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Hoodia for Weight Loss? |
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Thursday, 15 March 2007 |
Dear Dr. Levister: What is Hoodia? Is it safe for dieters?
R.T.
Dear R.T. Hoodia
(pronounced HOO-dee-ah) is a cactus-like plant that grows primarily in the
semi-deserts of South Africa,
Botswana, Namibia and Angola.
 Dr. Ernest Levister, Jr.
After the ban on the herb ephedra, the market was
particularly ripe for the next new diet pill. Much of hoodia's popularity stems
from claims that the San Bushmen of the Kalahari desert relied on hoodia for
thousands of years to ward off hunger and thirst during long hunting trips.
They were said to have cut off the stem and eat the bitter-tasting plant.
Much of the hype about hoodia started after 60 Minutes
correspondent Leslie Stahl and crew traveled to Africa
to try hoodia. They hired a local Bushman to go with them to find the plant.
Stahl ate it, describing it as "cucumbery in texture, but not bad." She
reported that she lost the desire to eat or drink the entire day. She also said
she didn't experience any immediate side effects, such as indigestion or heart
palpitations.
Hoodia is sold in capsule, powder, liquid, or tea form in
health food stores and on the Internet.
A former researcher for pharmaceutical giant Pfizer told the New York
Times that although hoodia did appear to suppress appetite, there were unwanted
effects on the liver caused by the plant's active ingredient p57.
If hoodia does affect the liver, it may also interact with
other medications a person is taking. The San Bushman probably did not take
pills for blood presasure, diabetes, cholesterol and other diseases, like we
do. Additionally the unconfirmed reports of safe use by the Bushmen should not
be relied on.
My advice is that you be very cautious. It's estimated that
80 percent of hoodia products are contaminated or counterfeit.
For my money, a balanced diet and exercise is still the best
weight loss solution around.
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