Hoodia side effects- How harmful are they?
Hoodia is a leafless plant which is grown predominantly in South Africa and Namibia and is famous for its various medicinal properties. It is said to have been used by the African tribes to curb their cravings of hunger and curing infections during long treks across the Kalahari desert. The name Hoodia is now well known for the various diet pills in the market, stating they can crave hunger and make the user feel full without eating but does it really work? There has been no solid evidence as to the side effects of the usage of these pills or patches, or any other form of hoodia dietary applications.
Pfizer Corporation in 1960’s claimed to have separated the component in hoodia which is supposed to curb hunger but left the research unfinished due to the unwanted complications it had on the liver and since then the permission for growing hoodia in the wild has been given only to a few companies and original cultivators of the plant. Hence we can never be sure of the complications in humans which may arise due to the use of the plant in any form.
Most of the diet plans marketers nowadays claim that hoodia has a no side effect warranty since it has been in use for thousands of years but we should understand that resistance to any complication differs from person to person and the fact that the bushmen used it without complications should not be the only reason for buying it without cross checking. The plant has not been researched thoroughly due to its growth in Africa and there are no papers or evidence to show that it is completely safe or that it doesn’t interact with other drugs which are being used by a person.
Hoodia pills should not be used by people who have
• Blood Pressure,
• Diabetes,
• Depression,
and other such medical complications as it could just worsen the condition. The marketers claim that hoodia works by making the brain believe that it has enough blood sugar and hence stops the cravings, and this for people with diabetes would mean they would go to extremely low blood sugar levels until they realize its too late, what with no hunger pangs to show the body’s needs.
It is also said that many of the bushmen in Africa died of dehydration, which is also a part of the package of taking hoodia, and dint realize that they were thirsty because the plant curbs the brain from turning on the thirst signal. It is advisable that people with other medical conditions, pregnant women and children, should not use any hoodia dietary applications for possible dangers involved with the use of the plant.
