take for weight loss - if we use it the same way that the San bushmen have done for centuries…

They’ve used it as a whole plant, fresh or dried - without flowers or roots. We need to do the same. Pure Hoodia is what you need to look for. Adding anything to the Hoodia plant may disturb its natural balance, and therefore reduce its effectiveness as an appetite suppressant.

On the same note, just because the whole plant is considered safe, (with all its ingredients in place) doesn’t mean a drug extracted from the Hoodia plant is necessarily safe. ‘P57′ is the active constituent in Hoodia; but to remove that one molecule and use it on its own is probably not a great idea.

Regarding whether Hoodia is safe to take - we found 3 areas we want to highlight. These should be seen as general precautions, not necessarily side-effects:

1. In some people, Hoodia may reduce thirst signals as well as hunger signals. Clearly, if Hoodia had ‘turned off’ the thirst mechanism, you wouldn’t recognise you were thirsty. So make sure you’re drinking enough fluids at all times.

The accepted wisdom is that adults should be drinking 2 litres of water every day. When you’re dieting, you should be drinking at least 2 litres a day. So pour yourself a 2-litre bottle of water every morning, and make sure you drink it throughout the day.

2. Point number 2 is still being debated. Dr. Steelman - a weight loss specialist, said he was concerned that the P57 molecule in Hoodia was processed by the liver, since obese people often have liver problems that could exacerbate any potential side-effects. Yet Dr. MacLean - a leading endocrinologist at Brown Medical School, found that P57 was easily broken down by the liver.

Two experts with differences of opinion. (Nothing new there, then!) Dr. Steelman says many obese people suffer with liver problems. MacLean says P57 is ‘easily’ broken down by the liver. It seems to make perfect sense then, if you’re suffering with obesity and/or have liver problems, it would be good to consult with your physician or healthcare provider before taking Hoodia to lose weight.

3. People with diabetes should be careful when using Hoodia. Diabetics need help with regulating their blood sugar levels. If Hoodia ‘tricks’ their brain into thinking their blood sugar levels are higher than they actually are, it could cause a problem if they don’t eat when they’re supposed to, and their blood sugar level drops too low.

Let’s just put these precautions into perspective:

Being overweight is associated with high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and insulin resistance. This combination of risk factors has been called Metabolic Syndrome X, which affects 70 million Americans and is a common cause of premature death and/or disability.

It seems that Hoodia could play a vital role - together with aerobic exercise and dietary changes, to fight metabolic syndrome and reduce the risk associated with any of the diseases above.

Overall, pregnant or nursing women; young children; and people with liver disease should avoid taking Hoodia for weight loss. Anyone taking Hoodia supplements needs to make sure they drink plenty of water during the day, and eat adequately for their needs.

In summary, “Is Hoodia safe to take?” Yes it is. It does seem safe to take Hoodia, judging by the current research and testimonials - with one caveat. It should be pure Hoodia, that hasn’t been changed, modified or diluted in any way