Hoodia gordonii is a leafless plant that grows in South Africa and Namibia: it is on the list of endangered African plant species. Hoodia has been used for medicinal purposes and to suppress the appetite for centuries. Because of the appetite suppressing properties it became very popular recently. P57 is the active ingredient in Hoodia that helps suppress the appetite.
Hoodia supplements are currently sold in many different forms such as capsules, tablets, syrups, etc. However not all the products have the same quality. Note that some of the Hoodia products on the market don't contain sufficient quantities of the original plant and are not efficient.
Is Hoodia a miracle weight loss pill?
While it can suppress your appetite, it can't help you change your bad eating habits. For example, if you have a habit of eating even if you are not hungry, this supplement can't help you.
If you want to burn fat you still need to exercise and have a healthier diet. Hoodia as any other weight loss pill should be used as an additional support for weight loss and not as a "miracle" weight loss product.
Does Hoodia have side effects?
Some of its components other than p57 can have unwanted effects on the liver. These components are not easy to remove while processing the plant.
It is better to avoid it if you are on any medication: as a herbal supplement it can interact negatively with drugs. It can also create an additional burden for the liver.
The appetite suppressing properties of Hoodia can interfere with blood sugar levels. For this reason diabetics should avoid it.
There were also some unconfirmed reports that it can also suppress the thirst that can lead to dehydration. So if you are using this herb make sure you drink a lot of water.
Children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, people with chronic diseases especially with a liver disease should avoid taking this supplement.
In my opinion the safest and cheapest appetite suppressor is water. If you drink enough water you will not be hungry, your body will receive an essential nutrient necessary for almost all bodily functions. Water will also help detoxify your body and it doesn't have any side effects.
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