What is Hoodia?

Hoodia Gordonii photo

Hoodia Gordonii is a cactus succulent and part of the Asclepiadaceae family of Herbs and Shrubs. It grows into multi-stemmed clumps usually about 18+ inches high (45cm) and yeilds pale purple disc-shaped flowers 3-4 inches in diameter. Pure South African Hoodia Gordonii grows in semi-arid areas of South Africa. For centuries the San people, formerly known as bushmen, of the Kalahari desert have eaten the plant.

The History and Story of Hoodia.

The Bushmen of Southern Africa have hunted, lived off the land and traveled across the Kalahari Desert for thousands of years. The Bushmen frequently go on long hunting trips and use a local plant to reduce hunger and increase energy. For these many years, the San Bushmen have often gone days without eating yet retain energy and focus by chewing on the cactus like plant we now know as Hoodia Gordonii.

The full name is Hoodia Gordonii. Hoodia is a Succulent botanical which resembles a "cactus" and is in the Asclepiadaceae family of Herbs and Shrubs..

For many generations these South African Bushmen have been eating Hoodia Gordonii to decrease appetite and increase energy. While the Bushmen have known about the benefits of Hoodia for thousands of years, it was not until the mid 1960's that the first modern research was done on Hoodia as an appetite suppressant. It took 30 years of research for South African laboratories to isolate the specific appetite suppressing ingredient in Hoodia. This ingredient was then named P57 (or p-57) and licensed to the British pharmaceutical company Phytopharm.

By December of 2001, and $20 million later, Phytopharm had the first clinical study that showed obese people who took P57 (extracted from Hoodia Gordonii) ate 1,000 fewer calories fewer per day in clinical studies with no adverse side effects! Taking Pure Hoodia Gordonii (P57), is shown to dramatically reduce your desire to eat. 

The BBC's Report on Hoodia Dated: Friday, 30 May, 2003

By Correspondent Tom Mangold

Imagine this: an organic pill that kills the appetite and attacks obesity. It has no known side-effects, and contains a molecule that fools your brain into believing you are full. Deep inside the African Kalahari desert, grows an ugly cactus called the Hoodia. It thrives in extremely high temperatures, and takes years to mature. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari, one of the world's oldest and most primitive tribes, had been eating the Hoodia for thousands of years, to stave off hunger during long hunting trips. When South African scientists were routinely testing it, they discovered the plant contained a previously unknown molecule, which has since been christened P57.

Mr. Mangold talked with Dr. Richard Dixey and explained in his report how P.57 work: "There is a part of your brain, the hypothalamus. Within that mid-brain there are nerve cells that sense glucose sugar. When you eat, your blood sugar goes up becuase of the food, these cells start firing and now you are full."

"What the Hoodia seems to contain is a molecule that is about 10,000 time as active as glucose. If goes to the mid-brain and actually makes those nerve cells fire as if you were full. But you have not eaten, Nor do you want to."

For the compete article found on the BBC's web site: click here...

CBS News program: 60-Minutes Reports on Hoodia

Titled: African Plant May Help Fight Fat

Dated: November 21, 2004

The hoodia plant in the Kalahari Desert could become the newest weapon in the war against obesity.

Each year people spend more than $40 billion on products designed to help them slim down. None of them seem to be working very well. Now along comes hoodia. Never heard of it? Soon it'll be tripping off your tongue, because hoodia is a natural substance that literally takes your appetite away. It is very different from diet stimulants like Ephedra and Phenfen that are now banned because of dangerous side effects. Hoodia doesn't stimulate at all. Scientists say it fools the brain by making you think you’re full, even if you've eaten just a morsel. Correspondent Lesley Stahl reports.

Nigel Crawhall, a linguist and interpreter, hired an experienced tracker named Toppies Kruiper, a local aboriginal Bushman, to help find it. The Bushmen were featured in the movie “The Gods Must Be Crazy.” Kruiper led 60 Minutes crews out into the desert. Stahl asked him if he ate hoodia. "I really like to eat them when the new rains have come," says Kruiper, speaking through the interpreter. "Then they're really quite delicious." When we located the plant, Kruiper cut off a stalk that looked like a small spiky pickle, and removed the sharp spines. In the interest of science, Stahl ate it. She described the taste as "a little cucumbery in texture, but not bad."

So how did it work? Stahl says she had no after effects – no funny taste in her mouth, no queasy stomach, and no racing heart. She also wasn't hungry all day, even when she would normally have a pang around mealtime. And, she also had no desire to eat or drink the entire day. "I'd have to say it did works" says Stahl.

For the complete article found on the CBS website: click here...

NBC News: Today Show Reports on Hoodia

Titled: Can a cacus plant be a magic bullet for dieters?

Dated: Oct. 24, 2005

By Correspondent: Janet Shamlian

From MSNBC: Could a plant from South Africa be the weight-loss secret that could help millions of overweight Americans slim down? NBC News correspondent Janet Shamlian talks about the possible magic pill we've all been waiting for.

South Africa’s Kalahari Desert is home to what could be the answer to an appetite... Eat it and you won't want to eat anything else - a secret bushmen have known for ages and a mystery to the West no more.

Shamlian and those she interviews point out in the article that most Hoodia products are less effective than actually traveling to the Kalahari Desert and eating the fresh plant... 

Why is this? there are 2 main reasons:

1) Many (or most) companies supply Hoodia that is NOT 100% certified Hoodia Gordonii. Each capsule of SuVida Kalahari Hoodia contains 475mg of 100% certified Hoodia Gordonii. No exceptions, No imitations, No Hoodia replacements/fillers!

2) Absorption is the second problem for other companies. Only SuVida has our patented Bioavailability Blend which ensures 30% more absorption directly to the blood stream.

SuVida is the answer for anyone unable to travel to the Kalahari Desert to obtain Hoodia in its purest form!

National Geographic Reports on Bushmen and Hoodia

Dated: April 16th, 2003

In this article, National Geographic reporter Leon Marshall visits South Africa to report how the poverty-stricken San Bushmen of Southern Africa may benefit from a percentage of the royalties from the "international marketing of an appetite-suppressant they have been using for generations." - Hoodia Gordonii.

He explains: The San call the cactus !khoba and have been chewing on it for thousands of years to stave off hunger and thirst during long hunting trips in their parched Kalahari desert home...

To see the complete article at the National Geographic website: click here...

Reuters News Agency Article on Hoodia

Dated: October 8th, 2004

By Ed Stoddard

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A United Nations conference approved on Friday a proposal by African countries to control trade in a rare plant sought hungrily by drug companies for its appetite-suppressing properties. "The most powerful natural appetite-suppressant known to man"

The hoodia cactus in question has been used for thousands of years by southern Africa's San Bushmen to dampen their appetites during long treks through the harsh Kalahari desert and holds the key to potentially lucrative anti-obesity drugs.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) listed
the hoodia plant in its Appendix II -- which will regulate global trade in the species -- at the behest of South Africa, Namibia and Botswana.

That will give added protection to plants which could save untold human lives while earning billions of dollars for big drug companies. The proposals will be raised again during the plenary session next week, but are almost certain to pass because they have strong support.

South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has patented the chemical entity extracted from hoodia and licensed British drugs-from-plants firm Phytopharm Plc to develop the plant's commercial potential. Phytopharm said in July it welcomed moves to protect hoodia from illegal cultivation. "We're very pleased it went through," said John Donaldson of the South African delegation, saying it would help ensure that hoodia is used in a sustainable manner.

"We would like pharmaceutical companies to produce finished products in the three countries," he said, adding that there were structures in place to ensure that the San Bushmen derived benefits from the product.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Are there negative side effects with Hoodia? 

There a NO known side effects! The Kalahari San Bushmen have used Hoodia Gordonii for thousands of years with no side effects. For several years now many thousands of people have safely taken Hoodia in Research studies and commercially in the UK, Canada, and United States and other European countries.

What makes SuVida's Hoodia Gordonii so effective?

1) We use only 100% Certified, Pure Hoodia Gordonii. No imitations, no added fillers! As with all our products, our customers have come to expect only the finest and purest products - no exceptions. We are trusted by many Doctors and Health Clinics worldwide! Note: most companies supply Hoodia products that are only partially "Pure Hoodia Gordonii". Many attempt to trick the consumer - they may state 500mg of Hoodia yet as little as 10% of that is pure. The remainder is some diluted or synthetic "knock-off" that is does nothing.

2) Only SuVida has our proven and patented Bioavailability Blend which ensures 30% more absorption directly to the blood stream. This is verified in studies where blood is actually drawn from the subject and the blood is tested for absorption. Yes, 30% more PURE Hoodia Gordonii to your blood stream means 30% more success with the same amount of Hoodia. Each SuVida capsule contains 475mg of Pure Hoodia and with this patented blend the effective result is the same as taking over 600mg from any other source.

What if I have a heart condition or chronic illness?

Consult your doctor, physician, or nurse practitioner, tell him or her what your plans are and that you want to take Hoodia in your weight-loss program. He or she will know your background and can direct you accordingly.

What is P57 (sometimes referenced P-57 or P.57)?

This is the name given to the molecule that researcher and scientist discovered is the hunger-suppressing component in Hoodia Gordonii. P57 was patented in 1997. CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) is considered by many to be the leading research and development institute in Africa. 

CSIR licensed P57 the UK-based firm Phytopharm to further develop and commercialize P57. It has been established that P57 makes the brain think it is full, even when it is not, therefore curbing the appetite.

How long before my appetite will subside?

Some feel their appetite reduced the first day, while others don't feel the full effects for up to two weeks. This was also seen with the official studies and trials conducted in Leicester, England. However, we have noticed that most people (70% or more) begin feeling the effects within the first 3 days. If you are not feeling the effects after the first 3 days of use, you may want to gradually increase the amount you are taking to perhaps double the recommended amount. Once you feel your appetite subside, go back to the recommended amount. (4-6 capsules per day)

Do people use Hoodia to assist in detox plans?

Yes, Hoodia is a common aid in detox plans. In fact, cravings is a common reason that people fail with detox programs where they drink only water or grapefruit or juices for several days to cleanse their bodies. However, remember some detox plans are extreme and may have adverse side effects. You should also consult your doctor before attempting a detox program.

Do other Hoodia plant varieties reduce appetite?

There are several Hoodia plant species that have some degree of appetite suppressant effect. However, Hoodia Gordonii is without question the most potent and effective. In fact, many varieties referred to as Hoodia, provide almost no reduction in appetite.

I understand that pure South African/Kalahari Hoodia Gordonii is rare. Can the source be sustained?

Hoodia Gordonii is rare and is protected by the national conservation laws of South Africa and Nambia. A permit is required to grow or collect it. In fact, many companies are simply supplying synthetic imitations that do little or nothing. In addition, these synthetic imitations may have unknown negative side effects. SuVida will NEVER play this game! We only supply 100% pure Hoodia Gordonii. The South African government has established plantations to sustain the demand and we have a long standing and close relationship with the most reliable supplier anywhere!