What Is Hoodia?

While relatively new to North Americans and Europeans, Hoodia (specifically, Hoodia Gordonii) has been used for centuries by southern Africans. Researchers learned about Hoodia while studying indigenous foods of South Africa. The plant is a stem succulent - it's appearance is similar to a cactus but technically it is not a cactus. They grow up to a meter in height with spiky needles. The aroma of the flower is often described as strong and unpleasant.

There are numerous other species within the Hoodia family, and some of these can be grown in backyard gardens, but Hoodia Gordonii is the only species that may play a role in weight loss. The Bushmen of southern Africa consumed it because it suppressed their appetite, especially on extended hunting trips. This traditional use of Hoodia offers considerable credibility to contemporary claims about its suitability for weight loss programs.

Hoodia first came to the attention of North Americans in 2003 and 2004 after the BBC and CBS ran stories on it. Today it can be found on the market as a nutritional supplement in pill form. Given the large number of people who struggle with their weight, it's easy to see why so many find this so new product exciting. While more studies need to be done, some studies have shown positive results. People have experienced weight loss without the hunger pangs that would usually accompany a reduced diet.

In a clinical trial series a number of obese people were given Hoodia and instructed to remain sedentary - eat their meals, read, or watch TV. They must have been delighted when they learned that they reduced the number of calories they consumed and consequently lost weight. These results caused a great deal of excitement and prompted various companies to make available Hoodia-based nutritional supplements. Rumors about certain TV actresses taking Hoodia to control their weight created further excitement about the benefits of this new supplement.

Pharmaceutical companies, naturally, are working to develop extracts of the Hoodia. The active ingredient of Hoodia Gordonii is P57. In addition, efforts have been underway to develop synthetic copies of P57. But this has so far proved to be very expensive and difficult. Because of these obstacles manufacturers of Hoodia supplements are focusing on the natural plant.

The problem is hat this plant grows only in a small region in southern Africa, and it is now a threatened plant. There are tight restrictions on the sale of Hoodia Gordonii extracts, and only authorized parties are allowed to market these extracts. Not surprisingly, the price of Hoodia has risen in recent years.

If Hoodia works as well as many claim it does, it could have quite an impact on the multi-billion dollar diet industry. No studies have presented conclusive evidence about harmful side effects from consuming Hoodia. However, further research is needed to more clearly demonstrate the extent to which Hoodia safely suppresses appetite. When combined with a proper diet and adequate exercise, people may experience better weight control without hunger pangs.