Deep in South Africa’s Kalahari Desert there is a plant that the native Bushmen of the San tribe eat to ward off starvation under the desert’s unforgiving heat. With it, they are able to go days without food and water, and often use it during long hunting trips to prevent eating the game they must capture to feed their awaiting families. That miraculous plant is called hoodia gordonii. Although the Bushmen have used it for thousands of years, Americans have only recently stumbled upon its appetite-suppressant properties. That discovery has contributed to mass use in American weight-loss supplements.

So how does it work? P57 has been identified as the actual appetite suppressant ingredient in hoodia. This ingredient fools the brain into thinking that it is full. It is this ingredient that many weight-loss supplements claim to have; but experts say consumers should be wary of what they buy. Recently, tests by Alkemists Pharmaceuticals found that at least half of the products advertised as containing hoodia, didn’t contain any.

On the other hand, Phytopharm, a pharmaceutical company based in the United Kingdom, says that when it tested it on mice, the mice lost weight. Right now, there is not enough scientific evidence to prove that hoodia really works, but some say they don’t need the scientific data to know that it is the real deal.

One of those people is the late entertainer Anna Nicole Smith. Smith told the world she lost 69 lbs. using TrimSpa, a weight loss supplement that claims to use hoodia. At the first of the year however, the FTC banned TrimSpa from making any claims about the health benefits of hoodia unless proven with reliable scientific data.

While there is debate about the reliability of TrimSpa and Smith’s endorsement of the product, there is another famous face who says she has had positive results with hoodia. During a 2004 trip to South Africa, investigative journalist Leslie Stahl sampled the actual hoodia plant while doing a story for “60 Minutes.” Stahl states she wasn’t the least bit hungry or thirsty all day. "I'd have to say it did work," says Stahl in the televised segment.

Unfortunately, those of us battling the bulge can’t all go to Africa to obtain the actual plant. Because it is expensive to make, the product will cost consumers between $20-60.