Hoodia has a chemical effect on the brain quite similar to glucose which is produced when food is ingested. Are there any adverse side effects. The active ingredient in Hoodia Gordonii is known as P57 and it works, in simple terms, by tricking the brain. So those with eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia should not take Hoodia.

More recently, the weight loss and diet benefits of Hoodia were discovered and it has become a very popular weight loss supplement. One recent study sho that a person taking Hoodia before meals has been shown to average approximately 1,000 fewer calories consumed per day than those taking a placebo. The San Bushmen ate this plant as both a food source and to help suppress their hunger while on long hunting journeys in the very sparsely vegetated desert. It has also been shown to be ineffective when used by people with poor eating habits such as those individuals who continue to eat after being satiated. But unlike some other types of diet pills, Hoodia does not burn fat.

Hoodia - Nature's Ancient Appetite Suppressant Hoodia or Hoodia Gordonii as it is properly known, is a cactus-like plant found exclusively in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa.