What Are The Side Effects Of Hoodia?Hoodia Gordonii is a popular herbal supplement for weight loss. It comes in either liquid or pill form and is touted as an appetite-suppressant, allegedly targeting the brain and tricking it to make it feel like it is always full. Many claim that Hoodia does not have any harmful side effects. But what are the actual side effects of Hoodia? |
Hoodia is a cactus-like plant found only in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa. It is used mainly be tribesmen from Kalahari to reduce their hunger for long journeys and to allow them to travel long distances without having to feel any sort of hunger.
Scientists have taken extracts of Hoodia and have turned them into a diet pills and shakes that have taken the Western world by storm.
But how safe is Hoodia and what are the side effects of Hoodia to users?
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The truth is, there is no reliable scientific study that proves Hoodia is effective in making people lose weight. Although it has been shown effective for a couple of lab animals, there is still no adequate study conducted on its effectiveness on humans.
Many Hoodia manufacturers and dealers often claim that Hoodia is safe and has no side effects. But how true is this?
According to Dr. Jasjit Bindra, PhD, a former researcher for Hoodia at Pfizer, Hoodia has unwanted effects on the liver because of the presence of ingredient called p57, which cannot be flushed out by the liver.
But Bindra admitted that Hoodia does help suppress one's appetite.
“Clearly, Hoodia has a long way to go before it can earn approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Until safer formulations are developed, dieters should be wary of using it,” she said.
Hoodia should also not be taken in with other medications, such as diabetes control, high cholesterol, anti-depressant, and other medications. People suffering from diabetes should also be wary of the side effects of Hoodia. Because Hoodia tricks people into thinking that it has high blood sugar, diabetics will often neglect to monitor their blood sugar levels, making it really dangerous for them.
Other side effects of Hoodia include extreme thirst often resulting to dehydration, liver diseases, and others.
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Because of the side effects, you should not take Hoodia when you are pregnant, nursing, or with liver or kidney diseases. You should also consult with your doctor to know the side effects of Hoodia before taking them and including them as part of your weight loss regime. |
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