Natural Hoodia Gordonii; The Natural Appetite Suppressant

Natural hoodia growing in the deserts of southern Africa has been used by native peoples for food (though not a preferred food item), for medicinal purposes and to suppress their hunger and thirst during long hunts. South African hoodia gordonii is now available to people all over the world for use as an appetite suppressant.

It is important to remember to look for CITES documents and chemical analysis reports when shopping for natural hoodia products. Some companies are suspected of selling products which do not contain South African hoodia gordonii. Hoodia gordonii is believed to be a natural appetite suppressant, but there are many varieties of hoodia plants. The governments of the countries in southern Africa are concerned that harvesting hoodia gordonii in the wild will threaten the plant and possible cause its extinction. They are also concerned that other species will be harvested by accident and for this reason; all species of hoodia are protected. Growing, trading and exporting natural hoodia requires special licensing. Health supplement companies which are providing genuine South African hoodia gordonii will generally display their CITES license on their website.

Some companies also display chemical analysis reports. Independent laboratories evaluate samples of natural hoodia provided to them by the health supplement companies. Their reports will indicate the presence of South African hoodia gordonii and in some cases note the presence of the p57 molecule, as well. The p57 molecule was isolated from natural hoodia gordonii by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa. They licensed the rights to research and develop the molecule to a British pharmaceutical company called Phytopharm. Phytopharm recently announced that they had completed the first phase of a five phase clinical research program relating to South African hoodia gordonii. Phytopharm has not published the results of any of their studies, but will probably do so after the release of their hoodia products.

Brown University Medical School published the results of one study involving p57 from natural hoodia gordonii. Rats were injected with p57 and the results indicate that glycosides in South African hoodia gordonii affect nerve cells in the hypothalamus. Glycosides are compounds that are often found in plants which yield a sugar and one or more non-sugar substances when dissolved in water. The natural hoodia glycosides affect the nerve cells that are responsible for monitoring blood glucose levels. When blood glucose levels are low, the brain signals hunger and we feel hungry. When blood glucose levels stabilize or increase the brain stops signally hunger and we stop feeling hungry. Scientists believe that p57 found in South African hoodia gordonii causes the nerve cells to sense an increase in blood sugar level, when no food has been consumed. And the brain sends out the “not hungry” signal to the rest of the body.

This is not how other appetite suppressants work. Most of them contain stimulants, which may make a person feel more energetic and less hungry. Stimulants work for some people and not for others. In some people stimulants only create a feeling of nervousness and do nothing to affect feelings of hunger. According to dieters who have used South African hoodia gordonii sold by health supplement companies, there are no feelings of nervousness and there are no feelings of hunger. Some people prefer one product over another. Higher dosages seem to work better for most people than lower dosages. A few people have reported that a specific product did not work to suppress their appetites and they had to try a different natural hoodia product. So, it may take a little trial and error to find the right product for you or you may want to wait until the Phytopharm product is available. Either way, natural hoodia could be the solution to your weight problem.