Starling Fitness: Daily writings on Fitness, Diet, and Health

Hoodia Gordonii is a cactus that is supposed to suppress the appetite. Everything that I have read about this stuff sounds like hype. I’ve found some articles recommending that you avoid the supplements because they tend to not contain what they say they do (surprise, surprise), but very little information about clinical trials or safety.

• Wikipedia – Hoodia

• BBC News – Sampling the Kalahari cactus diet – by Tom Mangold

• CBS News – African Plant May Help Fight Fat – by Lesley Stahl

• Fit FAQ – All About Hoodia Gordonii

• News Target – Hoodia Gordonii weight loss pills scam exposed by independent investigation

• Really Useful Fitness Blog – Hoodia Gordonii Alert

Wouldn’t it be funny if the stuff has a million calories and fat in just one bite? It would explain the appetite suppression…

The Wikipedia entry on Hoodia gordonii sums it up perfectly:

There is no published scientific evidence that Hoodia works as an appetite suppressant in humans. The safety and/or effectiveness of Hoodia Gordonii as a dietary supplement must thus be considered as unsubstantiated.