Hoodia

There is a story dated far back in time relating about a cacti plant and the Bushmen of Southern Africa. Also known as the San, the desert people have hunted, lived off the land and traveled across the Kalahari Desert for over 100,000 years. When frequently went out on long hunting trips they chew on a local plant to reduce hunger and increase energy. The plant eaten was the Hoodia.

While the Bushmen knew all about the powers of this bitter tasting cactus-like plant, it was not until the mid 60's that the first research was done on Hoodia as an appetite suppressant. Its full name is Hoodia Gordonii, and if you wonder on more technical data it is Genus: Trichocaulon and Family Name: Asclepiadaceae. Full grown Hoodia plants can grow over 6 feet tall and has several other species, however, only the Gordonii has appetite suppressant powers. Attempts to grow Hoodia in places like the USA, China and Mexico have proved to be fruitless; it seems that the plant needs the harsh Kalahari environment to grow properly.

So after long struggles in time, Hoodia Gordonii has made its way into our era, when South African laboratories isolated the specific appetite suppressing ingredient, the P57 and licensed to the British pharmaceutical company - Phytopharm. This specific ingredient imitates the effect glucose has on nerve cells in the brain, targeting the satiety centre in the brain. Basically, Hoodia fools the brain into thinking it's full even when it's not and for conclusion your brain sends the signal that it is full and this cuts your urge to snack on unhealthy food.

Naturally this does not mean that you won't ever feel hungry again and never have to eat for the rest of your life. Certainly NOT. You can't completely starve your body no matter how much Hoodia you eat. Hoodia will help you eliminate cravings and snacks, the important meals of the day still remaining in your daily schedule.

There is also one more strong side of Hoodia. Pills containing the real Hoodia Gordonii with its P57 have no specific side effects.