Like everyone these days I get a ton of email spam and in amongst these quite a few for the weight loss product hoodia. Now, the first thing that I would want to know about such a product is whether it was safe. This article has something to say about that subject.

However, leaving aside the question of direct side effects, I would still caution against using this type of product. It acts as an appetite suppressant. In other words it is a drug which helps you starve yourself. Obviously if you do this then your calorie intake will be much lower than your calorie expenditure and you will lose weight.

One problem, though is that there is a lot more to food than calories. Your body continually rebuilds itself and it needs a constant supply of protein to do this. Furthermore there are a wide range of micronutrients, essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins which are critical to the healthy function of your vital organs. When you restrict your food intake then you also restrict these. That can't be good for you.

There's worse. Our bodies are adapted to the ways of our ancient ancestors for whom food supplies were subject to periods of glut and famine. We have mechanisms to maximise our chances of surviving famine, one of which is that your body will hang on to its energy stores (i.e. your fat) as long as possible. When food is scarce your metabolic rate will drop. Furthermore your body will use catabolic processes to break down muscle tissue for energy. Your body literally eats itself. By starving yourself with these products you are triggering these exact same mechanisms. You will lose weight, but much of that weight loss will be muscle tissue, not fat.

So my advice would be to avoid these products. Find other programs that let you eat a normal, balanced diet whilst providing other ways of burning off the surplus fat.