What Is Hoodia and Where Does It Come From?

You may believe that Hoodia has just been newly discovered but in truth the Hoodia plant has been around for thousands of years. The South African San tribe has eaten it to suppress their hunger when they went hunting for food. They would chew on this plant and would not get hungry for up to 24 hours. A miracle? Maybe it is. There is a British company who believes it is what overweight and obese people have been waiting for to help them lose weight. Phytopharm Company has paired with Unilever to produce weight loss products that include the Hoodia gordonii extract.

The Kalahari Desert is where Hoodia gordonii grows. This is the only species of Hoodia that has the specific appetite-suppressing molecule called p57. The Hoodia plant grows in clumps of stems shaped like a cucumber. They have spines and look like a cactus but is part of the succulent family. The Bushmen removed the spines and peeled the skin and ate only the heart of the Hoodia plant. The plant is said to have a slightly bitter taste but not unbearable.

This wonder plant takes five years to mature. It produces blooms that are usually pale purple in color but sometimes they will be darker. The South African government is now cultivating Hoodia gordonii on farms or plantations. The plant is a protected species and no one can export Hoodia without permission of the South African government. The plant needs an average temperature of between 50 and 61 degrees to grow and it takes about five years for the plant to mature. The flowers produce a terrible odor that smells like dead meat.

The Phytopharm Company has spent millions of dollars on research of this wonder plant. They are now working with Unilever to produce the first Hoodia based diet product. It will be part of the Slim-Fast line and should be available in 2008. Laboratory tests on animals and clinical trials with human volunteers have shown no side effects from taking Hoodia short-term. However, there are no studies that prove that Hoodia is safe to take for the long-term.

The p57 molecule extracted from the Hoodia gordonii plant is a natural appetite suppressant. When Hoodia is consumed the stomach tells the brain that it is full and doesn’t need any food. This full feeling could last for up to 24 hours. It works the same way as glucose except it is 10,000 times more effective.

For millions of overweight and obese people looking for a solution to their weight problem, Hoodia gordonii may be the answer. Please note the supplement is considered safe because of no reported side effects from taking the drug on a short-term basis. Also, the Bushmen of South Africa have been eating this plant for thousands of years and reportedly had no side effects. The Food and Drug Administration have not been involved in testing of this product because it does not fall into their guidelines. It is considered a dietary supplement.

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