Hoodia gordonii is a cactus-like plant that grows in the Kalahari Desert. It has been known to the Bushmen of the region as an excellent food substitute. Eating even a little bit of this plant can remove any further desire to eat or drink. As you might imagine, this is ideal in the desert where both food and water are scarce. This appetite suppressing ability became known to the western world only in the mid 90s, after years of research that cost over $20 million dollars.

The active ingredient that causes appetite suppression was isolated and named p57. It was also patented in 1995. This ingredient imitates the effect of glucose on the nerve cells in our brain and creates the illusion that we are full.

This is how it works:

Nerve cells in our mid-brain (the hypothalamus) have nerve cells that can sense glucose. When we eat, the glucose level in our blood is increased. When this glucose level is high enough, the nerve cells start firing signals for us to stop eating.

When this happens, we lose our desire to consume more food. The p57 in hoodia gordonii is  20 times more effective than glucose is on the nerve cells in the hypothalamus. Because of this, when you consume even a little bit of hoodia, the nerve cells start firing signals to stop eating. You lose all desire to consume more food, even though you haven’t actually eaten anything.

Controlled experiments have proven that people who consumed hoodia gordonii ate around 1,000 calories less on average. This is great news for the weight loss industry. One of the biggest challenges with losing weight is overcoming hunger and food cravings. If these problems can be solved, it should be very easy to lose weight and control obesity. This is the benefit that Hoodia Gordonii offers.