Losing 20 Pounds With Hoodia - Is It Possible?
Sara Morris
While relatively new to North Americans and Europeans, Hoodia (specifically, Hoodia Gordonii) has been used for centuries by southern Africans. Researchers first learned about Hoodia while studying indigenous foods of South Africa. The plant is a stem succulent - it's appearance is similar to a cactus but technically it is not a cactus. They grow up to a meter in height with spiky needles and the aroma of the flower is often described as strong and unpleasant.
Within the Hoodia plant family are many other species, some of which grow in backyard gardens. Hoodia Gordonii is the only variation of the species that may help with weight loss. In southern Africa the Bushmen ate the plant to suppress their appetite, notably when going on extended hunting trips. This example of the traditional use of Hoodia lends strong credibility to modern claims about its effectiveness in weight loss programs.
CBS and BBC ran stories in 2003 that introduced Hoodia to the world. Today it is available on the market both as a pill and in liquid form. Considering the vast market of people trying to lose weight, it's not hard to see why this product found such an enthusiastic audience. Studies are still being run, but some study results have been very encouraging. Losing weight is possible without the hunger pains most dieters feel.
In a clinical test a group of severely overweight people was supplied with Hoodia and told to remain sedentary - eat, read and watch TV. After the trial they were amazed to see they had cut their calorie intake and lost weight. The dramatic test results led to a number of companies marketing Hoodia-based nutritional products. Of course, rumors about Hoodia using TV actresses only added to the building excitement on the benefits of the new health product.
Today, with the high demand, pharmaceutical companies are working to develop extracts of the Hoodia plant. P57 is the active ingredient of Hoodia Gordonii, and extensive efforts are underway to develop synthetic variations of P57. Up till now this has proven to be an expensive and difficult process. Due to their lack of success creating synthetic Hoodia, manufacturers are focusing their efforts on developing the natural Hoodia plant.
The problem is that the Hoodia Gordonii plant grows only in a small region in southern Africa, and it is now a threatened plant. There are tight restrictions on the sale of Hoodia Gordonii extracts, and only authorized parties are allowed to market these extracts. Not surprisingly, the price of Hoodia has risen in recent years as the demand for this apparent weight-loss wonder drug, has sky-rocketed.
If Hoodia performs as well as claimed, it will have a huge impact on the enormous dieting niche. Till now, no studies have come up with conclusive evidence showing harmful side effects from the use of Hoodia. Continued research is needed to prove conclusively the extent to which Hoodia safely kills a user's appetite. When used with a smart diet and lots of exercise, users very often experience more weight loss without suffering from hunger pains.
Even while Hoodia is now sold everywhere, continuous product testing is being carried out. There is already a huge collection of satisfied Hoodia users worldwide. It appears these users don't need more test results. Hoodia has already taken its place as their weight loss answer. Really, the most important buying factor is the user's own experience with a product, and it appears Hoodia is providing its users with a satisfying result.
About the Author:
People everywhere find Hoodia Gordonii to be effective for weight loss. It will not cause you to drop twenty pounds overnight, but it can give you a far greater chance of success over time. To find out more about weight loss solutions please visit out site.
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