Using Hoodia to Lose Weight – Part 2

Before using any product you should always check with your doctor to determine if there are any interactions with medications you may already be taking or any underlying medical conditions from which you may be suffering. Your pharmacist can also help you with interactions with any over the counter medications you may be thinking of taking.

As with any other herbal supplement, Hoodia supplements should be used with caution. The manufacturer of these products is not regulated by any agency. The only real way to know if what is labeled on the bottle is really in the bottle is by an evaluation in an independent laboratory.

Sometimes herbal supplements contain products that are not on the label. They are included in the manufacturing process when they are not processed out. Some of these substances in Hoodia weight loss supplements can cause liver dysfunction and damage, which was the reason Pfizer backed out of the patent. These side effects presented too much of a liability to the pharmaceutical company who was weighing the cost of risk vs. benefit. To the average user the benefit is weight loss. However, the pharmaceutical company was weighing the potential cost of law suits and manufacturing process to reduce the risk of liver damage, against the financial benefit of the sale of the product.

Typical side effects of this supplement are not well documented since there have been no reliable studies using humans since it was introduced in North America.

Although Hoodia Gordonii has been shown through case studies to be effective in weight loss supplementation there have also not been enough studies to show the safety of using this supplement. The choice is always yours. (3)

References:

(1) Rebirth Africa: From Hoodia Gordonii to P57

http://www.rebirth.co.za/hoodia/p57_pfizer.htm

(2) NutraIngredients.com: Phytopharm CEO Insists Hoodia Still “Interesting” Despite Patent Disposal

http://www.nutraingredients.com/Industry/Phytopharm-CEO-insists-Hoodia-still-interesting-despite-patent-disposal

(3) Natural News: Hoodia Gornonii is No Miracle Weight Loss Pill, Health Investigation Reveals

http://www.naturalnews.com/002713.html