Hoodia has been making big news lately as an aid for weight loss. This cactus, grown in Africa’s Kalahari Desert, was, at one time, consumed by the San Bushmen, a very poor tribe, to stop hunger pains during long, wandering journeys. Studies have reportedly shown that the Hoodia cactus contains a molecule known as P57. It is said this molecule affects nerve cells in the area of the brain that controls appetite, and essential curbs the hunger sensation.
Typically, when you consume food, your body turns this food into glucose during digestion. When the glucose in your body rises it sends a signal to your brain telling it you are full. The makers of Hoodia products believe that the P57 molecule that is found in Hoodia mimics the same signal as the one your brain sends when glucose levels in your body rise. This would be the reason Hoodia decreases your hunger and aids in weight loss. For people who eat because they are addicted to food or have other emotional problems, Hoodia may be able to aid them in their quest to conquer their obsession with food, as well.