Hoodia Side Effects

Hoodia is the name of the genus of 13 species of flowering plants, that belong to the family of Apocynaceae. The plants of the genus hoodia are succulent plants, that greatly resemble the plants of the cactus family. These plants usually reach a height of 1 m and produce large flowers with strong smell. Some species of hoodia plants are widely grown in gardens. However, species that we are going to discuss is known mainly for its medicinal properties. This species is known as 'Hoodia gordonii'. It is being studied exclusively for its appetite suppressing properties. The plant is native to South Africa and Namibia, and today, it is widely promoted as the supplement for weight loss. Hoodia as a weight loss supplement is available as powder, diet pills and patches.

Hoodia Benefits

It has been used by the South African Bushmen to suppress their appetite while going for hunting trips, which can extend for several days. Later on, this unique property of the plant was unveiled, and then its herbal supplements were introduced in the market of United States in the year 2004. Since then, its popularity is rising rapidly as the herbal remedy for weight loss. One of the main problem with obesity and weight gain is over consumption, i.e. eating more calories than what the body needs to carry out its vital functions. Therefore, to lose weight, it is necessary to control the total calorie intake, and hoodia is claimed to be helpful in this regard.

It can control hunger by acting as an appetite suppressant. It is believed to target the satiety center of the brain, located at the hypothalamus. It stimulates the release of a chemical compound, which is similar to glucose. As a result, the hypothalamus transmits the signal to the brain that enough food has been consumed. This is how it works to decrease appetite or control hunger, which in turn, can help to lose weight. However, it is important to note that enough concrete evidences are still not there to support its proclaimed appetite suppressing effect in human.

Hoodia Diet Dangers

Till now, there are no documented its side effects. However, it should be kept in mind that along with suppressing appetite, it also suppresses thirst which can cause dehydration, if one does not drink enough water while taking hoodia supplements. Another important point to be noted is that too much appetite suppression can cause a person to not eat enough food. This can deprive the body of the essential nutrients, required for the smooth operation of the vital life processes.

Diabetic patients need to be more careful while adopting a hoodia diet or any other supplement for weight loss. This is because, such supplements can decrease appetite to reduce consumption, which in turn, can affect the level of blood sugar. Therefore, people with diabetes should always consult their physicians before opting for any weight loss supplementation. An important fact is that it can be broken down by the liver, and it can affect liver function. So, it may interact with certain medications. However, not much is known about its interaction with other medications, as well as the associated side effects. Blood pressure, as well as heart rate are however, not affected by hoodia.

It should be kept in mind that any kind of weight loss supplement is not enough to maintain an ideal body weight, unless one follows a balanced diet and exercises regularly. As far as these supplements are concerned, be sure to buy pure product from the reputed manufacturers, as a large number of false hoodia supplements have simply flooded the market. With these, you can experience some additional side effects, other than those discussed in this article. Lastly, it is always advisable to take any kind of supplement including hoodia, only after consulting a health care provider.