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Hoodia is the hottest ingredient in weight loss supplements on the market today. Where does it come from? Do all Hoodia-based products work effectively? What exactly does it do?

The African tribesmen known as the Sans Bushmen have been using Hoodia Gordonii extract from Hoodia Cacti as an appetite suppressant for generations spanning thousands of years. Known as a sacred plant by the Sans, how did the secret get out into the diet/weight loss world?

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (or CSIR) in 1996 did a study of indigenous foods of the Sans Bushmen. When they came to study the toxic effects of Hoodia Gordonii, not only did they find it to be non-toxic, Hoodia helped animals within the tribe to lose pounds when fed to them.

In 1997, the same group of scientists isolated the bioactive compound in Hoodia that was held responsible for appetite suppression. They then claimed a patent which they licensed to Phytopharm and they named the molecule P57. Funny because it so happens it was the 57th product Phytopharm had dropped big dollars on.

That said, Hoodia Gordonii is all-organic even though it's grouped often with unhealthy, non-natural diet pills. Believe it or not, there are no side-effects for Hoodia extract. The molecule within Hoodia Gordonii simply fools your brain into believing that you're full.

Hoodia Gordonii does, however, suppress thirst as well as appetite. It's important to remember that when consuming it to force yourself to drink more water than usual. Since it fools your brain, you may not know you're dehydrated when, in fact, you're dying of thirst.

The only area on the planet where Hoodia can be discovered today is in the South African Kalahari Desert. In recent times the South African government protects the plant which is becoming more limited as we speak. Another reason why Hoodia is so limited is that it takes roughly four years for the African cactus to blossom.

The lack of the right plant and desire to cash in on the booming market may be why many companies have claimed their products contain the essence of the African cactus. Remember that if it's not in particular Hoodia Gordonii, then it may not work as advertised! It's suggested that you purchase Hoodia-based supplements from companies and vendors you trust.

It should be well-known to you that there are many different species of Hoodia Cacti, and the Gordonii variation contains the organic hunger suppressant. According to the results of human-based clinical testing in Great Britain, Hoodia Gordonii will likely reduce your appetite by hundreds of calories a day.

But how exactly does it fool your brain? Scientists featured on BBC claim:

*There is a part of your brain, the hypothalamus. Within that mid-brain there are nerve cells that sense glucose sugar. When you eat, blood sugar goes up because of the food, these cells start firing and now you are full. What the Hoodia seems to contain is a molecule that is about 10,000 times as active as glucose. It goes to the mid-brain and actually makes those nerve cells fire as if you were full. But you have not eaten. Nor do you want to.

Unlike anything that has been on the market before, Hoodia is not only an empty promise. Hoodia can help you to loose weight, and to keep it down in the long term.**

As you can see, Hoodia Gordonii isn't a magic ingredient after all. It was discovered by African tribesmen and chemically suppresses your desire to over eat.