Hoodia gordonii, or bushman’s hat is a leafless spiny plant with therapeutic properties in folk medicine, from southern Africa, precisely Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.
Bushman’s hat becomes internationally renowned and threatened by collectors after a false marketing campaign that claimed that it is effective appetite suppressant to achieve weight loss.
On the other hand, some say that it can also treat indigestion and also minor infections. How true is that? And what are the health benefits of Hoodia gordonii?
What are its Health Benefits?
- Hoodia Gordonii Suppresses Appetite
South Africa’s San tribe that lives in the Kalahari Desert have been consuming Hoodia gordonii for ages as fuel to block hunger and increase energy during long hunting expeditions. It was only during the 2000s that this particular health benefits of Hoodia gordonii becomes publicly acknowledged, and therefore demand for Hoodia supplements increased drastically.
Hoodia gordonii is able to do this because of its chemical composition that resembles glucose and are much more powerful than actual glucose itself. They send signals to the brain that the body is full and does not need anymore food. Wonderful isn’t it?
- Hoodia Gordonii for Weight Loss
And second, since Hoodia gordonii also suppresses appetite, it leads to weight loss in the long term as well. How does it work? As a continuation to the process described above, the brain immediately gives the body instructions to stop eating, which kills appetite and is kept that way so that existing reserves of fat can be converted into energy.
As a result, existing fat is then converted into energy, and likewise there is no intake of energy either to replace the one being converted. Fat is burnt, and finally one can lose weight!
- Hoodia Gordonii Has Minimum Side Effects
This might sound a bit off topic, but then it is true that Hoodia gordonii contain minimum side effects. There are three possible evidences to support this claim.
First, the side effects haven’t been discovered and proven since Hoodia gordonii for mass consumption is only a recent phenomenon.
Second, the side effects do not appear fast enough unlike in other forms of suppressants such as caffeine. And third, people are focused on the health benefits of Hoodia gordonii for weight loss so much that they have no time to think about what its side effects are.
- Hoodia Gordonii Boosts Energy
Like what is written above, Hoodia gordonii boosts energy because that is what native South Africans used for hunting. Perhaps, Hoodia gordonii’s power for boosting energy is comparable to that of health benefits of Asian ginseng.
- Hoodia Gordonii May Prevent Further Illnesses and Health Complications
Finally, with the help of Hoodia gordonii supplements, one can also prevent further illnesses and health complications caused by being overweight or health risks of obesity, such as cardiovascular diseases, foods that lower cholesterol level, high blood pressure treatments, diabetes symptoms, and much more.
Advice and Recommendations
Patients with the following conditions should not take Hoodoa gordonii before seeking consultation from their doctor or a medical expert. The reason why is because, there is lack of concrete medical evidence on what Hoodia gordonii does to these people;
- Diabetes
- Heart disease or high blood pressure
- Bleeding disorder or blood clots
- Eating disorder such as anorexia and bulimia
- Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers
- Allergic to herbal supplements
- Undertaking any other herbal supplements at the same time
We have come into conclusion that most, if not all of the health benefits of Hoodia gordonii are related to weight loss and appetite management. So, are you ready to lose some weight with minimum side effects?