Hoodia is a genus name for 13 species of cactus, one of them is the famous Hoodia Gordonii, which is believed to be the most potential ingredient for weight loss because it can help you suppress your appetite.
Hoodia gordonii is a leafless spiny succulent plant with medicinal uses. It grows naturally in South Africa and Namibia. Hoodia Gordonii has been used by the tribe in the Kalahari Desert as an appetite suppressant in their long journey to hunt food.
In 1977, South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) isolated the ingredient in hoodia—now known as P57—which is responsible for its appetite-suppressant effect
Hoodia Gordonii work by fooling your brain thinking that you are full which you are not.
Hoodia gordonii is sold in capsule, powder, liquid, or tea form in health food stores and on the Internet
The first media that expose this Hoodia Gordonii as an appetite suppressant is the BBC in 2003 then the second media exposure on 21 November 2004, 60 minute air a report the effect of this Hoodia Gordonii as a natural appetite suppressant.
Since these media exposure, Hoodia Gordonii has never been the same again. Once Hoodia Gordonii priced only at $13 per kilogram, nowadays the price climate up to $250 per kilogram (2007) but in November 2008 the price came down to$130 per kilogram. Hoodia Gordonii demand has never been higher which make this plant at risk of extinction, that’s why for Hoodia based product they must need certificate such as C.I.T.E.S and USDA.
C.I.T.E.S (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) which make it illegal to export Hoodia Gordonii from Africa without a C.I.T.E.S certificate being issued by proper authorities.
In the USA there is USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) that regulate the importation and re-exportation Hoodia gordonii
Hoodia it self takes 5 year to make it mature and it take about 800-1200 mg of Hoodia Gordonii to make it an effective appetite suppressant, due to this and the regulation of CITES and USDA the cost for real Hoodia Gordonii is really expensive. This is what led to many fake Hoodia Gordonii pills in the market.
About 80% of the Hoodia Gordonii product in the market is counterfeit. Imagine that… 80% of the product in the market isn’t real Hoodia Gordonii, if you search in Google for diet pills or slimming pills there are many irresponsible marketer that promote fake Hoodia Gordonii, so be careful when choosing who’s to trust.
Now to prove it’s authenticity beside the certificate which are easily faked there are lab test to prove its authenticity. The lab test includes:
HPLC (Thin layer chromatography)
HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography
Microscopy /DPI (To prove there are real Hoodia in the product)
Direct assay of the active component, "P57"
Four independent labs that conducting tests to verify Hoodia gordonii in consumer products. They are: Advanced Laboratories, Inc., Alkemist Pharmaceuticals, Chromadex Labs, and the University of Mississippi.
The potential of Hoodia Gordonii it self has been exaggerated by Hoodia Gordonii pills company; there aren’t any published scientific evidence that Hoodia work as an appetite suppressant in human. Although there aren’t any scientific evidence on human (because the sample always on animal) there are hundred of testimonial and consumer that have good result on suppressing their appetite so we believe that Hoodia is highly potential to make you slim, this of course if you take real Hoodia Gordonii.
With all those fake Hoodia out there in the market is seem those who have tried fake Hoodia seem to make a bad name for Hoodia. If you have tried the Hoodia based ingredient product and doesn’t do anything for you then it is 70% chances that you are using fake Hoodia.
There are no side effects for those who have taken Hoodia gordonii, but there are thing that you should beware of, those who have diabetes can think that they have enough sugar level but it could be fooled, and you doesn’t have enough sugar level until it’s too late. Hoodia effect also affect thirst which could make you dehydrated, when using Hoodia based slimming pills make sure you drink water a lot even though you aren’t thirsty, just to be safe.
Bottom line:
Hoodia need 5 year to mature which make it expensive (if you find there are Cheap Hoodia pills then it is 99% it is a fake product)
80% Hoodia pills in the market are using fake Hoodia Gordonii so always check their authenticity by checking their CITES and USDA (for US company) and test lab that should have HPTLC, HPLC ,Microscopy DPI, direct assay of the active component, "P57". If the company couldn’t show you these then the product is certainly doubtful.
To make it easier for you to choose, we always check our Hoodia based slimming pills based on the criteria above to ensure that you have real Hoodia. And also if you are thinking of taking Hoodia slimming pills then make sure you read the guide line for using Appetite suppressant pills.
