Does hoodia really help you lose weight?

Alexia Miller

Is your no carb, low sodium, fat-free diet keeping your stomach full and your weight low? If not, there is another alternative to losing weight. A cactus-like plant grown exclusively in South Africa is the new weight loss supplement of choice for people who overeat. The plant is called hoodia gordonii, or more commonly, hoodia. It is the miracle plant women have dreamed about that not only curbs your appetite, but also keeps you from even thinking about food. The plant’s popularity and media coverage has turned it into the latest diet product called Hoodia. The real question is does it work? Read on to learn more.

What is hoodia?
The plant hoodia looks like a cactus (but is actually a succulent) with light purple flowers. It grows exclusively in South Africa and takes about five years to mature, classifying it as one of the rarest plants in the world .

There are 20 types of hoodia but only hoodia gordonii contains the chemical p57, found in the meat of the plant, that suppresses the appetite. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert have been consuming hoodia for hundreds of years, finding it helpful when they go on long hunting trips with little sustenance. The Bushmen eat the plant to control their appetite and thirst. They also found hoodia effective in treating abdominal cramps, hemorrhoids, tuberculosis, indigestion, hypertension and diabetes.

How did hoodia hit the market?
In 1977, the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) the chemical p57 and patented it in 1996. CSIR sold the rights to Phytopharm, a United Kingdom-based company who then, in collaboration with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, worked on commercializing the extract.

In 2004, 60 Minutes’ correspondent Leslie Stahl traveled to South Africa to test the effectiveness of this miracle plant for the show. Stahl described hoodia as “a little cucumbery in texture, but not bad.”

She concluded that the plant worked as an appetite suppressant with no side effects whatsoever. Since then, media coverage and consumer demand has expanded the market for hoodia, resulting in hoodia sprays, extracts, gums, patches and teas, found in stores nationwide.

How does hoodia work?
As mentioned above, the active ingredient in hoodia is p57, a chemical similar to glucose but purported to be 100,000 times more powerful.

When ingested, p57 is released into the satiety center of the brain and tricks the hypothalamus into thinking you are full. Usually, cells notify your brain that the blood sugar levels are good when you really are full, and sends the message to stop eating. Your hunger center kicks in when your blood sugar levels fall, signaling you need to eat. Hoodia overpowers this stimulus and not only suppresses your appetite, but it keeps your brain from even thinking about food.

For best results, experts recommend consuming the liquid extract over the pill form because it absorbs more readily into the body and its biochemical potency is higher.

But, does it work?
“We have no hard data but the majority of people have had success with it,” says a HoodiThin sales representative. That seems to be the case with most users.

Lucy,* a consumer from Canada, has been using Hoodia Millenium for over a month and is thrilled with the results. “I have changed my eating habits tremendously, and also incorporated exercise,” she says. Hoodia has led to positive lifestyle changes for her.

There are a lot of anecdotal success stories but, like most diet products, there is no significant scientific research to support the hoodia weight loss and appetite suppressant claims. Perhaps that will change.

And perhaps the success of hoodia is the power of suggestion or a placebo effect. People are told they will not be hungry if they take hoodia so they believe they aren’t hungry. You decide.

Where is hoodia sold?
Hoodia products are sprouting up in pharmacies and nutrition stores everywhere but buyer beware. Hoodia is expensive, so expect to pay between $35 to $65 per bottle. However, be sure to read the labels, many hoodia products may have only 30 percent hoodia and are not worth your money.

Here are some tips for purchasing quality hoodia:

1. Read the label. The most important thing to look for is an independent lab report and certification (C.I.T.E.S.) and make sure the label says 100 percent hoodia with no other fillers listed in the ingredients.

2. Avoid megadoses. Avoid products that claim mega amounts of hoodia per dose. You can get sick if you consume over 800 milligrams of pure hoodia at one time.

3. Form matters. Hoodia experts warn not use hoodia in the forms of patches, teas, shakes and gum. They say it is not worth your money

4. You get what you pay for. Real hoodia is sold to companies for $250 to $400 per kilogram, so any product under $35 likely has a lower percentage of hoodia per dose than purer, more expensive forms.

5. Free trials are likely a scam. Look out for “free trial” scams on the Internet. There is always a chance that if you accept the offer, your credit card will be charged monthly without you initiating a purchase (many of these “free trials” require a verbal or written cancellation).

6. Keep this checklist handy. When you purchase hoodia, be sure to get the customer service toll free number to ask questions and place orders, company address, proof of independent testing of their products for purity and contaminants, and a defined refund policy.

7. Do your research. Contact companies selling hoodia to get more information before you buy. And learn as much as you can about the different hoodia products. For a comparative list of the top ten most popular hoodia products visit ResearchHoodia.info

Are There Any Side Effects?
According to Leslie Stahl of 60 Minutes, there were no side effects. She said there was “no funny taste in her mouth, no queasy stomach and no raising heart.” And pharmaceutical companies also claim that there are no side effects. However, the only disclaimer is to not exceed dosages over 800 milligrams.

Though hoodia has been around for thousands of years, it is the latest craze in diet products now. This plant is recommended for people who overeat and need to control their appetite between meals. Decide for yourself if hoodia is right for you. However, as with any good diet intentions, don’t get carried away - be sure to maintain three balanced meals a day.