| Hoodia belongs to a category of plants called | | | | hours. Their craving for food has diminished, they |
| succulents. Hoodia plants resemble a cactus, and | | | | feel full and experience delays in the onset of |
| has the consistency of a cucumber. The Kalahari | | | | hunger. People also have reported an increased |
| Bushmen of Southern Africa don't eat Hoodia for | | | | sense of wellbeing. In some users, it may take up |
| the taste, but for releasing energy and curbing | | | | to 2 to 3 weeks for Hoodia to achieve the |
| hunger. For many years the plant has been a | | | | desired maximum effect. Hoodia has not been |
| dietary mainstay for hunters on long trips. It helps | | | | reported to make users feel jittery or anxious, so |
| them ward off hunger, thirst and pain while they | | | | it is not a stimulant. In fact, there are very few |
| are hunting and foraging for food. | | | | side effects reported with the use of Hoodia. |
| The weight-loss industry has been abuzz lately | | | | These days, hoodia is often marketed and sold in |
| with the hoopla over the wonder slimming plant | | | | the form of capsules, powder, and trans-dermal |
| Hoodia Gordonii. Currently, there are around a | | | | patches, and has been added to the formula of |
| dozen types of hoodia, and only one however, | | | | several already-established weight loss supplement |
| hoodia gordonii, contains the active ingredient | | | | brands. Hoodia gordonii provides great promise for |
| called p57, which is believed to function in the | | | | controlling caloric intake - a key factor in the |
| suppression of appetite. There have been no | | | | control of body weight. |
| randomized controlled studies of the effects of | | | | While obesity reaches epidemic proportions, the |
| hoodia gordonii on humans, only anecdotal | | | | afflicted become increasingly desperate to find |
| evidence, mostly after local Bushmen in Southern | | | | new ways to control their body weight. You'll eat |
| Africa ate parts of the plant and lost the desire | | | | less, gain a feeling of fullness, feel less hungry, and |
| to eat, or had a feeling of fullness. | | | | have a better chance of losing weight; hoodia can |
| A clinical trial conducted by Hoodia manufacture | | | | even fight obesity if used properly. Hoodia can |
| Phytopharm demonstrated that repeat dose | | | | also help in elevating your mood and increase your |
| administration of large doses of Hoodia extract | | | | energy level. |
| caused a statistically significant decrease in daily | | | | The benefits of Hoodia are a major example of |
| calorie intake. By day 15 the calorie intake had | | | | how the traditional use of folk remedies of natural |
| decreased by approximately 1000 kcal per day. | | | | origin can form a basis for research that may |
| At present, the media has come up with a flurry | | | | often result in scientific breakthroughs. Most |
| of reports about the miraculous wonder of Hoodia | | | | treatment methods have involved the proprietary |
| gordonii as simple, nutritional support for weight | | | | interests of big business. |
| control. Hoodia gordonii has been featured on the | | | | Hoodia gordonii will become a dietary supplement |
| internet, and in all print and television media and | | | | of major interest internationally, as there is |
| radio. It is reported as beneficial weight control | | | | increasing public knowledge of its apparently |
| when used as a dietary supplement or in drug | | | | miraculous effects on appetite control. Nature is |
| research. | | | | not easily fooled, even though Hoodia gordonii |
| It was reported that some people who took | | | | seems to trick the body by giving a sense of |
| Hoodia have noticed their appetites reduced within | | | | satiety or fullness. |
| 20 to 30 minutes, and probably lasted for several | | | | |