Being fat has become an issue for both young and old but most especially for the young. It has been proven in research that a big percentage of kids today are obese. This may due to the dawn of computer games and online activities. Another factor could be the kinds of food that they eat – junk food, fast food, etc.

A lot of parents are concerned about this problem since obesity can totally affect a child's health and well being. Some parents resort to having their children consult a nutritionist to balance out the diet. There are some who just plainly impose a strict rule in dieting especially when it comes to how much calorie their kids should intake every 24 hours. But there are also parents who let their kids use diet pills. And most recently, a very popular weight loss pill has reached the market – Hoodia Weight Loss Pills. But how old should you be to use Hoodia Weight Loss Pills?

Hoodia Gordonii

To better answer the question, it would be best to look at the origin of Hoodia Weight Loss Pills. Hoodia Gordonii is a plant that was discovered to have effects on a person more specifically his or her appetite. It was originally used by the San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert in Africa.

It was observed from them that even though they only eat a limited amount of food, they still have the energy to work all day under the heat of the sun. It was later discovered that the Sun Bushmen ate these plants called Hoodia Gordonii once in a while and it helped them suppress their appetite and gave them energy.

Basically, Hoodia is an herbal supplement that is used to suppress the appetite of a person.

How Safe Is It

It has been the common notion that herbal supplements are safe. While this may have truth in it, you still can't change the fact that these herbs have certain effects on a human body. And the same can be said to Hoodia. So when taking any herbal medication you should always consult your doctor first.

How Effective Is It?

There have been experiments and tests to prove that Hoodia does work. There was even an experiment wherein a group of people where given Hoodia and another group of people where given placebos and the results prove that the people given with Hoodia indeed showed effects of weight loss.

Other than this kind of experiment, the basis for the effectiveness of this weight loss pill can be based on the claims of manufacturers and also the testimonials of people who have already used them.

How Old Should You Be?

There are two things you can consider in answering this question: doctor and manufacturer. Nobody knows the product better than the manufacturer. You can contact them and ask them for the information you need. If they say no, then don't do it. But if they say yes, go to your doctor. Your doctor will have the final say whether a person of a certain age may take it or not.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://hoodiastore.org

The demand for diet pills continues to rise in the past few years. There are many products out there in the market today and one that gained popularity among consumers is the hoodia gordonii. This "natural appetite suppressant" became the most widely known to buyers because of overflowing claims from people who have tried it.

Hoodia gordonii is a cactus like plant which can only be found in the deserts of Africa. The San Bushmen of Kalahari and other tribes in Africa used it to cure ailments, such as abdominal cramps, hemorrhoids, tuberculosis, indigestion, etc. It was also widely used as an appetite suppressant and as a thirst quencher whenever these people move from one place and another. This aroused the curiosity of some scientists.

The CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) isolated the substance called "p57" which is the active ingredient which acts as an appetite suppressant. They engaged the UK based pharmaceutical company called Phytopharm and collaborated with Pfizer to further the study on p57 and other slimming agents. Later on it was patented on 1996 by CSIR giving way for the product to be commercially produced worldwide.

This particular plant specie is protected by the CITE (The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species) to ensure that harvest operations of hoodia will be regulated. This is the reason that it became scarce so that bio-piracy became so rampant for this particular diet agent. There are many fake products out there that promises consumers 100% pure hoodia gordonii. It is helpful that consumers should be aware of what they are buying in the market.

Here are some helpful tips on spotting the fake and the real:

1. The company selling the product should at least present proper documentation. What the consumer should look for first is the document called the CITES certificate. However, there are ways that those crooks get around things like forging the certificates that belong to other companies and present them as theirs. The real certificate will indicate the legal importer and exporter of the shipment.

2. Checking the label of the product is always helpful. Fake products contain ingredients such as starch and other materials that can endanger one's health.

3. Companies selling hoodia gordonii submits their product for independent testing to make certain to their consumers that what they are selling is authentic. Once the brand has been tested and approved by authorized testing companies, a visible documentation will be published in their website.

4. Getting well informed about the hoodia gordonii reduces the risk of being deceived. The internet is always readily accessible so one can learn things about this diet product.

5. It is always important that the consumer always has to use his/her common sense before purchasing a product. Genuine products are probably expensive since these plants are hard to grow and the fact that it is fully protected (it is grown and harvested with a permit) internationally, the source must be scarce and therefore the ingredient should be rare. If a seller sells at a much lesser price, this should be a signal to the buyer that he/she might be dealing with a scammer.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://hoodiastore.org

Being fat has become an issue for both young and old but most especially for the young. It has been proven in research that a big percentage of kids today are obese. This may due to the dawn of computer games and online activities. Another factor could be the kinds of food that they eat – junk food, fast food, etc.

A lot of parents are concerned about this problem since obesity can totally affect a child's health and well being. Some parents resort to having their children consult a nutritionist to balance out the diet. There are some who just plainly impose a strict rule in dieting especially when it comes to how much calorie their kids should intake every 24 hours. But there are also parents who let their kids use diet pills. And most recently, a very popular weight loss pill has reached the market – Hoodia Weight Loss Pills. But how old should you be to use Hoodia Weight Loss Pills?

Hoodia Gordonii

To better answer the question, it would be best to look at the origin of Hoodia Weight Loss Pills. Hoodia Gordonii is a plant that was discovered to have effects on a person more specifically his or her appetite. It was originally used by the San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert in Africa.

It was observed from them that even though they only eat a limited amount of food, they still have the energy to work all day under the heat of the sun. It was later discovered that the Sun Bushmen ate these plants called Hoodia Gordonii once in a while and it helped them suppress their appetite and gave them energy.

Basically, Hoodia is an herbal supplement that is used to suppress the appetite of a person.

How Safe Is It

It has been the common notion that herbal supplements are safe. While this may have truth in it, you still can't change the fact that these herbs have certain effects on a human body. And the same can be said to Hoodia. So when taking any herbal medication you should always consult your doctor first.

How Effective Is It?

There have been experiments and tests to prove that Hoodia does work. There was even an experiment wherein a group of people where given Hoodia and another group of people where given placebos and the results prove that the people given with Hoodia indeed showed effects of weight loss.

Other than this kind of experiment, the basis for the effectiveness of this weight loss pill can be based on the claims of manufacturers and also the testimonials of people who have already used them.

How Old Should You Be?

There are two things you can consider in answering this question: doctor and manufacturer. Nobody knows the product better than the manufacturer. You can contact them and ask them for the information you need. If they say no, then don't do it. But if they say yes, go to your doctor. Your doctor will have the final say whether a person of a certain age may take it or not.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://hoodiastore.org

The demand for diet pills continues to rise in the past few years. There are many products out there in the market today and one that gained popularity among consumers is the hoodia gordonii. This "natural appetite suppressant" became the most widely known to buyers because of overflowing claims from people who have tried it.

Hoodia gordonii is a cactus like plant which can only be found in the deserts of Africa. The San Bushmen of Kalahari and other tribes in Africa used it to cure ailments, such as abdominal cramps, hemorrhoids, tuberculosis, indigestion, etc. It was also widely used as an appetite suppressant and as a thirst quencher whenever these people move from one place and another. This aroused the curiosity of some scientists.

The CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) isolated the substance called "p57" which is the active ingredient which acts as an appetite suppressant. They engaged the UK based pharmaceutical company called Phytopharm and collaborated with Pfizer to further the study on p57 and other slimming agents. Later on it was patented on 1996 by CSIR giving way for the product to be commercially produced worldwide.

This particular plant specie is protected by the CITE (The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species) to ensure that harvest operations of hoodia will be regulated. This is the reason that it became scarce so that bio-piracy became so rampant for this particular diet agent. There are many fake products out there that promises consumers 100% pure hoodia gordonii. It is helpful that consumers should be aware of what they are buying in the market.

Here are some helpful tips on spotting the fake and the real:

1. The company selling the product should at least present proper documentation. What the consumer should look for first is the document called the CITES certificate. However, there are ways that those crooks get around things like forging the certificates that belong to other companies and present them as theirs. The real certificate will indicate the legal importer and exporter of the shipment.

2. Checking the label of the product is always helpful. Fake products contain ingredients such as starch and other materials that can endanger one's health.

3. Companies selling hoodia gordonii submits their product for independent testing to make certain to their consumers that what they are selling is authentic. Once the brand has been tested and approved by authorized testing companies, a visible documentation will be published in their website.

4. Getting well informed about the hoodia gordonii reduces the risk of being deceived. The internet is always readily accessible so one can learn things about this diet product.

5. It is always important that the consumer always has to use his/her common sense before purchasing a product. Genuine products are probably expensive since these plants are hard to grow and the fact that it is fully protected (it is grown and harvested with a permit) internationally, the source must be scarce and therefore the ingredient should be rare. If a seller sells at a much lesser price, this should be a signal to the buyer that he/she might be dealing with a scammer.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://hoodiastore.org

AP - A new study gives the strongest evidence yet that obesity surgery can cure diabetes. Patients who had surgery to reduce the size of their stomachs were five times more likely to see their diabetes disappear over the next two years than were patients who had standard diabetes care, according to Australian researchers.

With all the popular fads promoting low carb diets, potatoes have taken an unfair hit. In reality, potatoes are perfect for a healthy eating lifestyle. A fresh potato, with skin on, contains 45% of the recommended daily value (DV) of vitamin C, 18% DV of potassium, almost no sodium, no fat, and no cholesterol. One of my favorite side dishes is Garlic Mashed Potatoes, which I usually order at restaurants when it's on the menu. Thanks to a healthy recipe from Wisconsin Potatoes, we now have a simple, tasty, and FAST microwave method to make it home.

Makes 4 servings

1-1/3 pounds potatoes (approx. 4 medium)
1 cup skim milk
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Chopped parsley, for garnish

Pierce potatoes with fork. In microwave oven cook potatoes on HIGH for 13 minutes. Halve lengthwise, scoop out pulp into medium microwave-safe bowl. Mash potatoes with potato masher or beat with electric hand mixer until smooth; set aside. Place milk, butter, and garlic in small microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes. Thoroughly mix into potato pulp. Mix in additional milk to reach desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Heat in microwave on HIGH for 1 minute. Garnish with parsley. Serve immediately. Note: Cooking times are based on 700 watt microwave oven.

For added nutritional value, serve in baked potato skins:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place each potato skin, scooped side up, on a shallow baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with ground pepper and/or salt to taste. Scatter the grated cheese lightly on top of the buttered skins.  Place the cookie sheet in the upper third of the oven. Bake the skins for approximately 30 minutes or until hot, crisp and golden. Scoop in Garlic Mashed Potatoes, garnish and serve.

For more healthy eating recipes, check out the other delicious recipes listed on this blog or visit Green Mountain Healthy Living Recipe Favorites.

Reuters - The government is to spend 75 million pounds on a campaign to encourage healthy lifestyles and counter what it calls an obesity epidemic in Britain.

It wasn't a surprise to read a press release on a recent study conducted at Tufts University on food cravings. Researcher Susan Roberts said, ""The findings [of this study] suggest that cravings are for calories, not carbohydrate, as is widely assumed." Although foods craved do contain carbohydrate, they often contain fat and protein, too.

The study then went on to say that food cravings are normal (91 percent of people report having them), but it appears that dieting increases the frequency. Which makes sense, of course -- when we're hungry, we crave food! No rocket science there.

In this month dubbed National Diet Month, it's useful info to keep in mind as many of us seek healthy weight loss. When we start craving food, it's a good sign that we need it. It's not a sign that we're weak willed.

If you're having trouble managing food cravings, think first whether you really need to eat. Then, if you're not hungry, but still craving, could deprivation be at work? When we cut out foods in the belief that they 'make us fat' or somehow interfere with weight loss, we might set ourselves up for wanting them even more. Think moderation, not elimination if this is the case for you.

Tags:
healthy eating ,
food cravings ,
healthy weight loss ,
diet

AP - A new study gives the strongest evidence yet that obesity surgery can cure diabetes. Patients who had surgery to reduce the size of their stomachs were five times more likely to see their diabetes disappear over the next two years than were patients who had standard diabetes care, according to Australian researchers.

Reuters - Weight loss surgery can be especially helpful to patients with diabetes and can even help them reverse the disease, Australian researchers reported on Tuesday.