As Hoodia grows in popularity, more and more people are asking, “What are the side-effects of Hoodia?” or “Is it safe to take Hoodia for slimming?”

They’re good questions. Hoodia is a fairly recent addition to the weight loss arena. It’s been available commercially since about 1997, then it grew in popularity after it was shown on Oprah in 2004.

There have been no serious side-effects reported during all this time. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert have been using the Hoodia Gordonii plant for centuries to help keep their hunger at bay while on long hunting and gathering trips in the Kalahari Desert. And they used to rely on Hoodia as a regular part of their diet in times of famine.

This would indicate that it’s a safe plant to take for slimming - if we take it the same way they’ve done for thousands of years

They’ve always used the whole plant, either dried or fresh, but avoiding the roots and flowers. Therefore we need to do the same, and find a product that is pure Hoodia - nothing added and nothing taken away. Adding anything to pure Hoodia is likely to disrupt its natural balance, and consequently reduce its effectiveness as an appetite suppressant.

Equally, just because the whole plant is safe, (with all its ingredients intact) does not mean a drug derived from the Hoodia plant is necessarily safe. ‘P57′ is the active ingredient in Hoodia; but to isolate that one molecule and use it alone is probably not such a good idea.

Regarding whether Hoodia is safe to take - we found 3 areas we want to highlight. These should be seen as general precautions, not necessarily side-effects:

1. Hoodia may sometimes reduce the thirst signals as well as the hunger signals, in some people. If Hoodia had turned off or lessened the thirst impulse, you wouldn’t realise you were thirsty, when it fact you were. So to make sure this isn’t a problem, keep a bottle of water handy at all times, and sip it throughout the day.

The accepted wisdom is that adults should be drinking 2 litres of water every day. When you’re dieting, you should be drinking at least 2 litres a day. So pour yourself a 2-litre bottle of water every morning, and make sure you drink it throughout the day.

2. The second point is still a little unclear. Dr. MacLean, a leading endocrinologist at Brown Medical School, found that P57 was easily broken down by the liver. (He was injecting P57 into the brains of rats - very nice!). Yet Dr. Steelman - a slimming specialist, said he was concerned that P57 was processed by the liver, since obese people often have liver abnormalities that could compound any possible side-effects.

Two experts with differences of opinion. (Nothing new there, then!) Dr. Steelman says many obese people suffer with liver problems. MacLean says P57 is ‘easily’ broken down by the liver. It seems to make perfect sense then, if you’re suffering with obesity and/or have liver problems, it would be good to consult with your physician or healthcare provider before taking Hoodia to lose weight.

3. Diabetics should exercise caution when taking Hoodia. People with diabetes need help maintaining regular blood sugar levels. If Hoodia triggers the brain into thinking the blood sugar levels are higher than they actually are, they might not eat when they are supposed to, (because they don’t feel hungry). This could cause problems if their blood sugar levels drop too low.

Let’s just put these precautions into perspective:

Being overweight is directly linked with high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and resistance to insulin (a precursor to Diabetes). This set of risk factors has been termed Metabolic Syndrome X. It is thought to affect over 70 million Americans and is now a common cause of premature death and/or disability.

With this in mind, Hoodia Gordonii could be an important factor in the quest to reduce the incidence of Metabolic Syndrome, and its associated risk factors. As with any weight loss regimen, aerobic exercise and other simple dietary changes will enhance the overall effectiveness of Hoodia.

Overall, pregnant or nursing women; young children; and people with liver disease should avoid taking Hoodia for weight loss. Anyone taking Hoodia supplements needs to make sure they drink plenty of water during the day, and eat adequately for their needs.

To summarise: “Is Hoodia safe to take?” Yes, Hoodia certainly seems to be an effective appetite suppressant. There are countless testimonials to confirm that. The only caveat being to make sure the Hoodia you buy is pure Hoodia that hasn’t been changed or modified in any way.