Hoodia: myths and reality

When we are searching for the best weight loss methods the decision of choosing the best one might be hard. There are hundreds of diet pills, weight loss supplements, appetite suppressants and fat burners promising quick and miraculous results, but the majority of them are only beneficial for those who commercialize them. Since long years there have been fights about the miraculous Hoodia plant and its outstanding effects. The big question is whether hoodia is a miracle plant or the myths around it are bigger than any of this plant’s effects? Is hoodia a reality or just a myth, which easily can be busted?

The Hoodia Gordonii cactus can be found in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa and has been used by bushman hunters for centuries to fight against starvation and dehydration and also increase their energy during long hunts. Many years later, in the middle 60’ numerous researches has started to find and explain the appetite suppressant effect of this miraculous plant. It took tens of years to finally find and define the key ingredient of appetite suppressing, the P57 molecule.

Pharmaceutical companies and laboratories find the P57 molecule found in Hoodia Gordonii plant so promising and believe so hard in its beneficial effects that they are continuously trying to separate this molecule and develop miraculous diet drugs. Hoodia Gordonii is known to work as a natural appetite suppressant by tricking your brain giving the signs and feeling of fullness. The reports have stated results like feeling full more quickly, reduced interest in eating, energy boost and general feeling of well being.

All of these beneficial effects seem so unbelievable and miraculous, no side effects have been mentioned, but then why are there second thoughts and skeptical feelings about this miracle? Which is the other side of this super plant being rarely mentioned? Is Hoodia Gordonii really a super plant with no serious side effects or the story goes far beyond this realistic myth?

Marketers claim no serious side effects, because if the Bushmen have used this plant for centuries without any dangerous effects, why couldn’t we use it as well? But one detail is left behind: the Bushmen used this plant for centuries and we know it only for a few decades, not being subjected to, enough safety tests to uncover drug interactions, safety concerns and possible side effects. some researches has shown that although hoodia is having a strong appetite suppressant effect due to the P57 molecule, other components of the plant may have unwanted effects on the liver.

It is true that Bushmen used this plant as an appetite suppressant but they haven’t used several other pills for stress, depression, pain or diseases containing chemicals, which might have caused severe side effects on their body in the interaction. Hoodia Gordonii is certainly beneficial as an appetite suppressant, but until other, more structural tests are made, this plant cannot be categorized and decided whether it is an important part of the reality or just a myth.

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