Hoodia is an herbal diet pill without any known side effects even though there are no studies that have completely proven the safety of Hoodia. Marketers have said that Hoodia has no side effects based on the fact that the San Bushmen (in the deserts of South Africa) have been using the plant for decades with no ill effects.
Possible Side Effect
According to a report in The New York Times, although Hoodia does play a role in suppressing the appetite, there are signs of unwanted effects on the liver caused by one component of Hoodia. If Hoodia does have an impact on liver, there is a good chance that it may also interact with drugs you may be taking for other conditions taking. Unfortunately, the removal of the component is not easy when the plant is being processed so most scientists are of the opinion that Hoodia has a ways to go before it will be approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).
As the supplement has not yet received approval, dieters should use Hoodia only after talking it over with their health care provider. The San Bushmen are a tribe of hunter-gatherers, who are not normally treated with Western-style medications for diabetes, depression and blood pressure. For this reason scientist believe that Hoodia should be tested for side effects on people who do take such medications before it can be approved.
Use with Caution
You should use Hoodia with caution if you are suffering from diabetes because it works by making brain believe that it has taken in enough food for the body to be satisfied and can have a negative effect on blood sugar. Your blood sugar can drop dangerously low if you take hoodia without proper feedback regulation. Even worse, normal warning signs may also be suppressed as the regular hunger mechanism is turned off with the use of Hoodia.
According to a recent study, Hoodia also suppresses thirst. Some newspapers have reported that some of the shepherds in Africa who had eaten the Hoodia plant to suppress their hunger pains died of dehydration because they did not realize they were thirsty. This can be of further risk to dieters as they need to remain hydrated and can suffer serious effects if the water and electrolyte levels drop too low in the body. |
