Strictly speaking, Hoodia isn’t actually an herb. Hoodia is a type of plant which grows wild in the deserts of Africa. There are over 500 different varieties of Hoodia, however only one particular variety is of interest to us. The only variety of Hoodia that is known for its appetite suppressant properties is Hoodia Gordonii. Compared to other sorts of Hoodia, the Hoodia Gordonii variety is more difficult to find in the wild and grow as it takes on average 4-7 years before it matures and is ready for harvest.

Hoodia Gordonii is actually a succulent cactus-like plant which grows to about 5 feet tall and is known as either Ghaap or Zhoba by the local Sans Bushmen who have been using the plant for many centuries. The Sans bushmen have been using Hoodia Gordonii’s appetite suppressant properties for many generations on their long hunting trips which often last for days.

Scientific studies have proven that Hoodia Gordonii does indeed work in curbing appetite and as such can help individuals to lower their calorie intake by as much as 40% a day. The active ingredient in Hoodia Gordonii is called P57 which is an isolated molecule which is estimated to be over 100,000 times more potent than glucose in sending the “satisfied” signal to the brain to signal fullness.

In addition to the P57 molecule which helps in controlling hunger, Hoodia Gordonii has a host of other benefits too. The nutritional content of Hoodia plants based on atomic absorption analysis was found to be: C, N, and H content of the dehydrated preparations averaged 38, 0.9; and 4.9% (W/W) respectively, consistent with a high carbohydrate, low fat content with a mean protein content of 5.9%. Mineral analysis of the material was found to average 6.5% Ca, 5.1% K, 0.3% P, 1% Mg, 1.9% Na, and 0.7% S, and smaller amounts of micro- and trace minerals Fe, Bo, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Mo, Ni, As, and Se in addition to other trace minerals. The dehydrated material contained significant proportions of the recommended or safe daily intakes of several important micronutrients per serving. A typical 35g serving may be obtained from a 250g portion of the whole plant, and could provide > 100% of the RDA for Ca (2.3g), 95% of the RDA for Mg (335 mg), 115% of the RDA for Na (670 mg), 65% of the recommended intake for K (1.8g), 43% of the RDA for Fe (6.5mg), and 60% of the RDA for Cr, plus significant proportions of other ultra-trace elements.

Recently, Hoodia took the interest of many people and as such many people from different countries have tried to farm Hoodia Gordonii but have largely failed since they can’t replicate the required harsh environments of the Kalahari dessert. As such, the potency of the P57 active ingredient is very much lower than those plants grown and harvested in Africa. Always buy Hoodia that has been farmed in Africa as the potency is almost always guaranteed, even by the South African government through using certificates.

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