Made popular by such celebrities as Oprah Winfrey and by television shows such as 60 Minutes, Hoodia Gordonii is gaining widespread attention as an all natural weight loss supplement. But what exactly is Hoodia Gordonii and how does it aid in weight loss?

Understanding Hoodia Gordonii

Hoodia Gordonii is a plant very similar in appearance to the cactus which grows mainly in southern Africa. The six foot plant, which is native to the Kalahari Desert, has been used for hundreds of years by the indigenous people of Southern Africa to quench thirst and to suppress appetite on long trips across the desert.

In recent times, clinical trials done by drug giant Pfizer and others have emerged indicating Hoodia as a powerful weight loss supplement. In one such study conducted in the UK, one group of volunteers was given a placebo while another group of volunteers was given an extract of Hoodia Gordonii. Both groups were then sent home and told to go about their lives as they normally would. Two weeks later, results showed that the group that was given the Hoodia extract reduced their caloric intake by 1,000 calories per day with no extra effort whatsoever. This study, and others like it, concluded that Hoodia Gordonii helps dieters lose weight by suppressing the appetite.

How Hoodia Gordonii Works

Studies done on Hoodia shows that it contains natural substances which, when ingested, causes your brain to think that you are full and eliminates the desire to eat. This makes Hoodia a powerful appetite suppressant and an excellent addition to any weight loss program.

Why Hoodia Liquid Works Best

In order for Hoodia Pills to work they must go through your digestive system. Not only does it take the hoodia pills longer to reach your bloodstream then a liquid does, but your digestive juices attack the hoodia losing some of the potency. With a liquid the absorption rate is 95 98%, while with pills it is only 2 20% maximum. Pills are also sometimes hard to swallow but a liquid hoodia can be taken by putter a dropper full under your tongue or mixing in a glass of water or juice. Plus liquid hoodia also tastes good.

You can easily see why the hoodia liquid is clearly the better choice.

Making Hoodia Gordonii Part Of Your Weight Loss Program

While Hoodia Gordonii shows a lot of promise as a powerful appetite suppressant, it is important to note that there is no magical solution when it comes to weight loss. An intelligent weight loss program should be combined with sensible changes in your lifestyle that include moderate exercise such as strength training which builds strength and endurance.

Additionally, attention should be paid to your diet and care should be taken to avoid foods that are high in sugars such as potatoes, baked goods, candy and other types of sugar containing foods.

Healthy, wholesome foods should make up your diet which includes unsaturated fats from olive oil and canola oil, for example, and omega-3 rich oils found in fish and other seafood.

Moreover, healthy weight loss should never go over two pounds per week. If you are on a weight loss program that goes beyond that, it is likely to include loss of muscle and bone density. While it may be easier to lose muscle mass and bone density, it is a lot harder to gain it back. A loss of bone density can lead to fractures, injuries and more serious illnesses such as osteoporosis. It is for this reason, therefore, that most dieticians suggest that weight loss should not go over more than two pounds of body fat per week in order to avoid the loss of muscle mass.

Additionally, full hydration during any weight loss program is essential especially while taking a supplement like Hoodia Gordonii because, in addition to suppressing the appetite, it will also eliminate your thirst as well.