Hoodia Gordonii

What is Hoodia Gordonii?

This plant is found in South Africa and though visually it is often mistaken for a cactus it is actually a succulent with flowers that smell like rotten meat. Hoodia Gordonii is quite rare now, so only a restricted number of farms are registered to produce and export it.

Historic timeline of Hoodia

• Hoodia Gordonii has been used for medicinal purposes by indigenous South Africans for centuries
• It was also discovered that the meat of the plant was eaten to suppress the appetite for long hunting trips in the Kalahari Dessert by the indigenous people
• 1977 – The plant chemical responsible for Hoodia Gordonii’s appetite suppressant properties was identified by South African and British Scientists
• In 1996, the plant chemical, P57 was patented

How does it work?

• Usually when we eat food, the spike in glucose from eating food sends signals to our brain that we are eating and require less or no food. The ingredient P57 supposedly tricks the brain into believing that a person is satisfied and full, requiring no more food and eliminating hunger
• Some claim that not only does it shut off the bodies hunger mechanism, but also sends messages to the brain saying, you do not "want" to eat, so that it is psychological also

Does it work?

• Appetite suppressant studies have only taken place on animals/mice, not humans
• There is no evidence to support appetite suppressant properties from Hoodia Gordinii when orally taken. In studies, it was administered into the brains of mice via injection
• It was suggested that P57 was broken up easily by the liver and therefore, large amounts of Hoodia Gordonii would probably have to be ingested orally for there to be any effect

Are there side effects?

Many will claim that there are no side effects from taking Hoodia Gordonii, using the common argument that it has been used by the indigenous people of South African for centuries without any indication or report of any adverse effects. This may be true but it doesn't really take into account the differences that exist between modern day people looking for weight loss and indigenous South Africans.

In the U.S. for example, diets, medications, aliments, diseases and conditions result in a completely different physical state to that of a native South African. This could make Hoodia a potential risk or danger.

Purity and Fakes

• A high percentage of Hoodia Gordonii products are considered fake or impure
• Many supplements and diet pills claim to have Hoodia Gordonii as an ingredient. If there is some success with these products, there is no proof that Hoodia Gordonii is the ingredient responsible and not one of the other weight loss ingredients
• There are a number of rapidly growing sites now claiming that other Hoodia Gordonii products will not work, except for their own
• Be wary of review sites also, they seem to be dominated by biased people somehow connected to Hoodia Gordonii products, whether they are speaking negatively about competitors products or positively about their own
• Simply stating that Hoodia is included as an ingredient in a supplement, doesn't mean that the amount is substantial. If the amount of Hoodia is satisfactory, the manufacturer would be clearly displaying this on the package and marketing.
• Pure Hoodia Gordonii ratio is 1:1. It is a ground up powdered version directly from the plant. Hoodia Gordonii extract in the ratio 20:1 concentrate means that 20 pounds of Hoodia has been extracted and concentrated to 1 pound. 10:1 concentrate is also available. Studies have indicated that P57 does not hold up well during extraction so there is a good chance that there is less P57, the important ingredient of Hoodia, then in the same amount of pure Hoodia.
• Another way of establishing whether a product is or contains pure Hoodia is checking for certification labeling. C.I.T.E.S certification is a scheme setup by the United Nations that regulates the legal shipment of goods such as Hoodia. A label with this CITES certification is a good sign to ensure claims that Hoodia was grown and exported directly from South Africa are legitimate.

So there you have it, there is a large degree of uncertainty still surrounding the benefits and legitimacy of Hoodia Gordonii as a natural and safe weight loss tool. There are many different manufacturers and sites that all want a piece of the weight loss industry pie and using Hoodia Gordonii as a means. Regardless of whether it works or not, it should not be taken without disregarding a balanced diet and exercise which are most important for the long term.