What Is Hoodia Gordonii
By: Iris TaylorTotal Views: 113, Word Count: 447,
Out of 13 species of the Hoodia plant family only the specie named Hoodia Gordonii is said to be effective in reducing weight. Research has revealed that the plant has only one active substance that works as an effective appetite suppressant. The substance is coined as p57 by a South Africa research institute. Ever since the product has been marketed in 2004, the appetite suppressing qualities of the herb has earned much popularity among dieters across the world, particularly in the west. Hoodia is now being used as one of the major ingredients of powerful weight loss supplements as the herb has not yet been proved to be causing any harmful side effects.
The plant belongs to the Apocynaceae family of Stapeliae tribe. Hoodia Gordonii grows wild only in South Africa and sprouts around 10 upright spiny stalks that bears large flowers. The flowers are either purple or pink in color and emit a smell of rotten meat in order to attract flies that help in pollination. The African Bushmen used to chew the bitter roots in order to fight against hunger pangs of food and water during their long hours of hunting trips. The plant though looks like a cactus is actually a succulent. If the outer skin of the cucumber shaped aerial stem of the plant is peeled off, the inner fleshy part will be exposed.
Since the introduction of the plant in the consumer market, pharmaceutical giants are investing millions of dollars for extraction of Hoodia component and synthesizing them for manufacturing weight loss dietary supplements. As the Hoodia extracts that are imported only from South Africa are the most effective appetite suppressing variety, the wild succulent has been harvested intensively in order to suffice the growing demand for Hoodia constituted weight loss supplements. Botanic Gardens Conservation International has recently listed the Hoodia Gordonii plant among one of the 400 plant species that are under the threat of extinction. Hoodia is also mentioned in the list of plants that are at the risk of becoming endangered if trading of the concerned product is not controlled. The Hoodia plant appears in the Apendix2 of the list which is maintained by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
As pure Hoodia Gordonii extracts are quite rare and expensive, only few weight loss supplements available in the market contain natural Hoodia extracts that are imported from South Africa. If you are searching for a weight loss supplement that constitutes pure Hoodia, you may take up Hoodia Balance. Hoodia Balance is easily available in market and is effective in reducing weight without causing any side effects.
About the Author
Iris Taylor is a reputed freelance writer in the field of weight loss. She has written several articles on weight loss and has provided substantial information regarding the plant Hoodia Gordonii. If you are planning to consume a weight loss supplement that is made up of the extracts of pure Hoodia, the following link will provide you information regarding an effective appetite suppressant.
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