Hoodia

References and further reading:
Hoodia, The New Weight Loss Miracle? MedicineNet.com
Sampling the Kalahari cactus diet Tom Mangold, BBC Two Correspondent, May 30, 2003
African Plant May Help Fight Fat, CBS News, November 21, 2004
Consumer Alert: Hoodia weight loss pills scam exposed by independent investigation News Target, March 26, 2005
Diet Pill Supplement Scam: Two-Thirds of Hoodia Gordonii Pills Sold In the United States Are Counterfeit News Target, August 30, 2005
Hoodia fraud: Counterfeit Hoodia weight loss pills dominate the market News Target February 21, 2006

Does Hoodia Really Work?
Everyone wants to know. I have personally read and heard testimonials from people saying that it does. But, it may be necessary to compare hoodia products to find the right one for you.

If you asked a San Bushman, “Does hoodia really work?” He would probably tell you, through an interpreter of course, something like you will feel no hunger or thirst. Eating the plant reportedly makes the hunger go away. People say that do not even think about food, but all hoodia products are not the same and it may be necessary to compare hoodia ingredients, before you buy. Many companies only use hoodia gordonii as one ingredient in their weight loss supplement and most of these have some form of natural stimulant. Natural does not always mean safe and people who are sensitive to stimulants may want to avoid these products.

If you asked the British pharmaceutical company Phytopharm, “Does hoodia really work?” They would probably tell you that only Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product has been clinically proven to reduce calorie intake and body fat. In fact, that is a quote from their website. They do not compare hoodia products currently on the market to the product that they are working on. At one time, it appeared that Phytopharm would release a prescription form of hoodia gordonii, but since their new partner is Unilever, makers of Slim Fast, food products and over the counter meds, it is unclear exactly what their new product may be.

If you asked the manufacturers of the better hoodia products, “Does hoodia really work?” The answer would probably be that results vary depending on the individual’s diet and exercise program. If you asked, “How does your product compare to other hoodia gordonii products?” It is hard to say what their answers would be, but of course each company thinks that their product is the best.

In order to compare hoodia products, the first place to look is the label. There is no standard dosage and milligrams per tablet or capsule vary among manufacturers, plus we already mentioned that some products have other ingredients. Some dieters say that it takes 1500mg per day to control their appetites and some as much as 3000mg. In general, when you compare hoodia products, look for 750mg or higher per capsule, check for CITES license and chemical analysis reports to insure that the product is genuine. If you compare hoodia prices, you will see some differences. It is, in general, an expensive product, but if the answer to the question, does hoodia really work is yes, then price is not really important. Is it?

How does hoodia really work? That is apparently a complicated question, but the way that they explain it in laymen’s terms is that the brain believes that food has been eaten, shutting down the hunger mechanism. Does hoodia really work for everyone? Probably not, there has never been an appetite suppressant that works for everyone and there will probably never be an appetite suppressant that works for everyone. People, unlike animals, eat for other reasons than hunger. A hoodia weight loss program will only work for individuals who are motivated to succeed. When we compare hoodia products and read customer comments, it appears that some hoodia products work better than others.

Here is the real answer to the question; does hoodia really work? Anyone can lose weight if they reduce calories and increase activity. In order to maintain that weight loss, people must make changes in their lifestyles. When we compare hoodia to other appetite suppressants, there appear to be several advantages. Lack of side effects is one, but the important one to most dieters is lack of interest in food.

Are You Buying Genuine Hoodia Gordonii?
It is necessary to do a little research, before you can be sure that the product you are buying is genuine hoodia gordonii. There are many varieties of the hoodia plant, but only genuine hoodia gordonii is believed to be a natural appetite suppressant. The Food and Drug Administration does not approve health supplements as they do prescription drugs, so there is no FDA approved hoodia. Consumers must protect themselves by looking for certain things, before they buy.

Many people have heard about genuine hoodia gordonii. News reporters have traveled to Africa to sample the plant. Phytopharm, a British pharmaceutical company is currently researching the effects of extracts from the genuine hoodia gordonii plant. If Phytopharm ends up releasing a prescription form of hoodia, it will have to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration before it can be sold in the United States. But, currently there is no FDA approved hoodia. While the FDA does regulate the manufacturing practices of health supplement companies to a certain extent. The FDA does not approve or disapprove dietary supplements. It is only in rare cases when the FDA will make a statement about a health supplement.

Many health supplement companies are marketing products which claim to contain genuine hoodia gordonii for use by dieters as natural appetite suppressants. While most of these companies are undoubtedly delivering reliable and high quality products, there have been reports which state that some of these products do not contain any genuine hoodia gordonii, at all. So, how can the consumer have any confidence in the products that he or she is buying? If there is no FDA approved hoodia, then what should the consumer look for?

The first thing to look for is a CITES document. Wild growth of genuine hoodia gordonii is protected from exportation by legislation in southern Africa, the only place that genuine hoodia grows. In order to legally export genuine hoodia gordonii, a manufacturer must have a CITES license. Legally exported hoodia is grown on farms. A reputable supplement company should be willing to make their licenses available for inspection by consumers. While this is not an FDA approved hoodia product, it has been approved for export by the South African government.

The second thing to look for is chemical analysis reports. Samples of genuine hoodia gordonii are compared by independent testing facilities with samples of the health supplement in question. By the time genuine hoodia becomes a health supplement, it looks like a fine brown or light green powder, baring no resemblance to the genuine hoodia plant. But labs can still test this powder using microscopic and other techniques to determine if the powder is genuine hoodia gordonii or not. While these tests are not required by the FDA, since there is no FDA approved hoodia products, responsible manufacturers do have these tests performed.

Phytopharm has invested millions of dollars researching genuine hoodia gordonii and it’s potential as an appetite suppressant. They are concerned that p57, the active molecule in genuine hoodia gordonii may not be present in large enough quantities to have an effect on a person’s appetite. Since there is no FDA approved hoodia currently on the market and even Phytopharm’s product may not be a prescription drug (the only hoodia that would be FDA approved) since they are now partnered with Unilever, makers of Slim Fast, food products and over-the counter medications. The chemical analysis reports of the better hoodia products do show the presence of the p57 molecule.

Dieters who have tried the appetite suppressants currently on the market report mixed reviews; as with most health supplements. Even genuine hoodia gordonii only works for some people. No one is claiming that healthy diet and a reasonable exercise program are not important for weight loss. While genuine hoodia gordonii products may help to curb a person’s appetite, it will not magically melt the fat off of a person’s body. Any company that makes such a claim should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC investigates reports of deceptive claims made by health supplement and other companies. The FTC also offers guidelines for identifying weight loss scams. These can be viewed at the official FTC website.

So, while there is no FDA approved hoodia, customers can protect themselves by educating themselves. A reasonable money-back guarantee also inspires confidence and manufacturers of most genuine hoodia gordonii products will issue refunds on unopened bottles if the product fails to produce desired results.

Propagating Hoodia Gordonii
Propagating hoodia gordonii requires special licensing and is apparently difficult. Varieties of the hoodia cactus plant are grown for botanical gardens and green houses. These are probably not the hoodia gordonii variety.

Hoodia gordonii is highly sought after for its reputation as a natural appetite suppressant. Not all varieties of the hoodia cactus plant are believed to contain the natural appetite suppressant. Only the hoodia gordonii variety has been studied for this purpose and it is from this species that the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa obtained the active molecule, p57.

The governments of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa requested that all 15 species of the hoodia cactus plant be protected, because they were concerned that the other species could be mistaken for hoodia gordonii and harvested for use as an appetite suppressant. For this reason propagating hoodia gordonii requires special permitting and exporting any species of hoodia cactus plant requires a CITES permit.

In the Northern and Western Cape areas of South Africa, no on is allowed to collect any varieties of hoodia cactus plant without a valid permit. No one is allowed to harvest or transport any hoodia material without a valid permit. Propagating hoodia gordonii requires a relevant permit and export requires a phyto-sanitary certificate from the National Department of Agriculture, as well as a CITES certificate. In order to protect all species of hoodia cactus plant in the wild propagating hoodia gordonii in Namibia (with or without a permit) is not allowed until the government has reviewed the status of the species.

The countries in southern Africa are not only concerned about protecting the hoodia cactus plant from extinction. When the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research identified the molecule which is responsible for the appetite suppressing abilities of hoodia gordonii and licensed the rights for further development to Phytopharm, they also entered into a benefit sharing agreement with the San communities. The San peoples traditionally used the hoodia gordonii plant for several medicinal purposes and assisted the CSIR in identifying the species. The governments are concerned that hoodia trade may infringe on this benefit sharing agreement, as well as the patent rights.

Propagating hoodia gordonii in the wild is carried out by the wind. Seeds are carried away from the mother hoodia cactus plant in a way that is similar to how dandelion seeds are spread. Collection of hoodia gordonii seeds from wild plants interferes with this process. Propagating hoodia gordonii commercially may be beneficial to mankind, but may eventually cause the extinction of the plant in the wild.

Real Hoodia Gordonii Plus
What’s in there? The plus must mean something. Real hoodia gordonii plus is one of the many popular hoodia diet pills on the market. The hoodia content is not considered a high hoodia dosage, but there are other ingredients and exceeding manufacturer’s recommended dosage is not advisable. This may or may not be the right product for you. This information is provided to help you decide.

The primary active ingredient in real hoodia gordonii plus is, as the name suggests, hoodia gordonii. Real hoodia gordonii plus provides 400mg of concentrated hoodia gordonii. This is not considered a high hoodia dosage, but some information suggests that products which contain concentrates may be more potent than non-concentrated products. CITES certification and product analysis available for inspection at the real hoodia gordonii plus website support the authenticity of the hoodia gordonii used by the company. Some manufacturers do not have these certifications and analysis reports.

As the plus suggests, hoodia gordonii is not the only active ingredient in real hoodia gordonii plus. 50mg of garcinia cambogia is included. Garcinia cambogia which is commonly called gambooge is a plant native to West and Central Africa and parts of Asia. Gambooge was used in traditional Indian medicine to treat a variety of ailments. One must assume that it was included in real hoodia gordonii plus, because certain clinical studies indicate that the active compound found in gambooge can decrease appetite, body mass index, and increase the body’s ability to burn fat. Research of the effects of gambooge is contradictory. Some groups showed positive results while others did not, but it is widely recommended as a natural fat burner. Most products which contain a high hoodia dosage do not include any other ingredients.

Real hoodia gordonii plus also includes 250 mg of magnesium, an essential mineral found in most vitamin supplements. Some well known diet experts recommend supplementation of magnesium. It is not commonly found in supplements which contain a high hoodia dosage. Magnesium helps strengthen muscles including the heart and helps the body to make use of the B complex vitamins, (important for energy) vitamin C and E. Magnesium is found naturally in green vegetables, nuts and seafood, but since the average American diet is high in starches, breads and pasta, which are low in magnesium, most people do not get enough. Total daily intake of magnesium should not exceed 400 mg, as higher dosages can be toxic. If you choose to use real hoodia gordonii plus, check the label of your daily vitamin to make sure that it does not contain more than 150mg of magnesium. Most do not, but some high potency products may.

There is 50mg of green tea extract in real hoodia gordonii plus. Most products which contain a high hoodia dosage do not include green tea. There have been numerous studies about the health benefits of green tea. It contains anti-oxidants which are thought to prevent cancer and possibly even wrinkles. Presumably, hoodia gordonii plus includes green tea in its product because research has shown that green tea can raise metabolic rates, speed up fat oxidation and calorie burning. Because green tea contains caffeine, those who are sensitive to stimulants may not be able to use real hoodia gordonii plus.

There are other ingredients in real hoodia gordonii plus. Those mentioned here are just the most interesting. Most high dosage hoodia pills on the market, those which provide 750mg or more of pure hoodia gordonii powder do not contain any of these ingredients. Some believe that the other ingredients are included because the amount of hoodia is so small, that other ingredients must be used to obtain the desired effects. This is of course a matter of opinion.

Finding the Right Hoodia Dosage
There is no accepted hoodia dosage for everyone at this time. The information used to form manufacturers recommended dosage is hard to pinpoint.

Some people say that it takes 1500mg per day to control their appetites. Some say 3000mg is necessary. Some manufactures of hoodia supplements recommend two capsules three times a day, while more potent hoodia products recommend one or two capsules twice a day. People have experimented with their own hoodia dosage, basically using themselves as guinea pigs and this may be okay if the product is 100% hoodia gordonii. But, it is wise to follow the manufacturer’s recommended dosage on any hoodia herb combos. It is also, always recommended to consult your doctor before using any new supplement. While research done by Phytopharm has shown hoodia to have an acceptable safety level, they have not completed clinical research and they only use a purified potent hoodia gordonii extract known as p57. Whether or not the research completed by Phytopharm can be applied to products which are currently on the market is up for debate. Phytopharm’s product, which is expected to be the most potent hoodia product, is not scheduled to be released for several years.

The acceptable hoodia dosage concerns many health care professionals. While hoodia gordonii is not believed to be a stimulant, there have been problems associated with stimulants used as appetite suppressants and some hoodia herb combos do contain stimulants. It may not be obvious to the consumer, listed ingredients will not say; includes XXX (a stimulant). The best advice for consumers is to investigate a product’s ingredients thoroughly, not just what appears on the package label or the company website. Find an impartial source of information.

Even 100% hoodia gordonii products should be used with caution, the smallest hoodia dosage that allows results is recommended. It is also recommended that dieters obtain a clean bill of health from their doctor’s, before begin any weight loss program, with or without potent hoodia products. Caution is advised because so little is known about the plant. Manufacturers refer to use by the San people of southern Africa, but it was not one of their preferred food items. They did not eat it often.

Hoodia products are not intended for use by pregnant or nursing women or children under the age of 18. Anyone suffering from a medical condition of any kind or who is currently taking any prescription medication should not use any hoodia dosage (weak, low-dose or potent hoodia) without a doctor’s supervision. No one knows what potential there is for drug interaction or what affect hoodia could have on any medical condition. Clinical studies, by Phytopharm, used a controlled potent hoodia dosage administered to overweight volunteers who were otherwise healthy. These studies were closely supervised and are still on-going.

How to Get Discount Hoodia
Most people agree that the best hoodia appetite suppressants are products which contain 100% real hoodia gordonii. Most ads for discount hoodia are either not 100% hoodia gordonii or they cannot be verified as genuine hoodia gordonii from South Africa.

Finding discount hoodia gordonii was not an issue for the San people of southern Africa. It grew around them. It was fairly common. It was not their favorite food source, but it did alleviate feelings of hunger and thirst when they were hunting or searching for more favorable foods. The issue of discount hoodia has only arisen since the world learned of the plant’s ability to suppress the appetite. People have searched for hoodia seeds, presumably to grow their own real hoodia gordonii, but even the harvesting of the seeds from wild hoodia gordonii is now prohibited in most areas of southern Africa and cultivating real hoodia gordonii requires special permits.

Real hoodia gordonii is expensive. It is hard to grow. The blooms smell like rotting meat. It takes a full year to be able to transplant the plants from seed trays to small pots and another three years or so to mature. This is just one of the reasons that real hoodia is not cheap. The best way to get discount hoodia gordonii is to buy multiple bottles from manufacturers that can confirm that there products are real hoodia gordonii. That is if you want effective hoodia products.

The issue of real hoodia versus fake hoodia arises, because there are about 15 different species of hoodia, but only the hoodia gordonii species is believed to be an appetite suppressant. Only real hoodia gordonii has been studied for effectiveness and safety. Phytopharm, a British pharmaceutical company, is still completing clinical research of real hoodia gordonii. Companies could claim to be selling discount hoodia or expensive hoodia for that matter and not face any repercussions (other than from unhappy customers) unless they are making false claims about using real hoodia gordonii. Apparently it is not easy to distinguish between species of hoodia and some hoodia species face the threat of extinction in the wild. Some harvesters may not be sure which hoodia species is the correct species to harvest. It is for this reason that all hoodia species (not just real hoodia gordonii) are protected by CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

CITES protection means that all hoodia exporters must be licensed. This is one way to find supplements that contain real hoodia gordonii, which is not always discount hoodia, but will be the most effective hoodia for appetite suppression. Look for CITES documents at any website claiming to sell real hoodia or discount hoodia. Look for analytical reports confirming that the hoodia being sold is real hoodia gordonii. If you don’t see these, don’t buy it. Once you find a real hoodia product, check out multi-bottle discounts. This is the best way to buy discount hoodia.

Fake Hoodia Diet Pills
Sometimes the best new is no news. There has been no recent news concerning fake hoodia diet pills on the market. There have been no recent complaints to the Federal Trade Commission concerning fake hoodia diet pills. While there is no question that the best selling hoodia products are genuine hoodia gordonii. There are some products that have been shown by independent testing to contain little or no genuine hoodia gordonii. These are the fake hoodia diet pills to look out for.

According to Hoodia gordonii.co.za, a South African based company which facilitates the authentication of hoodia gordonii products worldwide, there are still many fake hoodia diet pills on the market. They and the makers of Desert Burn, one of the best selling hoodia products on the market, have had nine different hoodia products tested at their own expense. Chemical testing is an expensive process, costing around $800, so testing of every hoodia product on the market has not been possible.

It is recommended that consumers who wish to avoid fake hoodia diet pills look for certification from hoodia gordonii.co.za or independent testing by a pharmaceutical laboratory which confirms the presence of hoodia gordonii. You can view sample chemical analysis reports at Desert Burn or hoodia gordonii plus websites. The best selling hoodia products will have analytical reports available for inspection. Importation licenses may not be enough.

The governments of South Africa have reported concerns that current suppliers may not be providing genuine hoodia gordonii to exporters. It is apparently difficult to distinguish hoodia gordonii from other species of the plant. Some of the fake hoodia diet pills may have purchased what they believed to be genuine hoodia gordonii, but without laboratory analysis, there is no real guarantee that what they are selling is genuine. Another problem is price.

The best selling hoodia products may seem expensive, but as of March 2006, hoodia gordonii was selling for about $40 per ounce. Many of the companies which have been accused of selling fake hoodia diet pills have a small amount of genuine hoodia gordonii present in their formula. But, in order to cut costs, the hoodia gordonii has been mixed with other natural appetite suppressants, leaving negligible amounts of actual hoodia gordonii present. When you know the facts, it is easy to see why the best selling hoodia products cost more and the fake hoodia diet pills cost less.

Another way to avoid the fake hoodia diet pills is to read their advertising. If they make outrageous claims about hoodia, then they may be trying to rip you off. The best selling hoodia products will advise you that hoodia gordonii is simply an appetite suppressant and is only one part of a weight loss plan which should include diet and exercise. People who have tried the best selling hoodia products have reported that they do not even think about food. People who have tried the fake hoodia diet pills have reported no effect on their appetites.

Hoodia Warnings
Although there are no known hoodia diet product side effects, products which do not contain 100% hoodia gordonii may cause side effects. The only relevant hoodia warnings concern customer satisfaction. Every company claims to carry the best hoodia gordonii, the most pure hoodia gordonii and the most effective hoodia gordonii. Then they warn customers about their competitors.

There are published hoodia warnings which state that some products have been independently tested and do not contain genuine hoodia gordonii. But if you do a little investigative work, you will find that those products have laboratory tests that seem to support their claims. Who is telling the truth here? It’s hard to say.

The only known hoodia diet product side effects are thirst suppression and appetite suppression, which is what it is supposed to do anyway. There are customer comments stating that Brand X did not work for them, while Brand Y did, but who knows whether these comments can be trusted. There have been reports from customers of hoodia diet product side effects relating to stomach upset, but at this time there are no clinical studies which support or contradict these complaints.

If you are looking for US government hoodia warnings, then you will not find any. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends that consumers evaluate all diet products with a “healthy portion of skepticism”. The FTC investigates complaints against health supplement as well as other companies. At this time they have not reported any complaints about hoodia products specifically. There are several pending class action suits against products which claim to contain hoodia gordonii. These suits are not concerned with hoodia diet product side effects, but the possible absence of hoodia gordonii in the products.

Since there are no hoodia warnings that may not be suspect and there are no known hoodia diet product side effects, the best advice for dieters at this time is to read and fully understand a company’s guarantee before you buy the product. That way, if it does not work for you, you may not lose weight, but you will not lose money either.

FAQ: Is hoodia a good diet aide?
Is hoodia a good diet aide? If hoodia success is measured by the number of people who report positive results then hoodia is a good diet aide for about 50-60% of the people who have tried it. As with other appetite suppressants and health supplements, results vary.

Will hoodia alone help me lose weight? Although the answer to the question “is hoodia a good diet aide” may be yes for many people, hoodia gordonii is only an appetite suppressant. It must be used as part of a complete weight loss program.

Is hoodia a good diet aide for someone with a medical condition? No studies have been completed relating to hoodia success when used by people with existing medical conditions. All clinical studies by Phytopharm have included volunteers who were in relatively good health, except for being overweight.

Have clinical studies of possible side effects related to hoodia use been completed? As of May of 2006, Phytopharm has not completed clinical studies of the extract of hoodia gordonii that they will be releasing with Unilever.

Does hoodia have any known side effects? There are no known side effects caused by the use of hoodia gordonii, but products which contain other herbs or plant extracts may cause side effects in some people.

Is hoodia a good diet aide when compared to other appetite suppressants? Most appetite suppressants are stimulants, either natural or synthetic. Stimulants can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure. Stimulants are not “fat burners” though some companies advertise them as such. Those who have reported hoodia success do not report any of the side effects associated with stimulants. They only report that they did not feel hungry or even think about food.

Is hoodia a good diet aide if I am pregnant or nursing? Hoodia gordonii should not be used by women who are pregnant or nursing.

Is hoodia a good diet aide for children who are overweight? Hoodia gordonii should not be used by anyone under the age of 18.

Is there a difference between the hoodia gordonii products that are currently on the market and the product that will be released by Phytopharm? We do not really know the answer to that question at this time. While all hoodia success in formal clinical studies has been at Phytopharm and Phytopharm maintains that there product will be superior, there have been informal clinical studies which reported hoodia success, performed by interested physicians, using products that are currently on the market.

Is hoodia a good diet aide for people who cannot take “pills”? For those people who have trouble swallowing pills, there are liquid hoodia products. Most appetite suppressants are not available in liquid form. The reported hoodia success among users of liquid hoodia is about the same as that reported by those who have used the tablets.