| A new research study has produced a ringing | | | | appetite. It basically tricks the brain into thinking that |
| endorsement of Advantra Z®, the patented | | | | you are full. To date, there are no known adverse |
| Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) extract used for | | | | side effects caused by the use of hoodia. |
| weight management. The study is particularly | | | | The chemical constituents in hoodia works within the |
| significant - not simply due to the overwhelmingly | | | | satiety center by releasing a chemical compound |
| positive results - but because these findings came | | | | similar to glucose, but is up to 100,000 times more |
| from a staunch critic of performance-enhancing | | | | powerful. The hypothalamus receives this signal as an |
| dietary supplements. | | | | indication that enough food has been consumed and |
| The three-arm, double-blind, placebo-controlled, | | | | this in turn stunts the appetite. This pure organic |
| crossover study, "Human Pharmacology of a | | | | hoodia gordinii contains a molecule that, in effect, |
| Performance-Enhancing Dietary Supplement Under | | | | fools the brain into believing you are full, and can |
| Resting and Exercise Conditions," was published online | | | | even stop the brain from thinking about food. |
| in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology on March | | | | Although there isn't substantial published research on |
| 13, 2008. It was conducted by Christine A. Haller, M.D. | | | | hoodia to date, the studies available appear to show |
| - of the University of California, San Francisco - who | | | | quite impressive results. |
| has been a frequent and outspoken critic of | | | | Scientists at the Council for Scientific and Industrial |
| performance-enhancing dietary supplement usage. | | | | Research (CSIR), South Africa 's national laboratory, |
| The study found that exercise tolerance improved - | | | | began studying hoodia and the initial results were |
| and was easier 83% of the time - following use of a | | | | promising -- lab animals lost weight after taking |
| performance-enhancing dietary supplement containing | | | | hoodia. Later, the South African scientists, working in |
| Advantra Z. More important, no significant adverse | | | | conjunction with a British company named |
| events occurred. This is great news because | | | | Phytopharm, isolated the active ingredient in hoodia, a |
| increased performance leads to burning more calories | | | | steroidal glycoside, which they named p57. |
| and building more muscle during the course of | | | | Phytopharm has spent more than $20 million on |
| exercise, thus leading to fat loss and metabolism | | | | hoodia research. The company completed a |
| enhancement. The easier you perceive your | | | | double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study in |
| work-out to be, the likely you are to consistently | | | | overweight, but otherwise healthy volunteers using |
| engage in exercise as well as increase your amount | | | | the P57 extract from hoodia gordonii. The participants |
| of exercise. | | | | were split into two groups, one received the P57 and |
| This is the second study from Dr. Haller to | | | | the other received a placebo. Each group was told to |
| demonstrate positive results for dietary supplements | | | | continue their normal diet and exercise. The results of |
| containing Advantra Z. In "Hemodynamic Effects of | | | | the study were as follows: |
| Ephedra-Free Weight-Loss Supplements in Humans," | | | | When comparing the hoodia group to the Placebo |
| published September 9, 2005 in The American Journal | | | | group, the hoodia group had a statistically significant |
| of Medicine, she found that even in eight-fold higher | | | | reduction in caloric intake, had a statistically significant |
| dosages (40 mg synephrine per dose), Advantra Z | | | | reduction in body fat and had no adverse side |
| did not affect blood pressure or cause central | | | | effects. On average the hoodia group ate about |
| nervous stimulation. Again, this is great news as it | | | | 1,000 calories a day less than those in the control |
| confirms the safety of one of the most effective | | | | group. These are very impressive results when you |
| thermogenic, fat-burning, ingredients available today. | | | | consider that the average American man consumes |
| Hoodia, a South African herb, also has the weight | | | | about 2,600 calories a day; a woman about 1,900. |
| loss community all abuzz. Authentic hoodia is one of | | | | In animal studies, hoodia was proven to reduce caloric |
| the rarest botanicals in the world. It is a cactus like | | | | intake by 30 to 50 percent. Researchers at Brown |
| plant that grows exclusively in South Africa . | | | | University Medical School performed studies in 2004. |
| Scientists have isolated several compounds in hoodia | | | | In these studies "Zucker Rats" were fed hoodia. |
| that helps suppress appetite. It contains a molecule | | | | Zucker Rats are special rats that are bred to be |
| called P57 that is 10,000 times as active as glucose. It | | | | obese and diabetic. Amazingly Zucker Rats that were |
| goes to the mid-brain and makes those nerve cells | | | | fed hoodia lost weight and even saw some reversal |
| feel as if you are full and this in turn stunts the | | | | of their diabetes. |