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Hoodia
- the name of supplement for weight loss!
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Hoodia
Gordonii is a succulent plant from South Africa |
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Remarks
- What Is Hoodia?
- Hoodia gordonii is a succulent plant, which means
it has fleshy tissue in its roots, stems, or leaves
to conserve water, like a cactus. Hoodia has been
used for centuries by the San speaking tribes of the
Kalahari Desert. On long hunting trips, the
tribesmen chew the stem of the Hoodia to stave off
hunger and thirst. The question was, if it could
work for the tribesmen in Africa, would Hoodia work
for weight loss in a controlled environment?
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- Hoodia For Weight Loss?
- Scientists from the South African Council for
Scientific And Industrial Affairs (CSIR) set to find
out. In their study they discovered that animals
given Hoodia lost weight without any apparent side
effects. According to scientists from CSIR, Hoodia
works by mimicking the effect glucose has on the
nerve cells in the brain.
Researchers at Brown University in Rhode Island
concurred. They found that the steroidal glycosides
in Hoodia affect nerve cells in the hypothalamus
that monitor blood glucose. This means your brain is
"tricked" into thinking there is enough
energy (blood glucose) and doesn't need to eat. The
result? You don’t feel hungry.
In 2001 Phytopharm completed a double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical study in overweight, but
otherwise healthy volunteers using an extract of
Hoodia gordonii. The large doses of extract caused a
statistically significant reduction in the average
daily calorie intake. In addition, a statistically
significant reduction in body fat content was also
observed compared to the placebo group after two
weeks.
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- Is Hoodia Safe?
- In the Phytopharm study, no serious adverse
effects were experienced by any of the subjects, and
the safety data are consistent with a satisfactory
overall safety profile.
Since it’s been on the market, no Hoodia side
effects have been reported. However, there are a few
things to keep in mind when using Hoodia.
Eat enough lean protein to maintain your muscle mass
and keep your metabolism from slowing down. Consume
complex carbohydrates like whole grains and
vegetables and fruit. Your body uses carbohydrates,
not protein, for fuel. So if you try exercising on
an empty tank, your performance—and weight loss
efforts—will suffer. Hoodia not only curbs
appetite for food, but it suppresses thirst as well.
Even if you don’t feel like it, drink plenty of
water: about eight 8 oz glasses a day.
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