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Hoodia
In recent years Hoodia gordonii has been termed the new miracle drug for weight loss. However much is still unknown about Hoodia, its effectiveness and potential side effects.
A plant that grows in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa, Hoodia gordonii has traditionally been used by the Kalahari Bushmen to suppress hunger during long journeys or periods of scarcity. This plant is only known to grow in South Africa and thus it is not widely available yet for development as a diet pill.
Scientific testing has determined it is a molecule, identified as P57, in the Hoodia plant that works to suppress appetite. P57 acts in the brain in the same manner as glucose, making the brain believe that the body is full, even if the individual hasn't yet ingested foods. Currently only one company, the British pharmaceutical company Phytopharm, controls the development and production of this drug.
Phytopham has conducted preliminary trials of this drug on human volunteers and has determined that the test subjects ingested approximately 1000 calories less per day than they normally would have. However significant studies on the true effectiveness, long term side effects and impacts, or nutritional value of the drug on humans have yet to be carried out.
As such the Food and Drug Association has cautioned consumers to first consult their doctor before electing to take this drug as a means of losing weight. In addition several fraudulent versions of diet pills claiming to contain the molecule P57 have flooded the market and thus consumers must be wary of these products. Indeed there has been speculation that it may be very difficult to extract molecule P57 from the plant and develop it in the form of a diet pill.
As with any dietary supplement or diet pill, make sure you consult you doctor for more information on the drug, how it works and the possible risks involved in taking it regularly. Refer to thefitmap.com for more information and let us help to answer your questions and get you started on your way to a healthier weight.
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