Hoodia Gordonii is a succulent plant the closely bear a resemblance to cacti. It feels much like a cucumber. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert have been eating the Hoodia plant for centuries but not as a food per say, rather as a way to gain energy and curb hunger while out on hunting trips.

In recent times, the Diet Supplement Industry has been talking about the Hoodia Gordonii plant which promises to help dieters reach their goal. To date there are at least a dozen types of Hoodia known however only one, Hoodia Gordonii; contains the active molecule P57. P57 is the ingredient that causes the suppression of hunger. While there have not been many clinical trials done on Hoodia Gordonii, anecdotal evidence does back up the claim that Hoodia is effective for appetite control.

One trial which was carried out by Phytopharm showed that a large dose of Hoodia on a consistent basis did bring about a considerable decline in the subjects daily caloric intake. After 15 days the caloric intake was down by 1000 calories per day.

There have been many reports in the news media covering the effects of Hoodia when used as a diet supplement. These reports as well as articles done on the internet all point towards the benefits of Hoodia as a diet aid.

Some articles state that certain people were able to feel the effects of Hoodia after 30 minutes of ingesting the supplement and these people reported that the effect lasted for several hours. They felt a marked decrease in hunger and a lapse in time of hunger. Another effect of Hoodia that is discussed by those who take it is the feeling of well being. Other people have found that it has taken longer, upwards of two weeks before they felt the full effects of Hoodia. The best effect not felt by Hoodia is the jitters such as is felt when taking other diet aids, Hoodia is not a stimulant.

While there are many forms of Hoodia on the market today such as patches, powders and capsules; only the capsule has been found to be truly effective. Hoodia gives dieters great hope because it does what it claims to do; it suppresses the appetite with no ill results.

With so many now falling in the category of clinically obese, many are seeking a way to control their hunger and weight. With Hoodia you eat less, and you do not feel the terrible hunger pangs felt while using other supplements and your mood will be improved as well.