Does Hoodia Really Work?

The native people of Kalahari Desert in South Africa know for a fact that Hoodia gordonii works. For many years, they relied on this rare plant species to help them stave off hunger for long periods of time. Those who question the effectiveness of Hoodia might as well ask the correspondents of CBS and BBC who flew to South Africa to learn more about this miracle weight-loss plant. These reporters will be able to tell how they have tried Hoodia and became instant believers of its appetite-suppressing powers. But these reporters are not the only ones who can vouch for Hoodia being the real thing. Thousands of people have already tried the plant and become convinced of its effectiveness.

Even science is aware of the appetite suppressing powers of Hoodia gordonii. The experts from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of South Africa studied the plant for many years before they were finally able to identify the ingredient that gives the Hoodia its appetite-curbing property. P57, a molecule that tricks the brain into believing that a person is already full, has also been studied by major pharmaceutical companies and the results were reported to have been nothing short of remarkable.

So if science and the media are convinced that Hoodia can really suppress one's appetite, then that means it really works as a weight-loss supplement, right? Well, it still depends.

If the theory of "eat more, weigh more and eat less, weigh less" is true, then Hoodia gordonii will undoubtedly work since it "prevents" a person from overeating by stifling his appetite. After all, clinical studies have shown that those people who took Hoodia gordonii have significantly reduced their calorie intake. However, the truth is that the Hoodia is not a direct solution to weight-loss. For it to really work for people who wish to shed pounds, the following should be kept in mind:

Buy only genuine Hoodia gordonii. If you truly want to experience the appetite-curbing powers of Hoodia, then make sure you buy only products that are made from pure and authentic Hoodia. Check if the product was licensed by the Western Cape Conservation Authority of South Africa and if it has a permit from the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Know your dosage. Before taking Hoodia, you should first know what dosage will work for you. What might work for some people may not work for you. Likewise, be sure to only take the right dosage of Hoodia. Taking it in excessive amounts may be dangerous.

Exercise and diet. As already mentioned, Hoodia gordonii is not a direct solution to weight loss. It only helps by curbing your appetite so you will not be tempted to overeat. Hoodia helps you lose weight by reducing your calorie intake. Thus, it still needs to be accompanied by a balanced diet and a good exercise routine to truly work. As such, know which diet plans and exercise routines would work best with Hoodia to help you lose weight.