Hoodia
FAQs
Q: What is Hoodia?
Known as Hoodia Gordonii, Hoodia, and to indigenous tribes as "Xhoba"
or "Ghaap", Hoodia is a botanical plant from the Kalahari Desert
of South Africa which resembles a "cactus" and is part of the
Genus: Trichocaulon and belongs to the Family Name: Asclepiadaceae.
Hoodia Gordonii is a plant with a long history but only recently has it
come to the attention of western countries because of the discovery of it's
amazing weight loss properties.
Pharmaceutical
companies learned that the San people of South Africa were using the Hoodia
plant to successfully stave off the worst hunger pangs imaginable for
days at a time. When they learned that there were no unwanted side effects,
the race began to synthesize the Hoodia plant and create a low-cost prescription
drug.
These attempts by pharmaceutical companies have all failed.
They discovered that it was only the natural ingredient and not an artificial
derivative that is effective in curbing unbearable hunger. There were
even attempts to grow the Hoodia plant outside of South Africa, but the
resultsa was not effective. Now, you can lose weight with this Hoodia
cactus in the form of diet pills.
Q:
How does Hoodia work?
Hoodia
works by tricking your brain into thinking you recently have eaten by
mimicimolecule mimics the action of glucose in the brain. Glucose is a
simple sugar present in your blood. After eating the level of glucose
in your blood rises sharply, this increase signals to your brain that
you are full. Hoodia's P57 molecule acts similarly to glucose in that
it stimulates the same receptor sites in the brain as glucose, this results
in you feeling full and satisfied.
The main
effects of hoodia occur in the hypothalamus. Among other things, the hypothalamus
is responsible for cravings, hydration, feeding reflexes (gag's, etc.),
and your metabolism. Hoodia actively works in the brain to destroy your
desire to overeat by stimulation of the hypothalamus.
After you
take Hoodia for a few days, you begin to feel full from eating a very
small amount of food compared to what you would normally eat. This appetite
suppression and shrinking of the stomach allow you to lose weight with
Hoodia. With a decrease in your calorie intake, and the continuance of
your normal activities you will naturally lose weight without unwanted
side effects.
Q:
What type of Hoodia should I use?
The best Hoodia to use comes from South Africa in the Kalahari
Desert region. 100% Hoodia gordonii powder comes from South Africa where
it is grown under commercial cultivation in compliance with South African
Government laws.
Q:
Does all Hoodia diet pills come from South Africa?
No. Some of the Hoodia being sold online comes from Asia, commonly
known as Chinese/Japanese 20:1 extract. These pills would contain Hoodia
of a less powerful form and be mixed with other fat burning ingredients
to help you lose weight. Don't take any chances. Use diet pills containing
only South African Hoodia.
Q:
Are there any side effects when taking Hoodia?
There are no known side effects when using Hoodia that we know
of, but research should continue to know the long term effects.
Q:
I thought Hoodia was owned by one company, is it true?
No, it's not true. In 1998, Pfizer reportedly paid up to $32
million for the right to the research Hoodia from Phytopharm. Then, in
December 2004, Phytopharm and Unilever announced a joint effort to continue
research and development on Hoodia Gordonii extracts. The Hoodia Gordonii
plant can take several years to grow in the wild and because it is a rare
plant which grows in the wild, a number of growers saw the commercial
potential in this plant and setup farms whereby they began to commercially
develop the rare plant in order to be able to provide sustainable quantities
of the material to consumers. It is important to buy from a company that
is not shy about providing a copy of their Certificate of Analysis which
will prove the country of Origin of their source material.
Q:
Does Hoodia have ephedra or caffeine in it?
Absolutely not. Hoodia is a natural plant and is 100% free of
ephedra, ephedrine, and caffeine. It will not make you nervous or jittery
like other diet pills.
Q:
What is a C.I.T.E.S. Certificate?
The South
African government has strictly regulated the exportation of Hoodia to
the rest of the world. A C.I.T.E.S. certificate is required to legally
export Hoodia Gordonii from South Africa. C.I.T.E.S. is an international
agreement between countries.
Be careful,
because many of the documents being presented with Hoodia products are
not real. This fact includes many of the so-called Hoodia products sold
in the large health store chains touting a C.I.T.E.S. certification. These
documents are issued in South Africa and do not assure the quality or
purity of Hoodia, especially by the time it is bottled and shipped in
the market place. That is why we only recommend the products that also
accompany documentation verifying the authenticity and quality of their
Hoodia products.
Q:
Why is Hoodia expensive?
There has
always been a demand for quick-fix, no-pain weight loss pills. After the
ban on the herb ephedra, the market was particularly ripe for the next
new weight loss solution, preferably one that didn't have the same stimulating
side effects as ephedra. The demand for real hoodia is great, but the
supply isn't. Until very recently, hoodia gordonii was only found in the
wild in South Africa . Hoodia is difficult to grow. It requires 4-5 years
to mature and temperatures in the range of 122F. The supply is scarce,
which keeps costs high.
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About
Hoodia Consumer Review |
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The
number of Hoodia diet products available to the public has reached
the point of confusion and misinformation. While most of these products
are reputable, some have been found to be less than reputable.
Hoodia
Consumer Review is committed to bringing researched Hoodia diet
product reviews to the public. Funded by grants and public contributions,
the Hoodia Consumer Review compares Hoodia diet products from a
wide array of vendors and gives an analysis of each product; a easy
to read comparison that is provided so consumers, medical &
health professionals can make informed decisions. |
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Hoodia
Buying Guide |
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You
are free to buy any Hoodia product you want. However, before you
spend your money on a Hoodia product arm yourself with a little
knowledge.
1)
Don't buy any Hoodia product that contains products mixed with Hoodia.
These products will limit the suppressant abilities of Hoodia.
2)
Be suspicious of any Hoodia product that blackout their supplier
information on their documentation.
3)
There is only one place in the world where authentic South African
Hoodia Gordonii is grown for the commercial market and that is the
continent of Africa where Hoodia is controlled by the South African
government.
4)
Many health supplement companies claim to have Hoodia Gordonii in
their products, but in reality what they are offering you is a fake
source of Hoodia, "Chinese 20:1 extract" which is not
South African Hoodia Gordonii at all. While, some products being
sold on the Internet as "Hoodia" are nothing but capsules
filled with an unknown source of Hoodia with other ingredients.
5)
Know what all the ingredients are in your Hoodia diet pills. Look
for clear dosage with an exact dose amount. Sufficient Hoodia concentration
of 750 mg is essential to obtain the appetite suppressant qualities
of Hoodia.
6)
Avoid Hoodia products that are not supported with a phone number.
Where, there is no one to contact about a Hoodia product in question,
there may very well be a hidden reason for that. |
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