There is magical ingredient in Hoodia Gordonii (a cactus found in South African Desert) that is used in treating Obesity. The ingredient which is responsible for curbing one's appetite is called P57. Kalahari desert is not only the home for the San People, but its also home for Hoodia Gordonii, which is actually a succulent plant. Without knowing the power of Hoodia Gordonii the san bushmen have been using the it for centuries to starve off hunger during their long and ardeous trips in the harsh South Africa.

The active ingredients which is present in hoodia plant has proven to suppress one's appetite by up to more than 2000 calories a day. This makes hoodia precious and what makes it even more precious is, hoodia is all natural and the organic ingredient in the Hoodia cactus plant is the result of 30 years of research by the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research).

One of the most renowned pharmaceutical company, Pfizer is developing a pill, based on the bioactive compound in hoodia gordonii, P57. Pfizer believes that P57 wll banish food cravings. So this is a clear indication that there are a lot of companies are selling Hoodia Diet Pills which are not authentic. So buyers beware and do a through check before you buy them.

The demand for Hoodia in the world today is such that all plants of the hoodia species are now protected species in the countries of southern Africa. Furthermore, CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora has reognised Hoodia as protected species. If you are wondering what this means, its pretty simple, it means that that no one can trade in Hoodia without a CITES permit, the importer as well as the exporter being required to ensure that a CITES permit has been issued, else it would be illegal and you might be sentenced on smuggling acts.

Hoodia Gordonii is now one of the most diffiicult to obtain commodities to obtain in the world and also the most wanted too. Naturally when there is high demand, various measures to obtain Hoodia Gordonii illegally comes in picture hence these measures are being vigorously enforced by CITES, because growing Hoodia is a long process due to the length of time it takes to reach maturity, there is only a limited supply available in the short term and this at a time when demand has soared.

Despite all these measures, there is about 3 times the Hoodia being sold in Hoodia supplements today than could possibly be made from the total amount of Hoodia Gordonii being harvested and exported.