Hoodia is a cactus-like plant that grows in Angola, Botswana, Namibia and the South African deserts. Hoodia is becoming popular as a weight loss aid. Demand for diet pills has always been strong and with the ban on ephedra the market was ripe for the next best diet pill. Hoodia has become popular from the claims that the San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert has used Hoodia for thousands of years during hunting trips to ward off hunger and thirst. The Bushmen cut off the stems and ate the bitter-tasting plant. The steroidal glycoside named “P57” is the only active ingredient that has been identified to help in appetite suppression. There are over thirteen species of Hoodia but Hoodia gordonii is the only one thought to contain P57.

A Dutch anthropologist studying the San Bushmen in 1937 found that they used Hoodia gordonii to suppress their appetites. In 1963 South Africa’s national lab, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, began to study Hoodia. They found that after taking Hoodia gordonii lab animals lost weight. These scientists worked with Phytopharm, a British company, and isolated what they believed to be the active ingredient. They obtained a patent in 1995, which licensed P57 to Phytopharm. Over $20 million has been spent of research. Pfizer, a pharmaceutical giant, learned about Hoodia and wanted to develop a Hoodia drug. Eventually Pfizer returned the rights to Phytopharm who is now working with Unilever.

Leslie Stahl of 60 Minutes traveled to Africa with a crew to try Hoodia. She hired local Bushmen and went with them into the desert to find the Hoodia plant. Ms. Stahl ate it and said it had a “cucumbery texture”. Ms. Stahl reported losing the desire to eat and drink for the entire day. She also did not report and side effects to include heart palpitations or indigestion. There have not been any controlled human trails to prove hoodia’s effects or to show that it is safe or effective in pill form. Phytopharm sites an unpublished study where 18 individual volunteers reduced their caloric intake by about 1000 calories while taking Hoodia.

You can find Hoodia Gordonii in capsule, liquid, powder or tea form in health food stores as well as on the internet. Trimspa also contains Hoodia. When purchasing Hoodia you will want to know if you are getting pure Hoodia. A product has to be tested by an independent lab in order know if it contains the active ingredient.

Remember Hoodia works on suppressing your apetite. It sends a signal to your brain that indicates you are full. If you have an overeating problem where you eat when you are not hungry Hoodia will not work for you. When beginning any weight loss program be sure to consult with your physician. She can determine if your over weight condition could be helped with a product like Hoodia. You don’t want to waste your time and money if you weight is due to a medical condition that needs treatment.

By Matthew Constantin, PhD (biochemist)  

More than 1 billion adults are overweight globally, at least 300 million of them being obese. The epidemic proportions of this disease have increased the frequency of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke and certain forms of cancer. A 2009 study by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, which was based on data collected in 2006, found that the cost of obesity is $147 billion annually. 

An Undeniable Truth: Hoodia Works, At Least For Some

The use of appetite suppressants is a promising approach to slowing the rate of increase for obesity in the US.  Being a natural, and as far as we know safe, appetite-suppressant, Hoodia gordonii has sparked a great interest among the general population and commercial companies worldwide. More than 20 international patent applications on Hoodia gordonii have been registered, while numerous Hoodia-containing products are currently on the market. 

Studies have attributed the satiety enhancing properties of Hoodia to an oxypregane glucoside known as P57, the only reported active constituent from this plant [1]. Experiments in rats have demonstrated that the possible mechanism of action of this active ingredient involves the hypothalamus. This part of the central nervous system is well known for its role in the control of hunger and eating. The P57 molecule has been postulated to affect the hypothalamus neurons that regulate food intake of the body. In these experiments, rats that were administered P57 directly to their brains, by means of intra-cerebro-ventricular injections (direct injections to the brain), presented anorectic activity and consumed less food.  

As far as safety is concerned, animal studies do not demonstrate any deleterious effects. Short-term studies in humans conducted by Phytofarm showed that the plant extract was well tolerated. In addition, consumer reports of safety problems and side effects from consumption of pure hoodia have been hardly any, since the plant entered the market several years ago. Finally, the long association of Hoodia with the Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert – the holders of the traditional knowledge – argues against any health threatening effects resulting from its use.  

An Anticipated Problem: Most Hoodia Products Are Adulterated

Hoodia is a native plant of Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. As an indigenous plant it does not grow in any other region. Moreover, it is listed as an endangered species and its export out of South Africa is strictly controlled by the South African government and CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species). Not only is genuine Hoodia rare, it takes 5 or more years to fully mature before it develops the critical P57 molecules at concentrations adequate for commercial exploitation; and even when the plant reaches maturity, it can only be harvested every second or third year in order to ensure long-term sustainability. 

At the same time, the demand for weight loss products containing H. gordonii is rising. Currently, more than 100 products are marketed in the US in these forms: tablet, capsule, liquid gels, liquid tinctures, juice, snack or fruit bars, Hoodia powders, Hoodia lollipops, protein shakes, Hoodia tea and coffee. As worldwide great interest in Hoodia has created an overwhelming demand, this precious commodity is now facing extreme shortages. 

Because the supply of authentic H. gordonii cannot match the pressing requirement for Hoodia products, the alteration of the product by other inactive species becomes an undesired but predicted possibility. In fact, a peer-reviewed study by Dr Avula, conducted at the University of Mississippi in 2008, analyzed 35 dietary supplements that claim to contain pure H. gordonii and found that only 9 of them had detectable amounts of the active ingredient P57 [2].  This represents a 75% adulteration rate!  

That being said, the fake Hoodia market represents one of the most corrupt and deceptive markets in the natural health industry. However, there are companies that are honest, have integrity and make a genuine effort to purchase authentic hoodia. These companies are working diligently to provide the real thing to their customers through their nutritional supplements. How do you recognize these legitimate companies?  

A Viable Solution – The Certificates and Laboratory Tests

How can you avoid buying fake Hoodia? There is a number of authenticity certifications that genuine Hoodia is always accompanied with. First of all, you should look for the CITES certificate. This document shows whether the company has an official permit to export Hoodia from Africa. In other words, it certifies that the Hoodia used for the specific product is the indigenous plant and has been legally exported by South Africa. Genuine Hoodia cannot be exported out of South Africa without this certificate. 

Second, you should look for independent laboratory tests. As mentioned before, adulteration of products claiming to contain H. gordonii has become a common practice. Therefore, developing authentication techniques that can analyze a Hoodia product is crucial for determining product validity and safety. A number of companies that specialize in phytochemical analysis have undertaken this task. A reputable one, that is the supplier of independent Hoodia lab tests for the overwhelming majority of Hoodia providers, is Alkemist Pharmaceuticals. This company offers a very effective analytical approach that combines three distinctive testing protocols for Hoodia. This approach follows the guidelines by the American Herbal Products Association for identification and determination of purity of powdered raw materials labeled as Hoodia gordonii stems. 

Characterization Method 1 – Microscopic Analysis

The parts of the Hoodia plant that have anti-obesity effects are those that are above the ground, called aerial parts.  A qualified microscopist trained in analyzing Hoodia aerial parts can use this technique to identify the presence of components that are NOT characteristic of Hoodia species. For example, microscopy is able to reveal the presence of Opuntia species added to Hoodia gordonii powder, a common method of adulteration. Also, the presence of maltodextrin, a polysaccharide that is used as a food additive, can be detected reliably with microscopic observation.  

However, while this method can identify the presence of foreign material, it cannot be used as the only procedure to positively identify Hoodia gordonii stems. This is because microscopy cannot reliably differentiate Hoodia gordonii from other related species that are structurally similar, such as Caralluma fimbriata. When you look at a microscopic analysis certificate, you want to make sure it says the following or something similar to, “The test sample is characteristic of Hoodia gordonii aerial part”. 

Characterization Method 2 –Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

TLC is a very powerful tool for identification of the presence of genuine Hoodia gordonii. Each plant, whether it is hoodia or a different type of plant, is a mixture of chemical compounds. When this mixture is analyzed by TLC, a very distinctive visual profile of separation is obtained, which is known as “chemical fingerprint”.  When comparing the TLC profile of a material known to be hoodia, also called voucher specimen, with one whose authenticity is being questioned, then the two fingerprint profiles must be the same in order for the tested material to be called authentic. Therefore, when you look at a TLC certificate, you want to make sure it reads, “Hoodia gordonii, authenticated by TLC studies, matches the voucher specimen held at Alkemists Pharmaceuticals.” 

Characterization Method 3 – High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

As mentioned above, the only active ingredient of Hoodia that has been identified so far is a molecule called P57.  Hoodia products that do not have this constituent are not supposed to have any weight loss effects. HPLC is a technique used by chemists for the isolation and identification of a specific compound contained in a mixture of substances. In the case of Hoodia, HPLC is used to verify the existence of P57. This is achieved by  extracting the chemical substances contained in Hoodia stems and inserting them in a tube, known as chromatographic column, where high pressure is applied in one end. The chemical compounds move along this tube toward the other end at different speeds as a result of their unique chemical properties. Therefore, each compound will reach the end of the tube at a time that reflects its unique chemical nature. P57 has its own “exit” time. If a test material does not contain P57, no compound will exit the tube at the expected “P57 exit time”. On the other hand, if P57 is present, it will be detected as it exits the column at its own specific time. Therefore when you look at a HPLC certificate you want to make sure it reads: “Analyte P57 has been detected” 

Closing Thoughts 

Both real life experience as well as a small but considerable amount of scientific evidence show that H. gordonii is a safe natural supplement with unique anorectic properties. The fact is that more than half of the products appearing on the internet or your local health food store claiming to contain authentic Hoodia are fake – intentionally or not. Therefore, when you consider buying a Hoodia product, always make sure that it is accompanied by up-to-date independent testing certificates. Of course, copying, photoshopping and reproducing fake Hoodia certificates is a sad and risky reality that cannot be avoided.  

Some Hoodia brands which have been tested and have been found to be authentic (recommended by About.com and Mike Adams – the health ranger) are Hoodia Desert, Hoodoba and Hoodia Hoodia.  

Hoodia has long ago joined the club of the best rated weight loss diets  and its demand has surpassed that for Medifast diet coupons and Nutrisystem coupon discounts. Yet, when using Hoodia as a weight loss pill, you need to remember what Dr Frankie Phillips – spokesperson for the British Diatetic Association – said, “appetite suppressants are not a magic bullet, should not be taken in isolation or seen as an alternative to a healthy lifestyle”. 

References

1. MacLean DB, Luo L-G. Increased ATP content/production in the hypothalamus may be a signal for energy-sensing of satiety: studies of the anorectic mechanism of a plant steroidal glycoside. Brain Res 2004;1020:1–11.

2. Bharathi Avula, Yan-Hong Wang, Rahul S. Pawar, Yatin J. Shukla, Troy J. Smillie, Ikhlas A. Khan. A rapid method for chemical fingerprint analysis of Hoodia species related genera, and dietary supplements using UPLC-UV-MS. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2008 Nov 4;48(3):722-31 

Matthew Constantin is a biochemist who has worked extensively with Hoodia specimens. He enjoys writing articles that offer  insight on often confusing topics.

If you have been trying to lose weight and have heard about Hoodia gordonii there are some things you should find out first. Hoodia is not a diet pill it is an appetite suppressant. Hoodia may have a valid place in your weight loss plan if you use it appropriately. If you have bad diet habits, an overeating problem, or eat when you are not hungry Hoodia will not work for you. Hoodia does not burn fat or build muscles. Muscles burn fat and the more muscles you have the more fat you will burn. So, if you diet, exercise and use Hoodia to help decrease your appetite you will be successful in your weight loss program. Hoodia has been in use by the bushmen in Africa for thousands of years to suppress their appetites on long hunting trips.

If you have chosen to use Hoodia in your weight loss program you want to be sure you have the best Hoodia product available to you. Look for products that contain pure Hoodia and you can find these in stores that are certified. Look for products that contain a minimum of 200 mg of Hoodia. Ask the store for documentation or certificated proving that their Hoodia products are authentic. Be sure that there is a money back guarantee. There are good products from South Africa and Hoodia teas that have as much as 750 mg of Hoodia. Some products combine Hoodia with green tea that may enhance the effects for weight loss. Be wary of buying from some online sites and off ebay as these products are sometimes fake.

One way to try Hoodia is through the Hoodia Patch which releases the herb gradually through the skin. Hoodia bypasses the digestive system and is absorbed into your blood stream through the skin. Results are generally faster slimming that with ordinary diet pills. It works by regulating the amount of glucose that is released into the blood stream when you eat. The chemical content is transmitted to the brain indicating that you have ingested all the carbohydrates you require. When you eat even a small amount of food Hoodia gordonii makes you less interested in eating. You place the patch on your shoulder, arms or thigh where there is not a lot of hair. The effects can last for up to twenty-four hours. Remove and replace the patch every twenty-four hours placing it on a different area of skin. It is recommended that you drink a minimum of eight ounces of water a day to flush out toxins as well as eating lots of fruits and vegetables.

With Hoodia it is also recommended that you take a mineral and vitamin supplement to ensure a balanced diet. Be sure to drink plenty of water even if you do not feel thirsty as Hoodia suppresses your thirst as well as your appetite making dehydration a possibility if you are not careful. With a good diet, exercise and Hoodia gordinii in the method of your choice you can see the results in a matter of time.

Hoodia’s appetite suppressant qualities have been understood by the San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert for thousands of years. The San Bushmen use Hoodia, when they track antelope through persistent hunting of the animal to exhaustion. They take advantage of its hunger and thirst suppressant qualities during these long hunting trips. A cactus-like plant grows in Angola, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa’s semi-desert regions. Resembling a cactus, Hoodia is a succulent plant. Harvesting takes five years when its pale, purple flowers appear.

Of the thirteen varieties of Hoodia, only Hoodia gordonii contains p57, a steroidal glycoside, which is its active ingredient. In 1995 Phytopharm, a British company, who has spent over $20 million on research, patented p57. Pfizer, in 1998, negotiated with Phytopharm for $21 million to develop p57. Rights to Hoodia have been returned to Phytopharm and Unilever is now working on developing Hoodia.

Correspondent Leslie Stahl working with 60 Minutes traveled to Africa and went into the desert with Bushmen to find Hoodia. Ms. Stahl ate it and reported the loss of appetite and desire to drink for an entire day. She reported no side effects and said it did not taste bad and had the texture of a cucumber.

With the great demand for diet pills and after the ban of ephedra, the market is anticipating the next new miracle weight loss drug. Hoodia is becoming more and more popular and heavy marketing has begun. Trimspa is a popular diet pill that contains Hoodia. You can find it in capsule, liquid, powder or tea forms on the internet and in health food stores.

Studies have shown that p57 in rats may have an affect on hunger. No studies or trials have been published that have used human subjects to demonstrate hoodia’s effectiveness or safety. Phytopharm states than in a trial using 18 human volunteers, their caloric intake was reduced by 1000 calories a day compared to the placebo group. This study was never published nor was it reviewed by an objective source.

As with all diet pills, you should be aware that there is no miracle that will melt off your weight. Diet pills can help you loose weight if you use them correctly. Hoodia only suppresses your appetite. It does not address your overeating issues or correct your bad diet habits. If you are a person with bad diet habits and eats when you are not hungry, Hoodia will not help you at all.

Hoodia does not burn fat or build muscles. To burn fat you must raise your metabolism through exercise. When your metabolism gets into gear you will build muscles. To have success with Hoodia you need to incorporate it with a diet and exercise program. Many people have had great success with Hoodia and you can too, if you keep your expectations in perspective and realistic. Success has been achieved through the use of Hoodia, a healthy diet and regular exercise. A miracle pill will not loose your weight for you – you do have to work to lose it.

Hoodia gordonii has been one of the most famous and widely-known medicinal plants in the African region. It is a leafless spiny succulent plant—a close relative of common cactuses. Succulent plants, also known as succulents or fat plants are water-retaining plants adapted to dry climate or soil conditions. This plant grows naturally in Namibia and South Africa. Its flowers have a smell similar to a rotten meat, thus, pollination of these plants are mainly by flies as most other insects that help in pollination are put off by the plant’s putrid smell. The smell also functions as the plant’s defense system against animal and insect attacks.

It is currently gaining fame for its appetite suppressing function. Though there have been challenges in perfecting the process, this has never stopped pharmaceutical companies in developing processes which will enable the active ingredients to pass thru the brain (specifically, the hypothalamus) so it can work its appetite suppressing function. The difficulty was mainly because the liver breaks down the active ingredients and will not be able to go thru the bloodstream and will not reach the brain. Though the broken down particles are still beneficial to one’s health, the main function and purpose of the supplement was never achieved.

In 1977, the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was able to isolate the ingredient which is responsible for the suppressing one’s appetite. This active ingredient is now called P57. This was patented 19 years after. The following years, CSIR granted Phytopharm (a United Kingdom based company) a license to harvest hoodia gordonii from the country. The plant, is one of the species of plants that are threatened with extinction. Thus, the reason for the regulation of wild-harvesting the plan in the country.

This plant is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) as an endangered plant species and is illegal to be exported from Africa without a CITES certificate being issued by proper authorities.

Phytopharm then collaborated with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer in working to isolate the active ingredient for the extracts and to produce the ingredient synthetically for use as an appetite suppressant. In the year 2002, Pfizer then released the rights to the primary ingredient.

Currently, the active ingredient is readily available to other pharmaceutical companies that produce food supplements and appetite suppressants. And there have been many who have benefited from the effects given by the active ingredient derived from hoodia gordonii. These food supplements were used as an aid in their current weight loss plan to optimize their diet and even complement their weight loss exercise plans. The supplement is now available in different forms such as capsules, tables, powders, tea, coffee, liquid tinctures and even in bars.

Issues and concerns about taking Hoodia Gordonii as their diet pills became an issue for some medically elated groups of people nowadays. It has been said that Hoodia Gordonii is a natural made diet pills that would only aide in suppressing one’s appetite to control gaining of weight. But on the other hand, some doctors and medical practitioners are very concern with their clients who has been taking this diet pill without consulting a doctor, for reasons that Hoodia Gordonii may affect the changes of activity in their body, especially with one’s who have instability or imbalances in their body.

A certain study shows that taking Hoodia Gordonii as diet pill should be consulted to the physician before taking it. Though, we can buy Hoodia Gordonii in its availability, we can buy and order  Hoodia  Gordonii online, in pharmacies, store that sells health products and manufacturers itself without prescription from the physician.

There are facts and important information that Hoodia Gordonii consumers should know that touches medical issues and concerns. Taking any diet pills like Hoodia Gordonii should be consulted to the physician for some important reasons.  First, if you have diabetes disease or having a difficulty in stabilizing your sugar level in the body, taking this pill might deter the stabilization of your sugar level because it primarily controls your food intake and thus affects your sugar intake as well. Another is, if you have an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, taking this pill might worsen the disorder itself considering that Hoodia Gordonii interrupts and controls your food intake as of the disorder, in this way you may suffer from Hypoglycemia. Furthermore, one of issues that the Hoodia Gordonii studies have not shown is the effect on cardiovascular activity. If you have any heart problems or if you’re taking heart medicines, diet pills like Hoodia Gordonii contains appetite suppressant which is a stimulant that triggers in increasing your heart rate, thus it may affect your heart activity. In addition, as a suppressant Hoodia Gordonii is also a thirst suppressant, letting not to feel being thirst, that may also lead to dehydration if taken for granted by some who takes the diet pill.

Therefore, taking any Hoodia Gordonii, is not just a one step to take. Furthermore, there is still no medical claims that people with instability in their health are prohibited to take diet pills like Hoodia Gordonii, instead this is for a consultation of the right dosage. To achieve a desired effect in a healthy and safer way, aside from a healthy diet, an exercise regimen and self-discipline, before taking any diet pills like Hoodia Gordonii, consulting a doctor is very much encouraged.

Hoodia Gordonii is a succulent plant from the Kalahari desert, home of the San People.Hoodia Gordonii is becoming rare and hard to get! Yes that’s right! You may just be knowledge about this extremely wonderful diet plant and now it is selling out all over the world.

Hoodia Gordonii is a serious weight loss pill. Health investigations have discovered.Hoodia Gordonii is a natural appetite suppressant taken from a cactus plant. It is gaining extensive popularity as the strongest potential weight loss pill ever developed.

Hoodia Gordonii is a leafless, pointed succulent cactus that grows naturally in South Africa and is now being farm raised there over hundreds of acres. There are over 40 species of Hoodia but only 2 that contain enough of the appetite suppressant known by some as P 57 to be of any value.

Customers should also check if they buy Hoodia Gordonii product contains the right amount for quick fat burning, any additional benefits like extra mineral or vitamin power and what is the recommended daily dosage frequency. They should also confirm whether their Hoodia Gordonii supplement is from a licensed source, like only South African hoodia has natural and pure weight loss properties (there are a lot of scams in the herbal weight loss market today, so customers need to be careful of fake Hoodia on sale).

Hoodia does not neutralize the blood sugar drops occurring from eating refined carbohydrates like soft drinks, cookies, white bread, white rice and other simple carbohydrates. Hoodia gets overpowered by heavy weight lifting workouts. If you are strength training, Gordonii probably won’t work well.

If you buy Hoodia, have realistic expectations about what will really be necessary to lose weight. It simply tricks the brain into thinking you are full. The thought is that if you feel full, you’ll eat less. Thus, you’ll lose weight. In reality, the plant only erase most of your appetite and hunger pains so you can eat less calories without stress all day. Hoodia is so strong it actually takes away your thirst as well.

Keep in mind if you keep eating like you always have, you’re going to gain weight.But it does hold back your hunger, it allows you to take control over your eating routine. The only way you’re going to lose weight is to eat less. Hoodia, in large enough doses, helps you do that, freeing you from hunger.

Don’t over dose on Hoodia. If you take ten pills or drink a whole bottle of Hoodia juice, you will just make yourself sick and waste your money. Lose weight gradually. Drink lots of water, exercise regularly, skip refined carbs, and take Hoodia in reasonable doses.Hoodia is not a drug. Be smart. If you buy the right kind it is all natural dietary supplement

Hoodia is now specialized with protected species status by the South African Nature Conservation. This cactus is now being grown in sustainable quantities and has become widely known for its effects as an appetite suppressant: remember the name Hoodia Gordonii.

Hoodia is identified to be a brilliant plant which has distinctive properties that resembles a flowering cactus. The product curbs your appetite. Hoodia is a fashionable health supplement that is available in almost every food store in North America.

The best Hoodia products do not burn fat. In this way, you never have to be anxious about going back to the way you were facing, and give in to temptation of food. You only eat what is enough to maintain you. Only the best Hoodia products will guarantee you of your idyllic weight.

Hoodia has become so trendy today that more and more people who suffer from excess weight hope that this product is right for them. They need a comprehensive guide that will tell them about all the benefits of Hoodia before using it. If you are going to buy Hoodia product, make sure that there is an equivalent amount of the active P.57 molecule in each capsule or tablet. For the best results, order a Hoodia product that provides you with 400 mg to 1,000 mg per capsule, tablet, or per liquid serving.

One example of accredited Hoodia products would be the Liquid Hoodia that boasts of a faster absorption rate because of its form. You still have to make sure it is a certified Hoodia product and contains 100% natural hoodia gordonii extract.

If you are serious about weight loss, you should find out for the best Hoodia product. Real Hoodia is an efficient appetite suppressant. Once you have your appetite under manage, you also  lose weight. It should be noted that the Hoodia products could not be labeled as apetite suppressors but they could be named as 100 percent Hoodia or as food supplement. This is to make the customer understand about it and also to recognize themselves.

If you distinguish the power of Hoodia, you would wish for only the best Hoodia product. You get only the best when it comes to Hoodia weight loss solutions. Unfortunately, the best might not be that easy to find any longer. Since the attractiveness of Hoodia, many fake Hoodia products have crept into the marketplace to cheat money of people. If you wish for only the best, you should obtain the significant product of accuracy.

A lot of products declare to be the best Hoodia product. This is why many customers end up confused and unsure about which product to purchase. It seems that many manufacturers only desire to cash in on the fame of Hoodia. If you aren’t attentive, you could end up buying a false Hoodia product that will not do whatever thing to help you lose weight.

Here’s how you locate only real authentic and the finest Hoodia.

You are still a long way from finding the best Hoodia product. This is still if you find reliable Hoodia products. A variety of reliable products have different levels of efficiency and distinction. If you really want to get the most, you should discover from customers themselves what truly works. You can find customer reviews from manufactured goods. Some users may also be capable to suggest buying the good Hoodia.

Have you noticed the hoodia Oprah connection as you’ve browsed around the Internet for information on hoodia diet pills? With the exception of those listed on my best rated hoodia page, it seems as if every website that sells or promotes hoodia supplements implies there is a connection with Oprah Winfrey and hoodia.

As an example, one site selling hoodia proclaims, “Oprah recommended” and still another says, “As seen on Oprah.” My personal favorite, though, is a website that claims to be the definitive guide on hoodia. On the top of one of the pages it says, “FACT: Hoodia is the ONLY diet pill in history to be featured on Oprah, CBS the Today Show, 60 Minutes, MSNBC, and the BBC.”

After reading about this supposed hoodia Oprah connection for over a year now, I thought I’d do some digging to see what the actual connection was between Oprah Winfrey and hoodia. Even though many sites proclaim hoodia was featured on Oprah, I couldn’t find any proof of that.

Many websites also claimed that Oprah supposedly featured hoodia in her magazine, O. Some sites even suggested that she endorsed a specific brand of hoodia. Through my research, I learned that hoodia gordonii was indeed mentioned in her magazine in the July 2005 issue. The article was titled, “Diet Pills: The Next Generation.”

I went to Oprah Winfrey’s website to see if the article was archived but it wasn’t. I searched high and low for the specific article to see if there was a copy of it anywhere on the Internet but I couldn’t find anything. I finally coughed up a few dollars and ordered the issue on eBay. Sure I could have gone to the library, but who does that anymore?

Quite frankly, I’m amazed that Oprah’s people haven’t come down on these websites for misrepresenting Oprah and her magazine. I wonder if the writer, or the editors for that matter, ever imagined that one simple article would be used as an endorsement for hoodia diet pills.

For starters, the article wasn’t even written by Oprah. It was written by Mary A Fischer. Now most of you are probably thinking the fact that it appeared in her magazine must mean she endorses it to some degree. I would agree with you if the article was a ringing endorsement of hoodia diet pills, but it wasn’t.

The article begins with a large close up of a San tribe member with a piece of hoodia plant in his hand. At first glance, I immediately assumed the entire article was going to be about hoodia. Boy was I wrong!

I hope Oprah and her legal department are o.k. with this. The following two paragraphs appeared in the July 2005 issue of Oprah’s magazine, O. It is found on page 103 of the issue. Here are the first two paragraphs copied word for word. Please note the bold text:

Believe it or not, that’s all the article says about hoodia! The rest of the article, which is equivalent to two full pages of text, is about diet drugs (not supplements) and how pharmaceutical companies are racing to come up with the next big diet drug.

I was so surprised over the reality of this article and the supposed hoodia Oprah connection, I had to read it a couple times to make sure I wasn’t missing anything. Hoodia was in fact only mentioned in the first two paragraphs. The article didn’t endorse hoodia and it certainly didn’t endorse a specific brand of hoodia diet pills. In fact, the writer states there is little proof hoodia supplements work!

The next time you see a hoodia website that claims Oprah endorses hoodia or that their brand of hoodia was featured in Oprah’s magazine, you’ll know the real story about the supposed hoodia Oprah connection.

[tags]hoodia, oprah, hoodia gordonii, oprah winfrey, diet pills, diet supplements, weight loss[/tags]

In one of my previous articles I outlined the thirteen things to look for when you buy hoodia to prevent getting scammed. One of the important things I highlighted in that article was the CITES certificate. If you do any research online you’ll read about the importance of the CITES certificate and how this simple document can go a long way in proving that what you are buying is authentic.

To help me with this article, I turned to the good folks from Hoodia Hoodia. As one of the largest importers of hoodia gordonii in the world, they have the inside track and a full understanding of the CITES. They were kind enough to give me the information I needed to put this article together.

The hoodia gordonii plant is currently found in only five countries: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and parts of North America (California and Arizona). The only international markets that have been open to buyers and exporters, however, have been South Africa and Namibia (as of 2007). The hoodia gordonii plant is scarce – so much so that it is classified as an endangered species. In an effort to protect the plant from extinction, various controls and regulations were put in place regarding the harvesting and exporting of hoodia gordonii.

On of those controls was the CITES certificate. CITES, which stand for, “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,” is an international agreement between governments. The aim of this agreement is to protect endangered species and to ensure that international trade does not threaten their survival.

Before any company can export hoodia gordonii from South Africa they must obtain a CITES certificate. These certificates are valid for six months. If the hoodia gordonii isn’t exported within that time frame, the company must reapply for another one before it can legally export the hoodia gordonii from South Africa. Every shipment of hoodia gordonii that leaves the ports in South Africa must be accompanied by a CITES.

This is an important point to remember because some consumers make the mistake of assuming that in order for a CITES to be valid, the date shown on the certificate must be current. If the date on the CITES is several months old, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is invalid or “fake.” It could simply mean that the company exporting the hoodia was slow to get it shipped and brought to market, or had a large shipment that will last many months – or a combination of both. Let me explain:

Remember I said that every shipment of hoodia gordonii from South Africa must be accompanied by a CITES. Furthermore, I said that companies have six months from the time they are issued a CITES to export their shipment. Some companies may wait until the sixth month before they ship their hoodia. In this case, the CITES certificate would already be “six months old” before the hoodia gordonii leaves the ports! In addition, a shipment may contain several thousand kilograms of hoodia gordonii that may take several months to sell. Since the CITES stays with the original shipment, the date on the CITES certificate could be a year old or more!

As you spot CITES certificates on the websites of companies selling hoodia, keep these points in mind. The date on the certificate may be several months old but that doesn’t mean anything. In most instances, the CITES is still valid and still provides concrete proof that the company uses authentic hoodia gordonii in their product. Now, how much they specifically use in their products is another issue all together, but nonetheless, it still proves they use at least some authentic hoodia gordonii.

For example, you may be interested in buying a hoodia supplement from “Harry’s Hoodia.” You go to their website and you view their CITES certificate. Everything checks out except you notice the company name shown on the CITES is a company called, “Hoodia Brokers Inc.” You immediately start to question the validity of the CITES because after all, shouldn’t the company listed on the CITES be Harry’s Hoodia? Not necessarily.

There are only a handful of companies that are issued CITES to export hoodia gordonii from South Africa. Some of these companies are raw materials suppliers. All they do is export raw material, such as hoodia gordonii, and then resell it to supplement companies who use the materials in their products. In my example, Hoodia Brokers Inc. would be a raw materials supplier. They were the company that applied for the CITES and actually exported the hoodia from South Africa. They in turn sold their shipment of hoodia to Harry’s Hoodia. That is why the name on the CITES certificate isn’t the same name as the company actually selling the end product.

It is very common in the supplement industry to have raw material suppliers who buy raw material and then resell it to supplement companies. Don’t assume that a CITES is pirated or fake if the name listed on it isn’t the same as the name of the company selling the end product. The company you are buying from in most instances is just displaying the CITES that was issued to the raw materials supplier they purchased their hoodia from.

Since hoodia diet pills are classified as supplements, they are not regulated. Companies have a lot of leeway in what claims they can make. For example, you may be interested in a hoodia diet pill that supposedly contains 500mg of authentic hoodia gordonii per capsule. You go to the company’s website and sure enough, they display a CITES certificate. You assume their hoodia supplement contains 500mg of authentic hoodia gordonii. That would be great if that were true all the time, but it might not necessarily be the case.

Once the supply is exported, the supplier and any company purchasing hoodia from the supplier can do what they want with the hoodia gordonii. A company can claim they sell an authentic 500mg hoodia gordonii capsule supplement. They may even have a CITES to prove they use authentic hoodia gordonii. However, how much hoodia gordonii is actually used in the product is totally up to the company’s discretion. It is for this reason alone you also want to look for independent lab test results. Only a scientific test can determine how much authentic hoodia gordonii is actually used in a given hoodia supplement.

This article gives a basic understanding of the CITES and its role in the hoodia trade. You now know why they are important to look for when buying hoodia to avoid being scammed!

[tags]hoodia, hoodia gordonii, hoodia diet pills, diet pills, diet supplements, cites[/tags]