Hoodia Gordonii has been used by the indigenous tribes of South Africa for thousands of years as a treatment for infections and indigestion. It has also been used by tribes who need to control their hunger while on lengthy hunting expeditions. Because of its wide availability from Namibia to Angola, the Hoodia Gordonii plant has been coined with the name “Bushman’s Hat” and “Queen of the Namib”. Today, Hoodia can be found on the same shelves as other well-known supplements like St. John’s Wort.

Research has revealed that the Hoodia Gordonii species actually contains a molecule which is similar to the glucose found in the human body. However, the molecule found in Hoodia Gordonii is much stronger than our natural glucose. Hoodia affects the hypothalamus, which is known as the nervous system ’control center’. This area of the brain regulates all of the body’s processes, including sleep, body temperature and appetite. Nerve cells in the hypothalamus ‘sense’ when glucose sugar is present in the body.

Any time you eat food, your glucose levels rise. When that happens, the hypothalamus signals your body to feel full. Hoodia causes the nerve cells in the hypothalamus to sense glucose sooner, and therefore result in an earlier feeling of fullness. As a result, less food is eaten and fewer calories are consumed. Many patients who take Hoodia have reported an immediate and positive change in their mood, followed by a complete feeling of fullness.

Is Hoodia Really A Food?

Absolutely. In South Africa, Hoodia Gordonii is well-known as a foodstuff. It is consumed regularly by people of all ages, from children to the elderly. For the centuries that they have been consuming Hoodia, no side effects have been reported.