Even though the concept of the benefits of the Hoodia plant for weight loss are new to modern and western cultures, its use can be traced back thousands of years to drawings on rocks in the African desert. The modern discovery of the correlation between Hoodia and weight loss can be attributed to a Dutch anthropologist who was studying the culture and customs of the San tribe of the Kalahari Desert. During examination, it was observed that the tribesmen munched on the stem of the Hoodia plant to suppress the pangs of hunger while on long hunting and gathering trips.

As this discovery was astonishing, it was not further researched and investigated until South African scientists studied the plant again some 30 years later. Through studies done with lab animals, it was affirmed that weight loss can be achieved with Hoodia with no known side-effects.

This discovery has been great news for people in western civilizations. With the shift from an active, labor based work environment to a sedentary service/technology based workforce, many people have seen weight add on.

As we all know by now, weight gain leads to other more serious health problems which include but are not limited to heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure and other problems that are linked to the previously mentioned conditions. The discovery of Hoodia to lose weight can be a big factor in controlling this epidemic.

Just like any other product or invention on the market that promises to make life better, there are many "imposter" and inferior products that claim to do the job. Some things to look for in a Hoodia supplement are the following. Make sure that the Hoodia is pure. Even though a product might be labeled as 100%, it is important to further decipher the label. The only effective part of the plant is the stem. The core of the Hoodia stem contains the appetite suppressing p57 Hoodia molecule. Anything other than this part is ineffective filler.