Hoodia-Scientifically Legit or Not?
According to Web MD.com hoodia is attributed to “lots of hoopla, little science.” Let’s explore this for a second to figure out why this negative statement about this plant has been made. It is likely to help you determine the validity of claims made about it.
The reason why the headline of this article posted on Web MD.com refers to hoodia as “hoopla” is because even though there is evidence that it does work very little published scientific evidence is found. However, that is mainly because of the fact that the use of this plant in western cultures (especially) is so new.
It has begun to be popular as of the late 1990s in the U.S. and other locations on the “other side” of the world. However, it had been used as early as a few thousand years ago in ancient times. The question remains regarding this plant source: if it is so effective why did it take so long to be discovered?
This could actually be for a variety of reasons. One thing you should know happens is that the history of indigenous tribes such as the ones located in South Africa was often not written down. Rather, it was often passed to later generations orally.
The other problem is that it takes quite awhile for this plant source to mature (about five years), as it is the flowering portion that is effective. At any rate, the most substantial proof of its working power is in how it curbs a person’s appetite, as you have seen many times in the media.
By the way, it is only the gordonii species of this plant-which is really a succulent and not a cactus-has this appetite suppressant enzyme in it. This is commonly called P57, and is found in many pills, teas, powders, extracts, snacks, juices, candy, and even lip gloss.
