Hoodia has got to be the most hyped up diet product ever! There’s so much information out there…both on the web and in the media. It really becomes overwhelming!  I wanted to break this down into two blog posts. Tomorrow I’ll put up some news from reliable sources that might make you think twice about buying Hoodia. I don’t trust those weight loss or drug companies. Some have a tendency to mislead consumers.

What is Hoodia? Here's what you need to know.

What is Hoodia? Here are the Basic Facts

1. Hoodia is a weight loss supplement that aims to help you to reduce food cravings and suppress hunger throughout the day. This of course is why Hoodia has become such a popular herbal weight loss supplement.

2. There are over 13 types of Hoodia. The Hoodia Gordonii variety contains a molecule known as P-57 as its active component. It contains the “most concentrated, purest and most effective form of Hoodia Gordonii in the world.”

3. Much of Hoodia’s popularity stems from claims that the San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert relied on Hoodia for thousands of years to ward off hunger and thirst during long hunting trips. They were said to have cut off the stem to eat the bitter-tasting plant.

4. Hoodia Gordonii grows in clumps of green upright stems. Although it is often called a cactus because it resembles one, Hoodia is actually a succulent plant. It takes about five years before Hoodia Gordonii’s purple flowers appear and only then can the plant be harvested.

5. Hoodia gordonii is sold in capsule, powder, liquid, or tea form in health food stores and on the Internet, Hoodia is also found in the popular diet pill Trimspa.

6. Although there has always been a demand for diet pills. After the ban on the herb Ephedra, the market was particularly ripe for the next new diet pill.

7. Much of the hype about Hoodia started after 60 Minutes correspondent Leslie Stahl and crew traveled to Africa to try Hoodia. They hired a local bushman who took them into the desert and track some down. Leslie ate it, and described it as “cucumbery in texture, but not too bad.” She reported that she lost the desire to eat or drink the entire day. She also said she didn’t experience any immediate side effects, such as indigestion or heart palpitations.

What is Hoodia’s industry leader? It appears that the Hoodia P57 product seems to be the real deal.  Most dieters would love a product that is all natural right? Possibly the biggest reason a dieter can give for not wanting to take a diet pill is potential side effects. There’s more information I found that makes me kind of wonder how safe it truly is, which is what I’ll be writing about tomorrow. On the subject of diets here’s my NutriSystem Review summarizing the pros and cons of their new weight loss plan.

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