Hoodia

Deep in the African Kalahari desert grows a stubby, foul smelling cactus, the Hoodia Gordonii. Although a rather recent addition to the list of all natural diet products, the San Bushmen of South Africa have been using the cactus to suppress the appetite for millennia. Hoodia has been beneficial to the San because it is an appetite suppressant that allows them to go without eating for several days while out hunting.

During routine research of local flora, South African scientists discovered and isolated the active ingredient in Hoodia Gordnonii, which they named P57. Due to the excitement created by this discovery, several pharmaceutical companies raced to claim the manufacturing rights. At the moment, the rights to produce synthetic P57 are owned by Pfizer, although pure Hoodia Gordonii extract are available in a number of diet pill preparations. There are no known Hoodia side effects.

How Does Hoodia Work?

Hoodia Gordonii works by making you feel full, even if you haven’t eaten. It accomplishes this by tricking your brain into believing you ate something. Hoodia acts specifically on a part of the brain known as the hypothalamus, the area dedicated to monitoring the blood sugar level and controlling metabolism. When you eat, the hypothalamus detects the change in blood sugar level and adjusts your appetite accordingly. It is believed that P57, the active ingredient in Hoodia Gordonii acts upwards of 10,000 times as strongly  on the hypothalamus as glucose (sugar), creating the sensation of a full stomach.

Hoodia Gordonii Diet Pills

This aspect of Hoodia is particularly interesting for those looking to lose weight. By suppressing the appetite, the body can focus on using stored fat as energy, instead of food, resulting in weight loss. For this reason, the second half of the decade has seen an explosion in products that contain Hoodia Gordonii and its extracted active ingredient. Hoodia diet pills are available, as well as in its pure form, or in preparations such as shakes and bars. Hoodia is now being combined with other natural supplements to create next-generation diet pills that suppress the appetite, boost energy and prevent fat uptake.

Effects of Hoodia

Another benefit of the hoodia gordonii plant is that it promises to financially revitalize the impoverished San Bushmen. Prices and demand have skyrocketed since 2006, creating new opportunities for the traditionally poor and disenfranchised people.