by Lisa M LaVergne

Created on: February 19, 2009   Last Updated: March 10, 2009

In recent years, the Hoodia plant has become quite popular. Touted as one of the greatest natural appetite suppressants in the world, the Hoodia gordonii plant is now a primary ingredient in many dieting aids.
The Hoodia plant is native to the semi-desert areas of Botswana, Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Many news reports claim that the Hoodia gordonii plant has been used for thousands of years by Bushmen in the Kalahari desert, who chew he cactus to help stave hunger and thirst while they are on long hunting trips.

So is the information about the Hoodia plant all hype, or is there are truth to it? What benefits are there to the Hoodia plant, and are there any side effects? The scientific information available on the Hoodia plant is limited, because it has only been thoroughly studied in recent years. Fortunately however, there is some information about it's validity as an appetite suppressant, as well as any benefits and side effects that a person may experience when taking Hoodia.

Scientific Studies Performed on Hoodia Gordonii There have been some studies performed at the Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, that give credence to the claims that Hoodia is an effective appetite suppressant. Laboratory studies performed on the plant show that there is a molecular structure in Hoodia that effects the hypothalamus in the brain. The hypothalamus is a gland in the brain which helps the body to regulate appetite among other things, so it is valid that Hoodia will prevent you from becoming hungry.

Unfortunately, many of the laboratory studies that have been performed on Hoodia are still in early stages, and scientific information on the plant is still inconclusive.

Benefits of Hoodia Gordonii There really is only one benefit to taking Hoodia, and that is that it cuts your appetite which can ultimately help you to loose weight. By signaling to your brain that you are full, you will have a desire to eat less. Additionally, since your brain thinks you are full, you do not experience hunger. Regular consumption of Hoodia can help to cut the number of calories you consume in a day.

What many people fail to realize though, is that this alone is not enough to help you loose weight. Starving yourself by not eating is not healthy for your body in anyway, and contrary to popular belief, will not help you to shed pounds. You will still need to eat regular meals to keep your metabolism burning fat stores, which will aid in weight loss. You will also need to exercise daily, because let's face it, regardless of what manufacturers want to tell us, there is no secret little pill that will make you loose weight without proper diet and exercise.

Side Effects of Hoodia Gordonii At this time, there are really no known side effects to taking the Hoodia supplement. Since Hoodia itself is not a stimulant, there is no concern of increased heart rate or raised blood pressure. This however, is only the case when you are taking a pure Hoodia supplement. If you are taking a supplement that is cut with other ingredients that are stimulants, you may very well experience these things, so make sure you know exactly what you are taking.
If you are taking other medications, other prescribed or over the counter, you should consult with a physician about possible side effects that can occur from an interaction between Hoodia and the other medications you are on. Since scientific studies are still in early stages to determine just how safe Hoodia is, you should always consult with your physician before you attempt to take it.
Sources: http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/hoodia-lots-of-hoopl a-little-science http://www.drugs.com/hoodia.html http://www.hoodiaextract.com/benefits.html

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