Benefits Of Hoodia Gordonii

While often confused for a cactus, the hoodia gordonii plants are actually succulents. They're something that might resemble a cross between a cactus and a cucumber. Hoodia has been a trade secret of South African tribesmen who eat the plant specifically because of its effects on their appetite. Because hoodia makes you feel full, the tribesmen would eat the plant while on long treks or hunts when food was expected to be hard to find.

Because of its powerful appetite suppressant qualities, hoodia have taken the diet supplement industry has been by storm. While there are many varieties of hoodia plant, only the hoodia gordonii contains the key ingredient to hunger control. Scientists working for British pharmaceutical giant Phytopharm have named this ingredient p57.

Studies conducted by Phytopharm suggest that consistently taking hoodia has resulted in amazing decreases in daily caloric intake. Participants in studies were shown to have decreased the amount of calories consumed by as many as 1,000 calories at the end of a 15 day trial period. Media coverage of these findings has helped turn hoodia gordonii into a weight loss sensation.

People who have taken hoodia gordonii have reported feeling its effects in as little as twenty or thirty minutes, and claim that the effects lasted for hours at a time. They describe the effect as feeling full, not feeling hunger pangs, and some even say it improves their mood. On the other hand, other people claim that it has taken as long as two or three weeks of consistent use before feeling the full effects of hoodia. In either case, there have been no reports of hoodia gordonii having ill side effects like those sometimes experienced by people who consume products made from stimulants such as caffeine, ginseng, or Ma Huang.