The market of dietary supplements is growing before our eyes and practically every month you can encounter more products to help you achieving the desired goal faster. Are you sure allof them turn out to be as effective as promising advertising slogans.
Hoodia is a plant that occurs mainly in the southern part of Africa, more specifically, such countries as Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. Most often, however, it is associated with the Kalaharia desert. The area on which he lives determines its basic property – hoodia gordonii, like a cactus, is succulent. This means that its structure is adapted to high temperatures thanks to specially specialized tissues that are capable of collecting water to survive in extreme environmental conditions. An equally characteristic feature of hoodia is the scent of flowers, which is most often compared to rotten meat. Hoodia gordonii was first discovered in 1779 by colonel Robert Gordon Jacob in the Orange River district.
Hoodia and its operation
It is worth asking yourself why we’re talking about hoodia at all, if it’s so little known and hardly available plant? The reason is the increase in its popularity in the media, where it was often advertised as an effective measure for slimming and weapons against extra kilos. So let’s try to see how it really is.
The first scientific reports on the alleged effects of hoodia on overweight come from the indigenous inhabitants of Africa. In their opinion, chewing fragments of the plant contributes to a clear suppression of appetite, which is extremely helpful during a longer stay in desert areas. In addition, Africans say that hoodia is used to treat minor infections and helps fight with food indigestion. Nevertheless, popular beliefs are too weak a source to release the supplement for mass sale.
Let’s move to 1977, when the Research Council and Industrial (CSIR) begins the first attempts to isolate the alleged ingredient that is responsible for suppressing hunger. It was assumed that the plant’s operation is based on cheating the brain by sending information to the satiety center. In
1996, this factor – now referred to as P57 – is patented by pharmaceutical concerns.
Unfortunately, a limited number of studies on the effectiveness of its operation, and the lack of properly conducted analyzes on people is the cause of doubt about the real impact of hoodia on the human system. Preliminary assumptions suppose that in addition to P57, the African succulent also has other compounds that can have an adverse effect on liver function and lead to inhibition of thirst. This, on the other hand, can lead to dehydration or even extreme exhaustion.
Summary – is it worth using?
Hoodia gondorii is thus a supplement of questionable effectiveness. The lack of reliable research on the real impact of the plant on the human body and the action based on assumptions does not put this plant in a very positive light. On the one hand, there is nothing to prevent yourself from being aware of its properties, but on the other hand, is there any point in bothering yourself with something not fully understood and researched? I think that we will have to wait a little longer before the hoodia is „spread over the prime factors”. At the moment it is better not to succumb to supplements that use its action, because in most cases its content is simply negligible!
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