Very little research supports the belief that the South African plant Hoodia Gordonii reduces appetite, but many still believe it.
By Kathleen Doheny
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
What South Africans knew from birth, Americans and Europeans learned only many years later. For centuries, South Africans have been nibbling on a succulent plant called Hoodia
Gordoni, and did not gain weight. They could easily fit into skinny jeans or tighten a belt.
Currently, hoodia grows in the Kalahari Desert and is imported to America in huge quantities. The media actively advertise and create hype around this plant, and countless spam is sent on the Internet.
Hoodia Gordoni is widely sold online and in various stores, it is usually available in capsule or tablet form, but is also available in milk chocolate form. But to have enough hoodia for a month, you will have to pay $35 or even more.
Despite last year's boom (one manufacturer managed to earn about $20 million in one year), there is still no evidence that Hoodia actually helps you lose weight.
Hoodia
Gordoni is a succulent, not a cactus, as many people mistakenly believe. There has been a lot of hype around this plant, but there is still not enough scientific evidence to prove its effectiveness. Even supporters of this remedy cannot deny that so far too little scientific literature has been published about hoodia. Experts believe that hoodia tricks the body into thinking it's full. But few in their studies have concluded that Hoodia Gordoni is effective for long-term use.
Because hoodia is sold as a weight loss supplement, it is not regulated by the Drug and Nutrient Inspection Commission.
Action
Losing weight is a difficult problem
Rapid weight loss is always harmful to the body, since it does not have time to “adapt” to the new level of metabolism. It is especially important that with a significant weight loss in a short time, cosmetic problems cannot be avoided; excess skin appears with reduced turgor; with a loss of 10–15 kg of weight, the skin begins to “sag” in folds.
To avoid harm to health and maintain beauty, weight loss should be gradual.
The main goal when losing weight is to reduce the amount of food consumed during the day. However, this cannot be achieved due to the constant desire to eat, which can be very strong. Drugs that reduce hunger will help in this situation; they will make the transition to a new diet as comfortable as possible. By combining the use of such drugs, a reasonable diet and low but regular physical activity, you can not only significantly reduce weight, but also maintain the achieved result for a long time.
Unlike synthetic drugs that reduce appetite and have numerous side effects, Hoodia Slim is a natural herbal drug that gently and safely reduces excess weight.
Hoodia dordonii extract (20:1) is the most concentrated extract of Hoodia dordonii, a cactus grown in the Kalahari Desert. The extract contains a biologically active substance, the P57 molecule, very similar in structure to the glucose molecule, which affects the “hunger center” in the brain like glucose itself and thereby reduces appetite. cannot occur when taking Hoodia Slim As a result of taking the drug, the feeling of “evening hunger” and hunger that occurs between main meals is reduced. Hoodia gordonii extract also contains soluble dietary fiber and beta-sitosterol.
Soluble dietary fiber helps reduce cholesterol levels and stabilize blood glucose levels, normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, and remove toxins and heavy metal salts. They are traditionally used to prevent obesity, colorectal cancer and diabetes. Beta-sitosterol reduces the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine, reducing cholesterol levels in the blood, regulates the metabolism of lipoproteins in the liver and small intestine, and reduces the risk of developing atherosclerosis.
Chromium in Hoodia Slim is in the form of “Chrome 454” - a special organic form, which increases its absorption in the intestines and bioavailability.
Chromium, being an essential trace element, provides:
- effective transport of glucose into cells, which leads to a decrease in blood sugar levels (glucose is sent to muscles and not to fat tissue);
- normalization of cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood;
- weight loss;
- improvement of skin and hair condition;
- reducing the desire to consume flour and sweets.
Taking Hoodia Slim can not only significantly reduce appetite and the intake of excess nutrients, but also improve metabolic processes. Weight loss when taking the drug is effective and safe. The achieved result lasts for a long time. Gradual weight loss prevents skin from sagging, and normalization of metabolic processes improves its appearance.
pharmachologic effect
- Anorexigenic - decreased appetite and decreased feelings of hunger, including between meals and in the evening.
- Hypoglycemic - increasing the transport of glucose into muscles and liver and the rate of its conversion into glycogen; - lowering blood sugar levels.
- Hypolipidemic - decreased absorption of cholesterol and lipids in the intestine; — normalization of cholesterol levels in the blood; - reducing the level of atherogenic low-density lipoproteins and, accordingly, the risk of atherosclerosis.
Precautions, side effects and dosage
Like most dietary supplements, Hoodia is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Additionally, while traditional consumption of fresh hoodia by the Khoisan people may indicate that it is safe for human consumption, research suggests otherwise.
In the only human study, consumption of purified hoodia extract was associated with a variety of side effects, including nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and skin reactions. ()
Significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure were also observed. (, )
What's more, one study suggests that hoodia's effects on appetite and weight loss may be a symptom of a more serious but unknown side effect. ()
Given the extremely limited amount of available and confirmed information, we do not recommend taking this supplement for weight loss, especially for pregnant and lactating women.
This supplement should also be avoided by people taking medications to control blood sugar or by patients with heart or liver disease, as hoodia may interact with medications used for these conditions.
There are currently insufficient human studies to determine the safety and possible effective dose of Hoodia.
Conclusion:
Taking Hoodia may cause unwanted side effects, including nausea, dizziness, vomiting, skin reactions, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure. More research is needed to determine the safe dosage of this plant, if it can be safe to take at all.
Indications
Applicable:
- for the prevention of excess weight;
- as part of comprehensive weight loss programs.
Prevention of excess weight is especially important if there is a hereditary predisposition to excess body weight, a sedentary lifestyle and an unbalanced diet. The drug allows you to switch to a new diet as comfortably as possible when a strict diet is prescribed. Taking Hoodia Slim can reduce appetite and hunger, especially “evening hunger” and hunger between meals. The drug promotes smooth and safe weight loss and normalization of metabolic processes.
hoodia for weight loss reviews
For starters, it’s smart and not easy.
There is a joke circulating on the Internet - “out of 10 girls, 9 dream of losing weight and one of them dreams of gaining weight.” The joke is that ALL representatives of the fair sex are dissatisfied with their figure, which, as the men say, is a “corral.”
However, this is not funny at all. Especially if you gave birth and during pregnancy you gained about 40 metric kilograms. Or for some other reason, Mother Nature generously refilled your reserves.
Does this happen? M?
No less has been written and said about losing weight than about sex, money and religion. Why not turn the wheel of this question again and reset a couple of kege with this exercise?
Let's start.
I. In creatures more evolutionarily developed than an earthworm, any action begins with a thought, with a brain.
Holy Fathers, losing weight must start from the head! That is, do not rub anti-cellulite cream into your cheeks, of course we are talking about the brain.
To understand whether you need to lose weight, such inventions of mankind as a mirror and scales are enough.
Oops, yes we have them! And if not, we go to the store to do some shopping, so we can save on pies. And right away.
I categorically declare that if you have scales and a mirror, and it is advisable that you see yourself completely in it, your chance of losing weight increases, because without them you may not even realize that there is more of you than you think to yourself.
Have you looked at yourself? My opinion is of course biased. Hm. You can torture your loved ones, but mothers will all tell you that you are thin, because they have a natural maternal instinct - so that the child has his own supply, it was mothers who forced us to eat from childhood and since then nothing has changed fundamentally. So?
Although it may have changed for some. Whose mothers are more progressive, honk!
The man next to you is more objective, because you are the object of his sexual desires. For many, his attention is the main indicator. Happens. Although they also have excesses, which, by the way, make it difficult to understand objectively. But this is your life, figure it out for yourself, and I moved on. The rest are close in descending order, with varying degrees of bias.
If you want an outside opinion, post your photo on social networks. Just don’t use BB, there are too many people here who are already concerned about appearance or, on the contrary, are too kind to you; classmates, Facebook, contact are more likely to do. The people there are arrogant and indelicate; if they write “I would have fooled you,” that means that’s what the dogs think; if “you’re fat as a cat whale,” they also think exactly that way, without embarrassment, and with some sour excesses. So if you are afraid of possible reviews, it’s better not to even experiment, stick to the reviews you’ve already collected.
Now you have come to the conclusion that you need to lose weight. If you don’t, I’m happy for you, I envy you, then you don’t need to read further either.
II. Let's move on. If you think that you need to immediately start eating pills or buying some other crap that is tirelessly advertised everywhere, even on poles, then there’s nothing like that.
No, stop. Start by trying to determine the cause of your excess weight. As a rule, for this you do not need either doctors or scientists, you know yourself and your life, try to understand it yourself.
There are different reasons. Roughly they can be divided like this.
1. Pregnancy.
In order to bear fruit in the harsh conditions of the surrounding world, nature lets go of the reins of hormones and even girls who are not inclined to be overweight can become like an airship.
Nature is caring, but not in moderation. So pregnancy is the cause of excess weight.
2. Impaired metabolism.
The human body is constantly being studied, every day reporting new discoveries in it. And if something goes wrong in this space, it will “break down” and behave incorrectly. For example, dysfunction of the hypothalamus, decreased secretion of the thyroid and pancreas, and adrenal glands.
This can be understood by the fact that there are no reasons for being overweight and you are chronically ill (overweight is not the only sign of such illnesses). And there are other reasons.
3. Inconsistency between consumed and consumed calories and substances. I'll forgive you, mother, you eat too much. Or, which is no better, you eat something wrong.
The basis is that nature tried to protect its unfortunate creation from hunger and cold (damn it - it turns out that fat protects against cold and because of the cold your body gains weight!) and other misfortunes, not suspecting that over time it is this excess weight and will bring misfortune. Protection is the ability to accumulate “reserves”.
I repeat - this is PROTECTION and it works well, many of us know this ourselves. Now I’ll tell you why this is so important.
You've thought about your inner world, now return to the outer world. Nutrition, lifestyle, environment.
The other side of the reason is stated by Paul Bragg “we are what we eat.”
Probably not only this, but...
Once you have come to the conclusion that you need to lose weight, try to think (you won’t be able to get away with it, and you yourself are aware and the Internet will help) about WHAT you eat.
How much sugar, fat, flour is in this matter, are there preservatives, and other useful delights.
In addition to the proportions, estimate the quantity.
Then put it all together and draw conclusions.
III. Disappointing conclusions.
1. If you are pregnant. Or on GW. I hope this didn't come as a surprise to you?
It is dangerous to give advice here. In fact, nature has made you much stronger and healthier than you think. And by taking care of yourself, you automatically make yourself weaker and sicker. And this has probably been sitting deep inside you for a long time.
At the same time, there’s probably a round dance around you and you constantly eat, on your mother’s advice, “for two,” or, to be honest, for 4 (you never know, maybe there will be triplets???!!). Plus a sedentary lifestyle. At work (if you are still there) no one touches you (which is great), your favorite videos are put away under the closet for a long time, your airsoft gun is sheathed, and at the disco you were added to the loss list. This is all called a sedentary lifestyle.
Losing weight is unlikely for you. Bye. It’s like in the song “you’re pregnant, it’s temporary.”
Don’t be nervous, just look for balance, maybe your food is missing something, maybe the 20 kilos you’ve already added will be enough???!! Just don’t make any sudden movements, you don’t need anything sudden at all, if you start eating less, then do it carefully, giving your body time to readjust. Smoothly all the time.
But take a walk (don’t catch a cold!), breathe the air and be calmer.
2. You are sick.
Go to the cemetery, find a more picturesque place. Well, if you are an optimist - go to the doctor, maybe more than one, read literature on this subject, eat healthy things with vitamins and harmful ones in pills, go in for sports and in general - you are sick, you don’t need to lose weight, but get treatment, take it to this seriously, then your toned butt will come back to you.
3. If you are not pregnant and there is no breastfeeding, if the hypothalamus or whatever it is called does not fall off, then you are stuck like Winnie the Pooh in a hole.
Comrade Maya Plisetskaya said: “You need to eat less!”
However, not everything is so simple and not everything is so simple.
This is where the essence of the conversation began.
IV. How will we lose weight?
1. I won’t say a word about diets and exercises, about devices, pills and generally the devil that they came up with to make money on the desire to lose weight.
That's not what we're talking about at all.
It will start with defense.
The tendency to be overweight is, if not a disease, a common defensive reaction, as I said earlier. If you don’t believe me, eat your favorite delicious cakes without restrictions for a week, then weigh what livestock experts call “weight gain.” True, it’s unlikely that anyone needs this; you already understand how the “reserves” mechanism works. It's a shame, but women are more inclined to be overweight than men. Nature again. Hmmm. The more you put pressure on the body, the stronger the protection. If you rarely eat, your body panics; if you go hungry, your body is stressed, it shouts to itself, “I told you, hungry time has come, I should have stocked up!!!!”, and as soon as the opportunity arises, it gains back more than it lost. Have you encountered this? He is defending himself from your idiotic antics. It also activates hunger. Hunger is strong and puts pressure on your will, forcing you to eat and then your inner food defender rejoices - victory over hunger!
What did you think, nature designed you? No settings visible to you.
Against such power there is only cunning.
2. I would like to say right away about the Orthodoxy of the brain.
Keeping fasts to lose weight?
Fasting is a great way to gain weight. Stable and impenetrable. A properly selected, balanced anti-diet that activates the protection just mentioned.
Actually, in the old days no one came up with religious fasts to lose weight!!! Nobody. Fasting has a ritual and religious meaning. Again, fasting was dictated by the seasonality of food in general, the lack of refrigerators, and in the old days, modern thinness was not considered beautiful, quite the opposite. Therefore, fasting is a great way to meet the standards of a “Russian woman.”
Someone doesn't believe it? Take a huge loaf of lean bread from your mouth and figure out in your mind that when you can’t eat meat (which, as nutritionists will tell you, doesn’t make you gain weight), you eat sugar, vegetable fat, and flour that are healthy for your figure.
Are there still doubters? Then remember what normal priests and their wives look like, who are the best, honestly (after all, no one except God checks them) observe fasting, and doing this precisely for religious reasons. Here is an objective result of the influence of fasting on your figure. Although, maybe someone needs exactly this result. Then the cards are in your hands.
To summarize, fasting is good for religion, but not good for your figure.
3. Now that you understand something. I'll tell you why I won't talk about ways to lose weight.
Because a lot has been said about this, about ways and methods. Don’t fall for the advertisement, it stars those who honestly play sports. Just don't let yourself be fooled. This does not mean that everything is a lie, just think with your head, the one with which weight loss begins.
Whatever the method, the human body is like a balance sheet, there is income, there is expense. If the income is greater, you will have a balance. Like in a warehouse, which is sometimes your body. I don’t know about accounting, I can’t vouch for the accuracy of the analogy, but it’s the same with the body.
If you eat more than you expend, even if you eat, you will gain weight.
Consumption - in addition to the normal functioning of the body, illness (not a method, just a fact), active loads, sports, all kinds of hikes and entertainment, the same disco, walks, acceleration of metabolism, building muscle mass (muscles even without working, consume once every 15 - there is more “fat”).
The income is what you eat and drink (alcohol is high in calories, although it does not contain “building materials” for gaining weight, it helps save food energy).
And, if you weigh more than you want, it means you’re eating more than you need or eating incorrectly.
4. Remember that it’s not the calories themselves that hit you, but the substances. Some fats are poorly absorbed, but are stored well. There is starch in potatoes and flour, which is “flour”. Sweets are so easily digested that the sugar in the bun goes into the blood as glucose, and the dough goes into the sides. Moreover, there are different types of sugar. There is fruit, there is sucrose, it’s a delicate question. Mayonnaise for taste provides not only calories, but also fat.
A lot has been written about this - read it, don’t be lazy with your brain, otherwise your body won’t move on its own.
5. Finally, for something to happen, you have to do something.
Whatever method you choose for yourself, do it, don’t let natural laziness, natural hunger win. Fight them, “move your buns.”
Yeah, do you know how difficult it is?, you say. Imagine, with your hands on your (sigh – not thin enough) sides, I’ll tell you, I KNOW. I know, that's why I say it.
The main rule for achieving any result is that you have to go for it.
"Have a dream?
Run to her! Can't run? Go to her! Can't go? Crawl to her! Can't crawl? Lie down and lie in the direction of your dreams!” Unknown author Have you read it? Draw conclusions and whoever needs it – lose weight!
Method of use
Adults: 1-2 capsules 2 times a day with meals. Recommended to be taken with lunch and dinner.
Duration of treatment is 1 month. If necessary, the course can be repeated. To achieve maximum effect, the drug can be taken 30 minutes before meals with a glass of water. To increase the effectiveness of therapy, it is recommended to combine the drug with regular physical activity. The therapeutic effect appears 1 - 2 weeks after starting to take the drug.
