After this study was completed, reports were made that this plant actually helped suppress appetites in lab animals. The active component that works in this way is the steroidal glycoside, which has the P57 enzyme in it.

The scientists who were in charge of these studies worked with the British Phytopharm Company. Then, in 1995 Phytopharm received a license to obtain this P57 source after spending more than $20 million on research.

The popularity of 60 minutes heightened after it was introduced on 60 minutes. This was after a media crew made a trip to South Africa to try this plant. Leslie Stahl is one of the person’s who became a spokesperson for the benefits of this plant.

This was all done in an effort to provide more evidence of the validity of the claims that this plant is actually helpful for suppressing appetite. It in fact has helped many people, and not just the animals who were tested in lab-even if there is not yet any very much scientific evidence yet of its affect on humans.

Products

Today hoodia is found in capsule, power, liquid, or tea forms. It sometimes is sold as is, and in its purest form it seems to work the best. It also sometimes is mixed with other quality ingredients such as green tea that helps build metabolism.

The Science of Hoodia

This plant source affects the hypothalamus gland which is responsible for the control of blood glucose levels. Our blood glucose levels drop when we get hungry, which signals for us to eat.

When these levels are raised we are then not inclined to want to eat. It helps send out that “not hungry” signal and a person’s appetite is then suppressed.

According to studies, this product is at least moderately effective for suppressing appetite. However, it does not have any lasting effect on blood sugar levels.

Additional research has monitored ATP activity. An increase of it has been found in the bloodstreams when studying rats who had been injected with hoodia. This was done in an effort to study the ability of this popular weight loss plant and its ability to increase metabolism.

However, the enzyme of this succulent (sometimes called cactus) plant is most often known for its role in appetite suppression.

Additional Important Info

You need to realize that although your physical craving may be dampened, psychological cravings may persist. It takes discipline to break old habits and although hoodia gordonii supplements may help, it is not the end-all be-all.

Therefore, you still may need support and accountability while you devise a whole weight loss program. This might include personal trainers and diet coaches.

Safety Concerns

For the most part, this plan source has been deemed safe. However, if you for some reason notice any side effects consult your doctor. Chances are these side effects are occurring because the hoodia in a particular supplement has been combined with some irritating or allergenic ingredients.

But that is not all. It was actually used by ancient South Africans for thousands of years. So why is it all of the sudden it seems to matter to people?

Well, the fact is that the ancient Bushman tribes new that it worked, but they just never took the time to figure out how.

That was the main goal of research research-to find out what exactly is it about the hoodia gordonii succulent (sometimes called cactus) that makes people not as hungry? It took 30 years to figure this aspect out, among many other facets of this great mystery.

However, scientists have finally determined it is the P57 enzyme that is only present in the mature form of the gordonii plant, and of no other species of the same name (hoodia). It is not as well-recognized for its metabolic functioning as perhaps acai berry or other natural resources. However, it often is combined with other special ingredients to be a benefit to people.

The reason why the headline of this article posted on Web MD.com refers to hoodia as “hoopla” is because even though there is evidence that it does work very little published scientific evidence is found. However, that is mainly because of the fact that the use of this plant in western cultures (especially) is so new.

It has begun to be popular as of the late 1990s in the U.S. and other locations on the “other side” of the world. However, it had been used as early as a few thousand years ago in ancient times. The question remains regarding this plant source: if it is so effective why did it take so long to be discovered?

This could actually be for a variety of reasons. One thing you should know happens is that the history of indigenous tribes such as the ones located in South Africa was often not written down. Rather, it was often passed to later generations orally.

The other problem is that it takes quite awhile for this plant source to mature (about five years), as it is the flowering portion that is effective. At any rate, the most substantial proof of its working power is in how it curbs a person’s appetite, as you have seen many times in the media.

By the way, it is only the gordonii species of this plant-which is really a succulent and not a cactus-has this appetite suppressant enzyme in it. This is commonly called P57, and is found in many pills, teas, powders, extracts, snacks, juices, candy, and even lip gloss.

Therefore, to remove any conflict of interest, we have searched around in an effort to find user testimonials not for specific products, but for the ingredient “Hoodia” instead. Having read these, we saved a few of the best ones – and have published them below. When you have read through, perhaps you will be able to understand the things that you can expect to find after a few months of consuming a Hoodia supplement.

Testimonials:

Rick Wallace – New York.
Hoodia has definitely been my lifeline. I started taking it after I saw the report on the BBC in 2003, and I seriously don’t understand why people have an issue with it. Firstly, I feel younger, more energetic, and I definitely have more stamina throughout the day. This is on top of the appetite suppression that I experience on a regular basis. I used to have meals at about six times during the day. Obviously, this was meaning that I was gaining weight – and hence living a particularly unhealthy lifestyle.

Initially, when I started taking the Hoodia product, my BMI was at 30 – which is indeed overweight / obese range. Now, my BMI is just 23 – which is an excellent score given the weight I used to be. I definitely trust and Hoodia – and I know that this is the product which has caused my substantial weight loss.

Janice Coleman – Los Angeles.
I laugh when I hear people baggin and throwing off about Hoodia being just another one of those scams. The fact of the matter is that I have used it for a number of years, and I know that it has had a remarkable impact on my overall well-being and my weight. My friends and family used to tell me that I was a little on the pudgy side. Therefore, when I saw the report on 60 minutes – I was compelled to give this a try. Amazingly, this worked where all of the other products didn’t.

I would definitely like to thank the manufacturers of Hoodia – especially those who informed me about it. My life has really been improved, and my lifestyle will never be the same without it.

Opponents of Hoodia:

As you saw above, these are just two ordinary people who are taking advantage of Hoodia products to enhance their lives. There are many more testimonials that we could have included, however we think you get the message.

That leaves us still with one question though. Why do people oppose Hoodia if the reports about its benefits are so positive? Well, the simple answer to that is that there is indeed a lack of scientifically evidenced data to conclude that Hoodia is effective in everybody. Of course, there are multiple studies underway in an attempt to prove these opponents wrong. However, as with any medical trials, the results of these are still a little way off.

The best we can do now is to offer you real life, user testimonials – which are reports from genuine individuals on their experiences with using Hoodia. Hopefully, the information contained in this article will help you to decide whether or not Hoodia is right for you. Take a look around the rest of this website, and feel free to read as many pieces as you wish. The information contained here is meant to assist you, and allow you to make an educated decision as to whether or not Hoodia is the best supplement to take for your needs.

Be careful not to fall into the trap of listening to everything that the marketing companies tell you. At the end of the day, it is the people who have used the product – who really know what the benefits and effects are.

Why do we mention this at the beginning of this article? Because when it comes to Hoodia research – there is no better place to turn to than the people who are actually doing the research themselves. It would be pointless to talk to a supermarket checkout assistant and ask them whether the world was moving towards greater Hoodia awareness – because let’s face it – they would have absolutely no idea. Likewise, it would probably be a silly move to ask a scientist about the latest checkout technology in supermarkets.

Therefore – to get an accurate beat on what is happening within the Hoodia supplement industry – we did indeed take the questions straight to them, and we now have the answers to be able to report back to you.

Questions & Answers:

It should first be said that scientists we spoke to were particularly positive towards Hoodia. A number of supplements and ingredients have scanned across their computer screens in the past, and have simply gone on to be complete duds. Thankfully, it was quite refreshing for them to be immersed in something which could actually affect lives in a positive way.

According to these scientists, all that needs to be done are a few highly specialized clinical trials. A number have been done already – hence the positive attitude to the ingredient. However, to fully verify the implications of the first tests, scientists need to go in to a bit more depth. The exciting part about this is that these clinical trials begin very shortly – meaning that the results should be highly documented within just a few years.

When they finally are released, scientists worldwide expect Hoodia sales to take off – which is part of the reason why a number of them have just purchased stakes in Hoodia producing companies. Indeed, it would be wise to capitalize on the potential profits which could be had from the “miracle” (almost) treatment.

Recently, a clinical trial was run to find out whether or not Hoodia had an effect on people who took it in the long run. Up until this point, the benefits of Hoodia supplements were contestable, debatable, and were simply theorized by people who had used it. However, now that we have the results of this clinical trial – what are the impacts on the externalities of the product? Does Hoodia actually work, or is it just another scam? Additionally, what benefits does it have to the body, and how are these measurable?

We will take a look at the answers to these questions in this article.

What Hoodia Does.

It has now widely proven that Hoodia has a substantial effect on the appetite system in the body. When Hoodia meat is consumed, as it was in South Africa hundreds of years ago, the meat reacted with an enzyme in the stomach, which temporarily suppress the appetite. This was particularly useful to the South Africans who went out on hunting trips, and didn’t carry much food with them. It would allow them to go for days without even feeling the urge to eat.

Amazingly, this effect can be duplicated in a laboratory – with a powdered form of Hoodia – known as a Hoodia supplement. In essence, this supplement has the same effect as the raw plant meat – hence providing the same benefits, albeit at a lesser level. However, appetite suppression is not the only thing that Hoodia does. Here is a list of other things which are measurably affected in subjects who took Hoodia supplements:

- Energy & Stamina
- Sexual Performance
- Weight Loss / Metabolic Rate
- Elimination of Cravings
- Decrease in Blood Pressure & Hypertension
- Increase in Mood Stability

No – these are no longer just purported side effects of Hoodia consumption. They are indeed proven, well documented facts which have been not only peer reviewed in some cases – but also widely recognized by medical authorities around the world.