FAQ: Is hoodia a good diet aide?

Is hoodia a good diet aide? If hoodia success is measured by the number of people who report positive results then hoodia is a good diet aide for about 50-60% of the people who have tried it. As with other appetite suppressants and health supplements, results vary.

Will hoodia alone help me lose weight? Although the answer to the question “is hoodia a good diet aide” may be yes for many people, hoodia gordonii is only an appetite suppressant. It must be used as part of a complete weight loss program.

Is hoodia a good diet aide for someone with a medical condition? No studies have been completed relating to hoodia success when used by people with existing medical conditions. All clinical studies by Phytopharm have included volunteers who were in relatively good health, except for being overweight.

Have clinical studies of possible side effects related to hoodia use been completed? As of May of 2006, Phytopharm has not completed clinical studies of the extract of hoodia gordonii that they will be releasing with Unilever.

Does hoodia have any known side effects? There are no known side effects caused by the use of hoodia gordonii, but products which contain other herbs or plant extracts may cause side effects in some people.

Is hoodia a good diet aide when compared to other appetite suppressants? Most appetite suppressants are stimulants, either natural or synthetic. Stimulants can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure. Stimulants are not “fat burners” though some companies advertise them as such. Those who have reported hoodia success do not report any of the side effects associated with stimulants. They only report that they did not feel hungry or even think about food.

Is hoodia a good diet aide if I am pregnant or nursing? Hoodia gordonii should not be used by women who are pregnant or nursing.

Is hoodia a good diet aide for children who are overweight? Hoodia gordonii should not be used by anyone under the age of 18.

Is there a difference between the hoodia gordonii products that are currently on the market and the product that will be released by Phytopharm? We do not really know the answer to that question at this time. While all hoodia success in formal clinical studies has been at Phytopharm and Phytopharm maintains that there product will be superior, there have been informal clinical studies which reported hoodia success, performed by interested physicians, using products that are currently on the market.

Is hoodia a good diet aide for people who cannot take “pills”? For those people who have trouble swallowing pills, there are liquid hoodia products. Most appetite suppressants are not available in liquid form. The reported hoodia success among users of liquid hoodia is about the same as that reported by those who have used the tablets.