Cactus Pill Diet

The cactus pill diet is more of a nutritional supplement than a diet and it is purported to have a major effect on the hypthalamus which controls the appetite levels. While the actual drug (molecule: P57 as Pfizer Corporation calls it) is within a cactus plant known as ‘hoodia’, this cactus grows in extremely high temperatures and takes many years to develop.

How did people find this cactus plant?
It was found by an ancient tribe known as the ‘San Bushmen’ of the Kalahari Desert. This tribe had been eating the cactus plant to ward off hunger during their long hunts for food. Recently, the Pfizer corporation purchased the rights to the drug but the royalties will return to the Kalahari if the drug turns out as expected.

Has the Cactus Plant (.P57) been tested?
Most of the studies have been with rats, thus far, but the rats demonstrated a complete cessation to eating. Some of the human trials conducted concluded that the drug does help to reduce caloric intake (by as much as 1000 to 2000 calories per day in obese participants).

What are some of the side effects of Hoodia?
The drug has not been monitored long enough to give an accurate measure of side effects.

Conclusion of the Cactus Diet
It is advisable to wait several more years before purchasing this drug as the long-term effects have not yet been studied enough. There have been many reported cases of stores selling pills with little to no actual Hoodia gordonii in the supplement. The initial findings and results do seem promising, however, and we should look for pub med studies in the near future.

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