Hoodia Gordonii from South Africa

What does it do?
Hoodia is a new and powerful nutritional supplement for suppressing the appetite. This substance works simply by stopping the cravings for food.
This impressive plant contains a special substance, which acts on the brain by sending a signal to tell the body that it is satisfied and does not need more food. Suggested usage for Hoodia is somewhat dependent upon body mass. A recommended dosage of 50-200 mg of Hoodia Gordonii 20:1; 1 hour before mealtime is a good general guideline. There are no side effects from the usage of Hoodia, other than lack of hunger and weight loss.

How does it work?
The Hoodia Gordonii cactus has been used for centuries by the Xhomani Sans Bushmen of southern Africa's Kalahari Desert, to suppress the appetite during long hunting trips.

It works by making patients feel full after ingesting it, and it has been shown to lower food intake by up to 50% in small studies by pharmaceutical companies wishing to create a synthetic derivative.
Although Western scientists became aware of the plant's potential 100 years ago, it was only recently that its active ingredient was patented by the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
Subsequently, a British biotechnology company, Phytopharm, and the pharmaceuticals giant Pfizer acquired the rights to its development and commercialization as an anti-obesity drug for use in the West. Now the San people, in the first deal of its kind, will be rewarded for the development of a drug, which makes use of their traditional knowledge.

Under the terms of the agreement, the San people will receive regular fees as the drug -developed from a plant used to suppress the appetite - passes various stages on the way to market.
In an interview with ABCNEWS, a spokesman for the San people who live in the Kalahari Desert, Andries Steenkamp says, "I learned how to eat it from my forefathers," as he prepared a piece of the cactus-like plant called hoodia by trimming off the prickly spikes. "It is my food, my water, and also a medicine for me."

"Hoodia stops hunger and also treats sickness," Steenkamp told ABCNEWS. "We San, use the plant during hunting to fight off the pain of hunger and thirst."
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that obesity is rapidly reaching global proportions. According to the WHO, more than 1 billion people are overweight with 300 million of those clinically or morbidly obese (double their normal weight). The medical community reports excessive weight gain is directly related to severe medical problems including heart disease, diabetes, cancer and the onset of strokes.
There are no known side effects with Hoodia Gordonii although it is said to possess a mild aphrodisiac effect. It contains no Ephedra or Caffeine or any other stimulants.

Where does it come from?
The Hoodia Gordonii plant grows in the Kalahari Desert region of South Africa The Kalahari is 100,000 square miles of hostile African Desert.
The Hoodia Gordonii plant grows in the Kalahari Desert region of South Africa and although it looks like a cactus and is in fact part of that family, it is categorized as a succulent. The Hoodia plant has been used for centuries by the San People of the Kalahari to stave off pain, hunger and thirst when they travelled for weeks, months and even years across the vast desert. The San people number in the 100,000-population range and with the Hoodia plant marketed around the world will see riches beyond their imagination.

What is the science behind it?
Hoodia plants are native to the semi-deserts of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Angola.

And even though there are about 20 species in the family, the Gordonii is the only one that contains the natural appetite suppressant.
When South African scientists were testing the Hoodia plant, they discovered the plant contained a previously unknown molecule.
Results of human clinical trials in Britain suggest that this active ingredient could reduce the appetite by up to 2,000 calories a day.
This active ingredient works by replicating the effect glucose has on nerve cells in the brain fooling the body into thinking it is full, even when it is not. Hoodia appears to contain a molecule that is almost 10,000 times stronger than glucose.

Stella's Hoodia Gordonii:
Hoodia Gordonii is NOT a drug. Pharmaceutical companies are trying to synthesize it's appetite suppressing molecule known as P57 to produce a diet Drug in the near future.

However, this material in it's pure, dried and ground form is very effective. Natural products cannot be patented in any form, nor can their names be trademarked. Our Hoodia Gordonii comes directly from approved farms in South Africa where the San People of the Kalahari receive direct financial benefit from the sale of this great product, sowed by their own hand.
Hoodia gordonii extract from the naturally occurring plant is available from Stella Labs through our global affiliates. Stella Labs has been actively involved in qualifying this material for a number of months. There are over 20 species of Hoodia present in South Africa. Only Hoodia gordonii has shown proven results as a highly effective appetite suppressant. Therefore it is important to make sure you have the correct product.