As you begin planning your holiday in Namibia, consider that when you are here, your visit helps to finance communities all over our country who would have no other source of income other than revenue from professional hunting or revenues from tourism related activities.
One of the other income generators of our communities is our natural products. This is all a part of Namibia's commitment to sustainable usage of ALL of our natural resources. We are committed to making sure we plan the use of the commodities TODAY so that we have it for all of our tomorrows.
Two natural products with very popular usage in our today's world are found in Namibia. They are Hoodia and Devil's Claw. These indigenous products are harvested by local communities and black businessmen to be provided for worldwide consuption. Many donor partners have invested in training, marketing access planning, commercialization with sustainable usage, community inclusive planning and other very important aspects of developing these naturally Namibian products for the world. Again, these small plants benefit Namibian people. This is GREAT!
Devil's Claw
Hoodia
For those who may not know, the Devil's claw is useful for stiff bones, arthritis treatments, etc... As I have hit middle age with a blast, I know what it feels like to wake up on a cold winter morning and try to get out of bed and have your back and knees slap you in the face! I find Devil's claw products are useful in helping me to slap all muscle pain right back in its face! So there! I take 3 capsules per day and it works for me. Once I travelled and left the Devil's claw at home. After a week, when I returned I felt the difference. I am not in heavy muscle ache pain yet in my middle age, but the difference was still noticeable being on the devil's claw and then being off of it.
Hoodia got slammed by the US drug company Unilever. That was curious? For me, it works. Folks I am round... yep. I admit it. When I run, I run as a group with all my parts moving in the same direction. Ok. That said... Hoodia helps me control my eating. You can even get Hoodia in a gel form so that you can rub it on your arm on directly on your belly! I take it in tea usually and that goes down much smoother and doesn't leave an oil stain on your blouse.
Of course, healthy weight loss comes with work with my doctor, dietician and bio-keneticist (workout torture artists!). Working together with this program, the Hoodia does keep me from having seconds. It kills that afternoon crazy craving for a candy bar; it helps me not snack on unhealthy things between meals. When I eat a bowl of vege soup (I make my own with fresh veggies boiled with a chicken bouillion cube) and I want to top it up with a nice ham sandwich, I am too full after the hoodia and soup to go any further. So, I move on away from the table and do something else. I stick to my dieticians' plan a lot better on Hoodia than off of it. This is not scientific, it is just Jackie-talking. For me, it works. Maybe for those in Unilever's study it did not.
Namibia has these and other natural products. There are NGOs working here that are involved with these products. You can probably find out more by contacting the Namibia Nature Foundation or the MCA- Namibia office and they can steer you into more informaton on indigenous products and their use for the benefit of Namibia.
Better still... come here on holiday and arrange with your tour operator a visit to one of the places where these and other natural products are grown!
Tell 'em Jackie sent you!
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