What is Hoodia Gordonii?
Hoodia Gordonii is one of the 13 species of flowering stem succulents found in deserts ranging from Namibia to South Africa. Hoodia Gordonii is not a cactus as it is often incorrectly referred to as. Hoodia Gordonii plants can reach up to 1 meter in height and have large flowers. The indigenous people (bushmen) in South Africa refer to it as Xhoba.
The History
The bushmen of South Africa have since generations used this plant for various purposes like indigestion and small infections. It has also been observed that certain tribes eat this plant on long hunting expeditions in order to control or reduce their hunger.
Due to the above observations, the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in 1977 isolated an active ingredient from Hoodia Gordonii plant, called P57 and identified this ingredient as having appetite suppressant properties. In 1996 CSIR patented the ingredient.
CSIR then engaged UK based pharmaceutical company called Phytopharm to isolate the active ingredient and form it into an appetite suppressant. Phytopharm collaborated with Pfizer to isolate and synthesize the active ingredient for use as an appetite suppressant. In 2002, however, Pfizer released the right granted by CSIR.
There have been very little blind-folded peer-reviewed clinical trials on Hoodia Gordonii. Human trials have been limited to some small scale done by individuals without conclusive results. Most of the evidence so far has been based on observations of the bushmen and by some media journalists who have ventured to South Africa to try the plant and found it effective. It is much like the hundreds of supplements made from other naturally occurring plants or herbs where the evidence lies in centuries of experience of some cultures or people of certain countries, but not complete scientific studies.
It should be noted that while there have been very little scientific studies on Hoodia Gordonii, there also hasn't been any reported side effect of taking Hoodia Gordonii plant in its natural form.
How does Hoodia work?
Hoodia Gordonii contains fiber, organic material and biologically active substances, which fool the brain into thinking that the stomach is full. Weight control is all about calorie control and reduction in calorie intake results directly in loss of weight or atleast prevention of weight gain. The easiest way to reduce calorie intake is to reduce hunger and cravings.
It is said by people who have taken genuine Hoodia that when you eat hoodia,you won't crave anything. You really won't want to eat at all. The food still smells good, as usual, and they taste the same if you eat them, but you don't want to eat them! At least that's what the hoodia advocates claim will happen.
Hunger is really a signal in your brain, a chemical message that causes you to feel certain feelings and, ultimately, act on them. The part of the brain that creates the sensations of hunger an thirst is called Hypothalamus. It keeps a measure of glucose (sugar) in the blood. When you eat carbohydrates, blood sugar rises and Hypothalamus tells the brain that you are no longer hungry. Hoodia Gordonii is claimed to have an active substance that fools the Hypothalamus into thinking that you have enough glucose and other ingredients in the blood. Hence it does not create the sensation of hunger.
This link between Hoodia and Hypothalamus was established by a study at Brown Medical School, in which a study group of rats was injected with the p57 molecule while a control group was injected with placebo. After 24 hours there was an increase in ATP (an important neurotransmitter and cell energy source) in hypothalamic neurons of 50-150% and a decrease in food intake of 40-60% in the study group. While the control group was fed a low calorie diet for four days and exhibited a decrease of ATP in the hypothalamus of 30-50%. The control group was then injected with the hoodia extract and the decrease was blocked. Interpreting the hypothalamus, hoodia and ATP results in simplest terms; this study indicates that the part of the brain responsible for feelings of hunger, thirst and many other things temporarily blocks the hunger and thirst sensations and relays a sense of fullness, because hoodia gordonii causes an increase in ATP, which normally decreases when food intake is reduced. This is the best explanation we have yet of how does hoodia work. It is often hard to determine exactly how a chemical compound works in the human body and this is no exception.
The San Tribesmen also say it makes you feel stronger, more energetic, and more focused. That is th reason why they eat it during hunting expedition. Hoodia has been chewed for hundreds of years by various generations of the San, with no ill effects known whatsoever.
It should again be stressed at this point that science has not concluded the same results from any definitive clinical trials yet.
Hoodia - Products
There are several types of Hoodia products/supplements available today. This section categorises the various types of diet supplements that are made from Hoodia Gordonii:
Pills
Diet Pills is the most common and popular form Hoodia supplements available. The diet pills are made in several ways and have varied composition. These diet pills are typically just swallowed with water one or more times a day depending on the amount of Hoodia content in them. There are so many types of diet pills available that it is almost impossible to understand their true nature. The following are three categories into which most of the diet pills can be segregated:
- Pure hoodia
Some of the Hoodia diet pills tout themselves as 100% “pure” Hoodia products. This often implies that these pills have nothing else other than natural Hoodia Gordonii. However, it is important to note that although a particular pill may be 100% Hoodia, still it’s effectiveness depends on what part of the plant is used in preparing the pill. It depends on how much of the pill is made from the core of the plant which is more effective in suppressing the appetite than the skin, roots and the surface.
- Active Ingredient Pills
Some Hoodia Gordonii pills are advertised as being made from “active ingredient”. This often refers to the P57 substance in Hoodia, which is known to have appetite suppressant properties. However, it is important to note that isolating P57 from Hoodia is extremely difficult process. Even leading pharmaceuticals like Phytopharm and Pfizer were not able to do this effectively.
- Pills made from Extracts
Some Hoodia diet pills are made from extracts of the plant. The extract are advertised as “20:1” or “10:1” in strength. What this means is that 1 gram of extract was manufactured from 20 gm of whole plant. If you make a 20:1 extract it means you are taking 20kgs of that material to make 1, throwing away all but the active ingredient. That would make it sound like a very powerful material. However, when you extract, and there are many herbal extracts that are good, you take away a lot of the supporting benefits such as the aloe benefit of the plant. Some plants have great supporting properties, but when they are extracted they are gone. There is no known proof that Hoodia extracts are more effective than just pure Hoodia pills.
- Hoodia plus other ingredients
Some diet pills are made from not just Hoodia but other added natural supplements like green tea, guarana, etc. While there is no harm in adding other known good natural supplements, the true effect of Hoodia mixed with other ingredients is not known and has not been proven. At the end of the day, if you are buying a Hoodia diet pill because you want to try out Hoodia, then all that matters is how much of Hoodia the pill contains irrespective of other ingredients. True impact of Hoodia on your eating patterns will only be known when you take pure Hoodia.
Liquids
Some Hoodia supplements are available in liquid form. For such products it is important to find out the following:
- What is the base liquid used to produce the supplement
- How is Hoodia dissolved in the liquid or is it “pure” Hoodia plant juice.
It should be noted that in most plants eating them in natural form is much better than simply their juice or extract.
Others
There are several other types of Hoodia supplements available either online or at natural and herbal shops. These product are generally less popular and normally do not contain enough Hoodia to be effective in suppressing the appetite. However, if you go by the logic that “something is better than nothing”, then they are certainly worth the try.
- Hoodia Powder, usually mixed with other health products like green tea
- Hoodia Coffee/Tea
- Candy/Lollipops/Shakes, etc.
Hoodia News - Without the hype
Hoodia Gordonii as an appetite suppressant has grown exponentially in popularity over the past few years. It has been featured on several popular TV shows, health and lifestyle magazines and thousands of websites. Following are the most popular references to Hoodia in the media:
| Media Name |
Content |
+ive/ -ive/ neutral |
Our Comments |
| BBC |
On May 30, 2003 BBC presented a report on Hoodia Gordonii. Correspondent Tom Mangold travelled to Africa and sampled Hoodia himself. In his words, “The plant is said to have a feel-good almost aphrodisiac quality, and I have to say, we felt good. But more significantly, we did not even think about food. Our brains really were telling us we were full. It was a magnificent deception. Dinner time came and went. We reached our hotel at about midnight and went to bed without food. And the next day, neither of us wanted nor ate breakfast. I ate lunch but without appetite and very little pleasure. Partial then full appetite returned slowly after 24 hours”. |
Positive |
This was an individual experience and not a clinical trial. It is important to note that BBC correspondent (as well as CBS corespondent) ate raw natural plant straight from the ground. This is very different from any pills or supplements prepared from extracts. |
| CBS 60 minutes |
On Nov 21, 2004 CBS was the first major media channel to showcase a report on Hoodia. This report is the one that triggered a lot of interest in this plant. Correspondent Lesley Stahl of CSB reported that after she ate raw Hoodia Gordonii “she had no after effects – no funny taste in her mouth, no queasy stomach, and no racing heart. She also wasn't hungry all day, even when she would normally have a pang around mealtime. And, she also had no desire to eat or drink the entire day.” |
Positive |
Again, this report did not really endorse Hoodia and only presented the experience of one correspondent. The report noted that at the time Pfizer along with Phytopharm were engaged in developing a product from the extract of the active ingredient in Hoodia and its real effect can only be determined by controlled clinical studies. |
| MSNBC |
On Oct 24, 2005 corespondent Janet Shamlian discussed Hoodia with Madelyn Fernstrom, a weight loss expert. The show concluded by saying that some people have reported positive effect but a majority “were not sure”. Obviously much more research is needed to learn more about Hoodia |
Neutral |
Basically, said that if you want to try you can try after consulting your doctor and only if you know that your source of Hoodia is genuine and it has enough quantity of Hoodia |
| Oprah |
Oprah’s “O’” magazine July 2005 edition had an article called “Diet Pills, the next generation”. Since then the hoodia-oprah connection has been formed and has been used by Hoodia companies to further market the product. The Oprah hoodia article did not support or recommend any product currently on the market. It was a general article, as were the television reports about the effectiveness of hoodia as an appetite suppressant. |
Neutral |
No direct endorsement of any Hoodia product, It is surprising how lot of Hoodia product manufacturers have tried to use Oprah’s article to their advantage, when in fact Oprah did not actually endorse any particular product. |
| CNN |
The CNN report pretty much presented the same facts and cautioned that there is no conclusive studies to prove Hoodia’s effect. Most of the claims have been anecdotal in the form “It worked for me, so it may work for you” |
Neutral |
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Besides the above prime channels coverage on Hoodia, there are millions of websites on this plant and related products now. Prior to this 60 Minutes report, there were a total of three Hoodia products on the U.S. market and Hoodia gordonii was being sold by African farmers at US $3 per kilogram. In 2007, there are an estimated 300 products being sold worldwide being touted as "authentic Hoodia gordonii" with a street rate for Hoodia gordonii at $250 per kilogram on average.
Hoodia Dangers and Caution
The following key points should be considered before taking any Hoodia supplement.
Consult your doctor – You should always consult your doctor before you take any medicine or supplement. The doctor may not know or endorse Hoodia formally, but he can highlight what issues you may face if Hoodia does what is claimed or if you have any medical condition where such a supplement if not advisable.
Medical condition – If you do have any form of medical condition, especially diabetes then Hoodia is not advisable. Again, consult your doctor before you start on Hoodia. Also, Hoodia is not advisable for pregnant women. Consult your doctor before starting on Hoodia supplement of any kind, if you have any one of the following medical conditions:
1. Diabetes
2. Heart problems
3. Anorexia or an other eating disorder
4. Have bleeding or blood clotting disorder
5. Pregnancy or planning to be pregnant
Side effects of other ingredients – It is always advisable to use pure Hoodia supplement, instead of supplements that come mixed with other active ingredients since the side effects of Hoodia with other ingredients in not known.
Regular Blood tests – If you are taking Hoodia and intend to take it for a long time, it is wise to get periodic blood tests to make sure you are not developing any form of deficiency or any other condition. If Hoodia is working for you and you are eating less, you still need a blood test to determine if you are missing out on any essential vitamins, minerals in your diet.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle – Hoodia or not always maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Hoodia and General Health
Remember, there is no alternative to healthy living. Healthy lifestyle includes:
Regular brisk exercise, at least 5 times a week
Eating less calories and fat
Eating at least 3 servers of vegies and fruits a day
Drinking at least 2-3 litres of water daily
Starting your day with a healthy breakfast
Meditation and/or yoga
Most of the hype on Hoodia is pretty much based on personal experiences rather than full-blown clinical trials. It is true that Hoodia works for some people and it is also true that the South African tribes eat Hoodia before long hunting expeditions. Hence Hoodia is worth a try.
It would be great if Hoodia could be grown in your backyard and you can eat it whenever you like in its natural form. That would guarantee 100% natural plant. However, since this is not possible you need to try one of the supplements. To give yourself a best chance with Hoodia supplements, keep the following in mind:
Select a product that best fits in the rules specified in The Hoodia Gordonii Guide -section 5
Try pure Hoodia with at least 750mg per pill
Exercise and eat healthy while taking Hoodia supplement. Remember if it is working for you and you are eating less then the need to eat good quality food is even more.
It is important to note that ultimately you do need to eat. Hence overdose of Hoodia is not a good idea.
Use Hoodia supplements as supporting mechanism to your healthy lifestyle and to give you a bit of support if you are trying to kick-start your fight against obesity or overweight.
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What other sites don't tell you about Hoodia
Most web sites try to promote a Hoodia product. This may be their own product or one that gives them highest commission. Hence they are biased in their information.
Most websites try to create or add to the Hoodia hype in the media. They quote popular news channel coverage on Hoodia without telling the true substance of the coverage, whether the coverage in each popular channel was positive, negative or neutral on Hoodia.
Most websites do not give a realistic and common sense approach to Hoodia. They also do not lay out the precautions that should be taken when using Hoodia products/supplements. At the end of the day, the metabolism of each human body is different and hence it is very important to consider every aspect before trying a Hoodia product.
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Hoodia for Losing Weight fills this gap by presenting “The Hoodia Gordonii Guide” - concise and complete guide to Hoodia Gordonii and the products made from Hoodia. In this eBook, we present a common sense approach to Hoodia Gordonii and its supplements.
- Are you confused about what Hoodia product to buy?
- Do you want to know if Hoodia is a miracle or a scam?
- Have you already spent several hours/days on the Internet reading about Hoodia Gordonii and hundreds of Hoodia supplements and still confused on whether to try Hoodia or not and what to buy?
- Have you already spent money on a Hoodia product with little or no result?
- Are you exhausted with the millions of websites available on Hoodia and yet not one that is unbiased and can guide you truly in a few minutes?
- Are you not feeling confident about buying any Hoodia product?
If you answer yes to any of the questions above, you are not alone. Most of the people are not confident on whether or not they should try Hoodia Gordonii to help reduce weight and how to select a Hoodia supplement. People spend hours and days trying to identify a genuine Hoodia product to try. This is because Hoodia Gordonii has risen from a humble succulent in South African deserts to a multi-billion dollar diet supplement industry in America and around the world. This has given rise to several fake and poor quality Hoodia supplements.
"The Hoodia Gordonii Guide" is a simple guide to help you identify a genuine Hoodia product and to give you some Hoodia Gordonii buying tips. This information is completely unbiased as we do not promote a specific product through the eBook. This booklet gives you enough knowledge so that you can buy a Hoodia diet supplement with confidence.
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It is estimated that in 2004 there were 3 Hoodia products available.
Today there are over 300 Hoodia products/supplements available and marketed
under several brands. More that 90% of these products are either fake or do not have
sufficient quantity of Hoodia for them to be effective at all. The media hype and often false
claims has left most consumers confused, frustrated and feeling helpless.
Hoodia for losing weight brings an easy to read and concise guide to buying a Hoodia supplement.
Within half an hour you will be much more confident about your knowledge of Hoodia and you
will know how to select a Hoodia product.
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Consider this:
1. With over 90% of Hoodia products being either fake or of low quality, it is very important to be armed with enough knowledge to identify a genuine product.
2. Genuine Hoodia products are expensive and you probably will end up spending several hundred dollars on Hoodia supplements. Hence you want to buy the right Hoodia supplement the first time.
3. The Hoodia Gordonii Guide is only US $9.95 and will give you enough knowledge and tips to identify a genuine Hoodia product.
4. This will be your best US $9.95 ever spent
Note: We do not get any commission from any Hoodia product company or supplier. Hence all the information in the eBook is completely unbiased. Almost every other site of Hoodia is promoting a product that pays them highest commission on sales. Since we are not promoting any particular product on the website, all the information in the eBook is balanced and unbiased. BUY THE EBOOK WITH CONFIDENCE.
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1. Hoodia Gordonii
2. Hoodia Gordonii – The History
3. How Hoodia Gordonii Works – Scientifically?
4. Hoodia Products
5. Hoodia Products Buying Checklist
6. Hoodia in the Media
7. General Considerations
8. Conclusion
9. Appendix 1 – hoodiaforlosingweight.com
eBook Features
1. Pages 19
2. Hoodia products classified into 7 categories
3. 8 Rules of buying a Hoodia product. 8 point checklist to save you several hours in choosing a genuine product
4. True and concise representation of popular media hype
5. General health tips to remind you of risks and considerations
The eBook is written in very simple language without any hype or bias towards any product. It is purposely kept concise so as to provide a quick reading and yet give all the genuine information available on Hoodia. The main prupose of the book is to give a checklist which will help you to select a Hoodia product or determine if the product that you are already using is of adequate standards.
The price of the eBook is insignificant compared to the price of the Hoodia products. Download this eBook now to read and save several hours of researching on the internet or other media. Maximum satisfaction guaranteed!!!
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The Hoodia Gordonii Guide
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