Why Hoodia Gordonii Is A Bad Idea (It's Not What You Think)

What is the magic bush that banishes hunger and thirst? It is hoodia gordonii, a bush with appetite suppressing qualities long known the residents of Africa's Kalahari desert. Hoodia gordonii has gained massive popularity as a potential weight loss product. Hoodia gordonii has reputedly been used by the Kalahari inhabitants for centuries to curb hunger on long foot trips. More recent informal experiments by the mainstream media seemed to show that hoodia gordonii does indeed stop one from becoming hungry. Is that the bad part? No.Hoodia gordonii is the scientific name for this otherwise ordinary bush. Normally the media would drop a scientific name such as hoodia gordonii in favor of something more clever, like "calorie cactus" or "fat plant." Perhaps the term hoodia, often used as a nickname for hoodia gordonii, has enough offbeat appeal. Regardless of its name, hoodia gordonii has gained world wide attention for its apparent weight loss properties. Is that the bad part? No.The hoodia gordonii plant currently grows only in the African Kalahari Desert. There are ongoing efforts to recreate the active ingredient of hoodia gordonii in the lab. To date the creation of artificial hoodia gordonii on a large scale has not been successful. That leaves the native hoodia gordonii plants as the sole source of this prized weight loss supplement. As a result, many nations have strictly regulated the import and export of hoodia gordonii. Is that the bad part? Not really.Many weight loss supplements take advantage of the hoodia gordonii name by using it on their products. There are currently only a small number of companies licensed to use and distribute real African hoodia gordonii. Consumers desperate for easy weight loss have created a huge market demand for hoodia gordonii. The weight loss industry has released products that sometimes falsely claim to contain hoodia gordonii. Is that the bad part? It can be to an unwary consumer, but it is closer to the mark.Hoodia gordonii is a natural plant that apparently can stop the appetite by telling the brain that the stomach is full, even if it is empty. Research continues to confirm these claims of hoodia gordonii benefits, but the word of mouth evidence is mounting. The creation of bulk amounts of the hoodia gordonii active ingredient could happen at any time. Is that the bad part? Yes, but only if you sell a competing weight loss product!