The Real Deal: South African Hoodia

There are several species of hoodia plant, but the only species that has shown any promise in appetite suppression is hoodia gordonii, a rare and endangered succulent grown only in the Kalahari Desert in and around South Africa. Thus, only South African Hoodia is known to produce the desired effect.

Cost Cutting: Bypassing South African Hoodia

Pure South African hoodia requires a special permit for harvesting. In addition, the Sans tribe must be paid a percentage of the profits. This makes supplying hoodia in mass quantities a fairly expensive proposition. If manufacturers are to make a profit, something must be done to cultivate hoodia outside of its natural habitat. Unfortunately to date, the results have been less than positive.

Hoodia gordonii is a very difficult plant to grow. As it is a desert plant, its growth is very slow. It takes anywhere from two to seven years to produce a mature plant. As a result, supplies are low and those plants cultivated in China and the United States produce low or no amounts of P57, the chemical that causes appetite suppression. This means that only South African hoodia is even remotely effective.

This has not stopped companies from buying the cheaper and ineffective hoodia. In order to profit, they mislabel their products particularly the amount of hoodia in each capsule. They use filler ingredients to supplement the small amounts of hoodia they provide and they buy the inferior cultivated products and pass them off as the real South African hoodia.

Buyer Beware

If a person is looking for the genuine product, he needs to make sure that what he is getting is South African hoodia. One must read labels carefully and research companies through the Better Business Bureau and other industry watchdog groups. The information is available to aware consumers and it could make a difference in the wallet and in one’s health.

Also, if a company is found to be selling a fraudulent product, the proper agencies need to be informed. There are thousands of email scams that promise free samples, deeply discounted prices and highly inflated claims of effectiveness. It is probably good to remember that if something looks too good to be true it probably is.

Most people are desperate to lose weight in a society that pays attention to appearances. But buying products that may jeopardize one’s health only encourages fraud by those who can operate under the radar in an industry that has little regulation and a product that has yet to be verified as effective scientifically. If one is ready to take a risk, the best thing to do is get the safest product available and pay the extra for peace of mind. Making sure the product is South African hoodia is worth the price in the long run.

What Is Hoodia? Can It Help In The Battle To Lose Weight?

You’ve probably asked yourself that question if you’ve ever stood in the diet section of your local grocery store. Nearly every diet pill, drink and food has hoodia in it. You see it advertised everywhere. “Lose weight with Hoodia,” and, “Hoodia is the answer to those unwanted pounds.” But what exactly is Hoodia and how can it help in the struggle to lose weight, one of the hardest things you’ll probably ever attempt to do?

It Comes From South Africa

Hoodia is a plant that grows naturally in South Africa. It looks much like a cactus but isn’t a member of the cactus family. For thousands of years, South African natives have ingested hoodia to help with indigestion and small infections. However, in 1977, scientists isolated an active ingredient in hoodia that acts as an appetite suppressant. This ingredient is what the hoodia we know of today is comprised of, and it’s what many use in their attempts to lose weight.

How Does It Work?

Hoodia is what is known as a natural appetite suppressant, leaving you feeling fuller, longer. You will be able to go the entire day only eating what you need to either lose weight or maintain your weight and you won’t be tempted to snack, as many dieters find themselves. Dieting is very difficult and one of the most difficult aspects of it is the willpower required to keep from binging. After a few days of cutting calories, you might be tempted to go your local buffet and set up camp. With hoodia, you won’t have that craving and you can focus on eating right and exercising, the true keys to losing weight.

Hoodia actually regulates your blood sugar, which makes you feel as though you have enough energy to do what needs to be done. When you feel hungry, you are actually feeling a drop in your blood sugar, your body’s way of telling you that you need some energy. When your blood sugar is regulated by hoodia, you only feel hungry when you really need to eat. So, what is Hoodia? Hoodia is your key to not overeating, a staple in any diet regimen.

There are some that claim that hoodia has side effects, but there are no conclusive studies on the subject. Still, it might be a good idea to talk with your doctor before using hoodia to ensure no negative effects. Now that you know what hoodia is, you can use it to help you lose weight. Just make sure that you accompany it with a clean diet and regular exercise program so that you can maximize the results in your search for a newer, leaner you.