What is Hoodia Gordonii?
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Hoodia Gordonii |
Hoodia is a cactus like plant that is found in the deserts of Africa. I t has reportedly been used by the San people of the Kahalahari desert for thousands of years to suppress appetite on prolonged hunts for game.
It has been known about for over 30 years when its active ingredients, glycosides, were identified. Its method of action is that it apparently "fools" the brain thinking that it is full. Hoodia is also reported to elevate mood without the jittery feeling that is produced by caffeine or other herbal supplements.
Having the brain perceive that it is full is a desirable method for reducing caloric intake. A common method used by people in the attempt to lose weight is to skip meals and not eat. The problem here is that if the brain perceives that it has not eaten and therefore hungry it can shift into a starvation mode and will slow down the body’s metabolism and burn fewer calories. Skipping meals has been shown to be a good way to gain weight.
Hoodia has no known side effects. Having the body believe that it is full by taking Hoodia prior to eating with a glass of water in order to reduce caloric intake is a good approach but combining it with other ingredients may be the most effective approach.
