Is Hoodia the Wrong Choice for You?

Grown in South Africa, hoodia gordonii is a cactus that the tribesmen have been using for hundreds of years as a means to prevent hunger when out on long hunts. They chew on the stem while traveling large stretches of sparse lands. Eventually, the billion dollar a year weight loss industry caught on to this natural appetite suppressant and eventually developed various weight loss supplements containing hoodia.

Sounds great, right? You want to lose weight, but how when food is so tempting and eating small portions to facilitate weight loss leaves you hungry? Is hoodia the answer? For some, but not for others. Let’s look at how hoodia gordonii works.

Hoodia contains a component called p57, which is the part that suppresses appetite. When your blood glucose levels drop, the brain signals to the hypothalamus to trigger hunger so you will be compelled to eat and refuel. p57 copycats glucose in the body; fooling your brain into thinking you have plenty of blood glucose. Hunger is not triggered.


Because of this effect on blood glucose, diabetics should not take hoodia. The management of their blood glucose is the ultimate treatment goal for diabetics, so hoodia may jeopardize that aspect of treatment. What about other people?

Do you eat to satisfy an emotion? Do you use food as instant gratification? Do you eat compulsively and nibble on foods even though you are not hungry? Hoodia is not a cure-all, and if you eat for reasons beyond feeling hungry, it may not do you much good. Try to get a grip on emotional or compulsive eating, and then see if hoodia may help.

Obviously, women who are pregnant or nursing and children should not take hoodia. Anyone who has been placed on special diet should talk to their health care provider about this or any weight loss supplement prior to using it. Is there anyone who will benefit from this appetite suppressant?

Well, the Western diet is loaded with sugar. Over years of consuming processed foods, high in sugar and low in other nutrients, your blood glucose levels and response levels may be all out of proportion. The body strives to adapt, so when you eat foods high in sugar often, eventually, your body will begin to signal hunger at higher than normal blood glucose levels. You may even crave sugar. Since p57 in hoodia mimics glucose, these weight loss supplements may give you the edge you need to control hunger and return your hunger system back to normal. This should help you lose weight.

Ultimately, the only way to lose weight is to eat whole, clean foods in the right portions and exercise. However, if hoodia helps you kick your sugar habit, you might stand a better chance of conquering temptation and re-training your body to respond to the right levels of blood glucose.