I am sure that just about everyone has been exposed to the sudden hype about Hoodia from print, electronic media and countless spam e-mails. There are a few genuine Hoodia products out there that work but there are also many more Hoodia products that are either contaminated or counterfeit which make up to 80% of the Hoodia market! Here are the ABC’s of Hoodia which I hope you will find helpful if you are seeking weight-loss and weight management.

What is Hoodia. Hoodia is succulent plant that grows only in the semi-deserts of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Angola. There are about 20 known Hoodia species but it is the specific variety gordonii (found in South Africa) that contains the appetite and thirst suppressing qualities which have garnered much attention. Hoodia Gordonii grows in green upright tubular stems, up to 1 meter, and takes up to 5 years to mature before producing pungent smelling pale purple flowers. Harvesting begins after flowering but it is thought that 15 - 20 years are needed for the plant to reach its full productivity.

How Hoodia works. Hoodia gordonii is not a stimulant, it contains several compounds that help suppress appetite. The South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, working with British company Phytopharm, have isolated what they believe to be an active ingredient found in Hoodia gordonii, named P57- a steroidal glycoside, that is 10,000 times more powerful than glucose and specifically affects the hypothalamus - that part of the brain which controls thirst and hunger. Basically, when your blood sugar becomes low a signal is sent to your brain telling you that you are hungry. Once you have eaten and your blood sugar rises a signal is again sent to your brain inducing the feeling of satiety. Only Hoodia gordonii is thought to contain P57. This molecule mimics glucose by essentially tricking your brain into thinking that you are full, effectively stunting your appetite. Because it is so powerful, ingesting even a small amount of P57 is enough to signal the brain that you are full, however, the effects of Hoodia are also dependent on factors such as individual weight and metabolism. It may take from 20 minutes to two hours for the appetite suppression effect to be experienced.

Side Effects. Pure Hoodia works well in its natural form with no known side effects, however, because it also reduces thirst there are concerns of dehydration so be mindful throughout the day of your fluid intake. It is recommended that no more than 800 mg be ingested in any 24 hour period. A synthetic form of P57 is still in clinical trials but has a long way to go before it can be approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Word Of Warning. Use caution if you are diabetic since Hoodia’s effect of tricking the brain into thinking that there is enough blood sugar circulating means that it is possible for a persons blood sugar to drop dangerously low . With your normal hunger mechanism turned off the normal warning signs may be masked so it is recommended that you regulate your food intake while taking Hoodia.

Cost. Real South African Hoodia gordonii is a rare and expensive botanical and is being sold to manufacturers for about $250 -to $400 per kilo. The maturity time for the Hoodia succulent is about 5 to 7 years before it can provide appetite suppressing qualities and there is a limited amount of it. Beware of this product being sold at cheap prices and avoid any product that lists any other active ingredients other than Hoodia or that contain bulking ingredients such as additives, fillers or inactive ingredients because it is these same products that also claim to contain large amounts of Hoodia in each dosage. The label should state that the product consists of 100% pure Hoodia. A person is likely to become sick if more than 800 mg is ingested at any one time so a large claim per dosage should be a red flag.