Monday, February 2, 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 side effects can only be understood if you understand how hoodia works in the body. Our hunger is signaled when our glucose (blood sugar) levels drop below a certain level. Your brain then signals the hypothalamus which lets us know that we are in fact, hungry.

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.

The second side effect of hoodia is that it may also suppress our sense of thirst. When we become thirsty, we are already partially dehydrated because our fluid levels must fall below optimum level before the sense of thirst is triggered. This side effect can be easily controlled, however, by getting into the habit of drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Staying well hydrated can help you lose weight as well, so this is something that you should be doing anyway for weight loss as well as your health.

However, that's pretty much all you have to worry about with hoodia gordonii. As long as you aren't diabetic or have other major health concerns, you probably won't experience any side effects from hoodia. Oh, and make sure you drink your water!

The side effects of hoodia are fairly minor compared to the dangerous and ill side effects of other weight loss diet pills and appetite suppressants.

One of those is ephedra which is an appetite suppressant that was once very popular. It has been banned by the FDA due to its role in the deaths of people who suffered severe heart-related side effects. It is still used by rogue weight loss companies that illegally sell it on the internet.

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.

Do not take hoodia if you are pregnant or nursing. Children should not take hoodia. If you have major health concerns or you are diabetic, check with your physician before taking any weight loss diet pills or supplements including hoodia.

If you want to control your appetite in order to loose weight, hoodia is a great choice if the above potential side effects are not an issue for you. I've found a lot of weight loss success just by having this little added boost of support through hoodia. - 17944

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