Hoodia Gordonii & Weight Loss
Introduced in 2004, Hoodia has gained popularity as a supplement for weight loss. How does it work? Unlike other diet pills that stimulate the metabolism, Hoodia suppresses the appetite to control hunger. What Hoodia does is trick the mind into believing the body is full therefore you tend to eat and drink less. So the premises of Hoodia being used for weight loss is, you eat less, the pounds come off. Since then, companies have manufactured hoodia in diet pills, patches, as well as liquid form.
A Brief History of Hoodia
In the Kalahari Deserts in South Africa, bushmen would use the Hoodia Gordonii to suppress their hunger while on long hunting trips. They have been known to go for days without food just by eating a succulent cactus like plant. Upon testing of indigenous plants for toxicity, the South African government discovered that a certain Hoodia plant caused weight loss in animals. Phytopharm interested in the effects of the plant bought the rights to the compound P-57 which only the Hoodia Gordonii produces. Pfizer then paid for the rights to produce a synthetic version of P-57 and when it proved to be too costly, pulled out of the deal. However both companies did the first research on Hoodia Gordonii to determine the effectiveness of the plant. A small test group was used by giving half the recipients a placebo and the other half Hoodia Gordonii. Those who took Hoodia had shown to eat an average a 1,000 calories less than those who took the placebo.
How Hoodia Gordonii can help with Weight Loss
Using Hoodia for weight loss by testimonials alone seems to be the wonder drug of the 21st century. Eat less, loose weight and feel good. Hoodia can work instantly on the body or take up to two weeks before the user will feel its effects. But if you don’t feel any effects by that time, you might want to check if the Hoodia Gordonii is actually genuine as due to its popularity there are many fakes on the market. Using Hoodia for weight loss should only be considered as part of the solution for over all weight loss. Exercise, eating right and drinking plenty of water contribute more to steady weight loss than fad diets and Hoodia should only be considered to curb excessive eating and not be used to starve oneself. As it is also known to curb hunger it also reduces your desire to drink, so consciously remind yourself to drink lots of fluids.
