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Weight Loss from a Cactus

By Henry J. Fishman, M.D.
ConsumerAffairs.com

November 7, 2005

Hoodia • 'Slim Coffee' Promoters Settle False Advertising Charges • Feds Squash Hoodia, Human Growth Hormone Scams • Weight Loss From a Cactus? Think Again • LeanRx.Net Lightens Consumers Wallets --- • Hoodia Complaints • LeanRx.Net Complaints --- • Weight Loss News

Hoodia Gordonii is a cactus, grown in Africa's Kalahari and eaten by the San Bushmen there. Hoodia Gordonii supposedly curbs your appetite and helps you lose weight. But does it really?

Look on the Internet and you'll find dozens of ads peddling pills which supposedly contain the product.

The key word here is supposedly. It is illegal to export the plant from Africa and numerous tests have found no cactus juice in any of the pills.

Then there are the reports of how well it works. Hoodia Gordonii supposedly contains a molecule, P57, which tells the nerves in your hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls appetite, to stop you from eating.

The problem is no one seems to be able to find those studies that prove it works in rats or can cut he appetite of obese people by 1,000 calories per day.

And then there is Pfizer. The big drug company bought the rights to develop Hoodia Gordonii in 1998 and sold them back in 2003.

Hmmmm. I wonder what they know?

Until we know more about Hoodia, I'd stick to diet and exercise.

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