The latest miracle pill in the news when it comes to weight loss is hoodia. Check your junk e-mail folder — it may be full of hoodia offers. But what is hoodia? Is it really a miracle for your weight loss efforts? Some people believe that it is.
Hoodia is a kind of succulent cactus that grows in semi-desert areas. For hundreds of thousands of years, desert residents in South Africa and Namibia have eaten the cactus to fight hunger and thirst during long trips through the harsh terrain. The cactus first came to international attention in the 1930s, but was not studied much until the 1960s.
There are at least twenty different types of hoodia cactus, but researchers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa believe that the hoodia gordonii variety is best for suppressing appetite. This variety of the cactus comes from the Kalahari Desert and takes several years to grow to maturity. It is among the more bitter tasting of the hoodia plants, and looks like a pickle or small cucumber with spikes.
The cactus itself, when eaten fresh, has demonstrated appetite suppressing abilities; your appetite fades because your brain believes your body has enough fuel and shuts down hunger mechanisms. People who have eaten the fresh cactus (without the spines or skin) compare the texture to that of a cucumber — cool, crisp in places, and juicy. Researchers aren’t sure whether or not taking the cactus as a dried, powdered, or liquid supplement will have the same benefits.
Hoodia gordonii is actually a rather rare plant, and is protected by conservation laws in South Africa and Namibia. The plant can currently only be collected or grown with a permit. A company that owns the patent on the use of hoodia for weight loss has established plantations over the past few years in the hopes of growing sustainable quantities of the plant. Learn more about Phytopharm here.