When discussing appetite suppression and fast weight loss, one's first thought might not be the deserts of South Africa. However, the native San tribesmen knew the secrets of the Kalahari Desert long before celebrities like talk show host Oprah Winfrey began to take notice. Since then, it has caught on like wildfire across America and around the world.

Hoodia Gordonii is a dietary supplement containing extract from a rare cactus in the tribal region and has received tremendous media attention for its fast results. Also referred to as xhooba, khoba, Ghaap, hoodia cactus, South African desert cactus or hoodia, the product has created quite a stir in America since a 60 Minutes news special brought it to the forefront of mainstream consciousness.

Scientific research has proven that Hoodia Gordonii has a drastic effect on suppressing the appetite. It can really trick the mind into believing the belly is full! Hoodia's simple formula puts a stop to overeating and mindless snacking. By decreasing food intake, Hoodia users will experience the side benefits of increased metabolism and energy boosts. As for the pill itself, it has no known negative side effects.

Another Hoodia product currently on the market - Hoodia liquid - has been shown to burn fat even faster than the Hoodia solid pill. Best of all are the completely natural ingredients. There is no ephedra, there is no ephedrine and there is no ma huang. It is just the extract the San desert tribe have been using for hundreds of years to fight hunger during long hunting trips across South African terrain. They would also use the extract for physical afflictions like severe abdominal cramps, hemorrhoids, tuberculoses, indigestion and hypertension.

It takes about five years before hoodia is ripe for harvest. There are actually about 20 different types of hoodia in the desert region, but hoodia gordonii is the only type thought to have the natural appetite suppressant ability. South African scientists worked with a British pharmaceutical company, Phytopharm, to isolate the active ingredient in hoodia, a steroidal glycoside dubbed "p57". Patented in 1995, p57

was licensed to Phytopharm, the makers of Hoodia pills. That company has invested more than $20 million of research into its product. Altogether, more than 30 years of research have gone into the product. Weight loss options on the market today are vast and diverse, but many consumers have clearly shown their preference for Hoodia because of its all-natural ingredients and fast results.