Hoodia Side Effects

According to the British Heart Foundation, 17% of men and 21% of women are obese, while 46% of men and 32% of women are merely overweight. One of the possible cures for obesity and other weight-based problem, at least short-term, are appetite suppressants such as products derived from the hoodia plant.

Dr. Richard Dixey of Phytopharm explained how P57 actually worked. “There is a part of your brain, the hypothalamus. Within that mid-brain there are nerve cells that sense glucose sugar. When you eat, blood sugar goes up because of the food, these cells start firing and now you are full. What the hoodia seems to contain is a molecule that is about 10,000 times as active as glucose. It goes to the mid-brain and actually makes those nerve cells fire as if you were full. But you have not eaten. Nor do you want to.”

In essence, it works through a molecule that makes your brain believe that your stomach is full, and thus eliminating the feeling of hunger or thirst. For those interested in creating appetite-suppressing products, the marketing potential of an organic product that works speaks for itself. There are no reports of the long-term effects of hoodia, but that is due to the newness of the product. However, you shouldn't use any supplement for any longer than absolutely necessary, even if there are no known side effects.

However, the suppressant effect of hoodia is arguably its biggest problem as well as grace. The issue is that dieters may forget to eat and drink, thus creating bigger problems than the original weight problem. Dieters using hoodia are therefore advised to monitor how much they eat and drink, and to make sure that they eat a nutritional diet that gives them enough calories for normal activities, as well as drink enough liquids in order to avoid dehydration.

It should be noted that the original use of hoodia was to help Bushmen on hunts to not need to eat or drink, a valuable trait for the Kalahari desert. Although it may work great in the salt-covered desert, the suppression of thirst for people not in that environment can actually be a bad thing. As such, monitoring what you drink should be of the highest concern. At the same time, these are the worst side effects known for the desert herb, outside of the cost.