Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Why is Hoodia Gordinii a Preferred Weight Loss Pill by Many?

What is Hoodia Gordinii?

Hoodia gordinii is a spiny leafless plant from South Africa. It has been used as a medicinal herb to treat a variety of conditions most especially those that affect the gastrointestinal tract. The ingredient in the plant has been isolated by scientists in 1977 which became known as P57. P57 was suggested to have significant properties that mainly suppressed appetite. P57 was then patented in 1996.

The developments resulted to the creation of a weight loss pill containing P57. The pill was as a food supplement although it has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or FDA. It became widely popular among people because manufacturers claimed that the pills were purely made of Hoodia gordinii. These were all-natural and organic that guaranteed immediate results with no side effects.

Hoodia gordinii was considered to be the safest, most effective and most powerful appetite suppressant to date without the presence of harmful substances such as ephedrine. Because the pills were purely made from natural plants, side effects were nonexistent and consumers did not experience the negative effects that other products seem to have like mood swings, hunger pangs and difficulty sleeping.

People also liked the idea that the weight loss pills were very affordable and do not need any prescription since they fall under supplementation and not drugs. Hoodia gordinii pills were to be taken twice daily 30 minutes before meals together with a tall glass of water. The dosage also depends on the person’s weight. Heavier individuals may require 3 or 4 pills daily. There are indications and dosage provided on bottle labels.

The weight loss pills primarily work to suppress both hunger and thirst. People easily have the feeling of being full due to direct actions of Hoodia gordinii on the hypothalamus which is responsible for feelings of hunger and thirst. People are advised to continue eating low-fat healthy meals and lots of water together with the pills. These are most effective when trying to control fat and sugar cravings.

Controversies Surrounding Hoodia Gordinii

Major manufacturers stopped research and development on the P57 due to a variety of reasons like there was no direct evidence that Hoodia gordinii was significantly helpful in suppressing appetite, there were some signs of untoward effects on the liver and P57 was somewhat difficult to synthesize.

Just like any other food supplement, Hoodia gordinii weight loss pills are supposed to be incorporated with regular exercise and diet to maximize results. The full safety and usefulness of the pills are still unsubstantiated and experts say that it's a long shot before it can gain approval from the FDA. Users are advised to take the pills cautiously and to watch out for any adverse effects and reactions with other substances.



Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://hoodiastore.org

No comments: