What Do The Skeptics Have To Say About Hoodia?
Skeptics look at Hoodia in the same way they look at other diet supplements. After the experts found the side effects from ephedra products and Phenfen, it is perhaps right to question the product as a legitimate product to aid in weight loss. Skeptics see Hoodia as another product touted to be the “magic pill” of weight loss. The rate of obesity and overweight people has skyrocketed in the Western world. People do not want to put the effort into losing weight, they long for a pill that will magically cut calories or fat from their diet and allow them to lose weight effortlessly. Products with ephedra and the diet drug Phenfen were effective but were found to cause serious medical problems. Increased heart rate and blood pressure led to heart attacks and stroke. No wonder there is skepticism about this new product.
Hoodia skeptics claim there is less knowledge and scientific evidence for the Hoodia product than many of the other diet pill supplements. They state that Hoodia has the flimsiest scientific evidence than most of the other miracle weight loss supplements! The Hoodia plant is found in the deserts of South Africa. It looks like a cactus but is a member of the succulent family. Most companies grind Hoodia into powder and make it in several different forms.
Skeptics of the Hoodia product claim there are two distinct problems with the Hoodia weight loss concept. First, there is no scientific research to verify the claims that it suppresses appetite and helps in weight loss. There are many sites on the Internet that claim to have researched the claims, but they are mostly sites that are in business to sell Hoodia supplements to those desperate for weight loss help. Many sites claim to have testimonials and other “official” test results to back up their claim to amazing weight losses. You should research these sites to find any legitimate proof there is scientific evidence to back their claims.
There are over 13 varieties of Hoodia, only one, the Hoodia gordonii has been shown to be effective in aiding in weight loss. The Hoodia gordonii plant will only grow in specific temperatures and soils. They are found in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa. The Hoodia plant takes over five years to mature and it is difficult to cultivate.
Second, one of the major pharmaceutical company in the world bought the rights to develop a Hoodia based drug but has since abandoned the effort. It has turned the rights over to another company. If Hoodia had shown any promise of being the miracle weight loss drug of the century they would not have abandoned their project to another pharmaceutical company!
Proof of how Hoodia works is purely guess. A reporter from major news broadcast tried eating the drug and related she was not hungry for the rest of the day. This is not scientific proof! The Sans Bushmen in South Africa also would eat parts of the plant to prepare for long journeys or hunting trips. This is not proof; this is folklore and has not been scientifically proved. What the Bushmen eat and what the reporter ate was “raw” Hoodia plucked from the Kalahari Desert. Raw Hoodia is different from the processed powders found in many supplements offered today.
Although we may not like the idea, weight loss occurs only when you cut back on the calories you take in and the physical exercise your body gets. The Hoodia product has yet to be confirmed in a scientific way to be helpful in losing weight.
