Cactus Diet
Does the Cactus Diet Work?
While much attention has been given to miracle plants believed to have fantastic abilities to cause rapid weight loss, many like the Hoodia cactus diet are not reliable ways to drop body weight. African tribes have used Hoodia cactus for hundreds of years to reduce hunger, it has many natural properties that can help a person looking to lose weight reduce cravings for food and give them an overall full feeling, but this appetite suppressant will work best if used in conjunction with diet and exercise.
Hoodia gordonii is native to South Africa, Angola, Botswana and Namibia and is the only variety of the 20 species of Hoodia that used in diet forms. It is often referred to as South African desert cactus. Recently it has become extremely popular as a supplement for weight loss. It is readily available in many health stores and over the internet in capsules, tea mixtures or in liquid form. Many of the manufacturers of these cactus diet supplements claim that the plants work as a natural appetite suppressant, burn stored fat, and create a higher level of energy. Often the supplement is mixed with other substances such a green tea to improve its affects. New evidence suggests that Hoodia gordonii contains a molecule that imitates a form of the body’s natural appetite suppressant. This molecule, called P57, effects the nerves within the brain much in the same way as glucose does, but at level several thousand times more than glucose. This causes the blood sugar to spike, which releases chemicals that tell your brain you are full and do not need to eat more food. The idea is that you can take Hoodia gordonii cactus supplements and greatly reduce the amount of calories you ingest, causing the body to lose weight. Losing weight by reducing caloric intake is effective, but an appetite suppressant alone is not a reliable way to lose weight. Overuse of such a supplement can cause problems with health to develop.
When used as part of an overall comprehensive weight loss plan, the Hoodia cactus diet supplements can aid you in losing weight; a comprehensive weight loss plan is the best and healthiest option for losing weight effectively. This includes exercise and proper nutrition with fewer calories. This particular cactus supplement will work best as a mid day or occasional meal replacement. It is still essential that you get the proper amounts of nutrition that comes from food. This means that you need to create a nutritionally sound diet involving vegetables, fruits, complex carbohydrates and protein, while using an appetite suppressant supplement to reduce the amount of calories eaten at each meal. It is important not to use this supplement as a way to completely remove large amounts of calories from your diet with the hope of dropping weight quickly. This is not an advisable or healthy way to lose weight. Extremely rapid weight loss such as this form usually is only temporary. The best way to lose weight is over time with exercise and diet.
If you do choose to try out the Hoodia gordonii cactus as an appetite suppressant, be sure to consult with a doctor first. Some people may have adverse reactions with supplement use. Always tell a doctor about all medications you are taking as some supplements may have possible dangerous interactions with certain medications. There have been a few trials performed to determine the efficacy of Hoodia, but there are no clear results on whether this is an effective weight loss tool. Based on the fact that tribesmen in Africa have been using this supplement for hundreds of years and it contains the molecule P57, there is a good chance that it may help your overall weight loss plan if its use is minimal.