Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Are You Concerned About Hoodia Side Effects?

By Caitlin Ryan

Have you been looking into weight loss diet pills? I'm sure youre concerned about potential side effects. Nobody wants to take hoodia or any other weight loss supplement without examining the ingredients and figuring out whether or not there could be side effects that may jeopardize their health or make them feel ill.

Hoodia gordonii is an appetite suppressant. If you want to understand hoodia side effects, you need to know how we become hungry in the first place. Our brain is notified when blood glucose (blood sugar) levels drop indicating that we need nourishment. The brain sends a message to the hypothalamus which then creates the feeling of hunger.

The active ingredient in this South African cactus is p57. P57 tricks the brain into thinking that you have plenty of blood sugar. This controls the appetite because the brain isn't triggered by dropped glucose levels. The result is that our appetites are suppressed. Even if our glucose levels are low, we won't feel the urge to eat.

For many of us, thats great because weve overeaten for so long that our brains respond to faulty glucose levels as well as a psychological urge to eat. For diabetics, this isn't such a great plan. It's important that diabetics consult with their physician prior to using any appetite suppressant to make sure that their glucose levels are still well controlled or they may end up feeling quite ill or worsening their condition.

You also need to make sure that you are staying well hydrated while taking hoodia gordonii. Hoodia may also suppress our thirst response. You see, when you feel thirsty, your fluid levels are already low which means youre partially dehydrated. If your thirst response is suppressed, then you may be even more dehydrated before you feel the need to quench your thirst. It is a good practice with or without hoodia to drink water throughout the day. Carry a bottle with you and soon youll be in the habit.

The really fabulous news is ... thats it! Those are the two main side effects of hoodia gordonii. All things considered, that's not so bad.

There are diet pills for weight loss and other types of appetite suppressants that pose a greater risk than hoodia gordonii. A lot of diet pills can make you feel quite ill or worse!

Ephedra is a stimulant appetite suppressant that has been linked with serious cardiovascular side effects that have lead to death. It was banned by the FDA, but unfortunately, some unscrupulous weight loss companies still manage to make it available online.

Another type of weight loss diet pill is known as a fat blocker. Alli is a very popular fat blocker that is now available over-the-counter. The weight loss mechanism in Alli is that it blocks the absorption of fat and eliminates it from the body. The problem is that many people taking Alli continue to eat high fat diets and often have uncontrollable bowel movements and ill feeling cramps, bloating and gas.

Stimulants such as caffeine are known to cause a sort of nervous, jittery feeling. This can increase anxiety and keep you awake at night causing sleep deprivation side effects.

It's important to note that while hoodia diet supplements like HoodiThin are 100% pure, other hoodia gordonii products may have additional ingredients. The fact that HoodiThin is simply hoodia and nothing else is why I take it. I don't want to feel ill simply because I wish to control my appetite and lose weight.

Its not advisable for children to take hoodia (or any weight loss diet pill without the advisement of a physician). Do not take hoodia if you are diabetic, pregnant or nursing a baby.

If you want to lose weight with a safe appetite suppressant, hoodia gordonii is a great choice so long as you aren't in one of the above situations. - 15995

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