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Do your Research Before you Buy Hoodia Gordonii Products 

Buying Hoodia Gordonii should probably start with an understanding of the product. Hoodia Gordonii is the Latin name for a plant that grows mostly in semi-desert areas of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Angola and is similar to a cactus-type plant. It also has various other aliases such as Hoodia cactus, Ghaap, Hoodia, South African desert cactus, xhooba and khoba. It takes about five years before the Hoodia Gordonii plant can be harvested after its light purple flowers make a showing. Claims have been made that the Bushmen of the Kalahari desert used hoodia during long hunting trips for thousands of years to ward off thirst and hunger by eating the bitter-tasting plant after removing the stem. Now marketed for its weight loss assistance in suppressing hunger, hoodia has become popular after the ban of the herb ephedra.

    There are more than 13 varieties of Hoodia, but only the Hoodia Gordonii type contains the only found active ingredient called "p57". This active ingredient is a steroidal gylcoside, which is a biochemical mechanism that acts on the brain and is chemically bonded to three sugar molecules. This can also explain the beneficial assistance in helping to reverse diabetes and reduce fat storage. While there has not been testing done on humans, there have been lab tests done on animals showing these results. Hoodia has not been subjected to safety testing to uncover any possible side effects, drug interactions or safety concerns. There have been concerns stated that Hoodia can affect liver function and if it does in actuality effect blood sugar levels, one should beware of blood sugar levels dropping too low. Another concern mentioned in relation to Hoodia is that with the brain mechanism for hunger and thirst suppressed, the body may have problems with starvation or dehydration. Just as there have been no human studies to confirm the benefits of Hoodia, there are no human studies to show problematic side affects either.

    Hoodia Gordonii is available for sale in powder, capsule, liquid or tea forms and can be found in health food stores or on the Internet. It can also be found in combination with other supplement products such as TrimSpa. A buyer should be wary of impure Hoodia products. There have been several reports of Hoodia products either contaminated or fake and there are no certain ways to know if what one is purchasing is actually pure Hoodia Gordonii containing the "p57", with the exception of being tested by an independent laboratory. It has been estimated that as much as 80% of Hoodia products are fakes. The suggested reason for so many counterfeits or altered products is due to lack of supply. Due to Hoodia's difficult and long growing time, select governed growing areas, harvesting and trade, Hoodia is often a scarce and pricey product.

    Hoodia capsules that have been consistently verified as pure Hoodia Gordonii include the Hoodoba brand and the Desert Burn brand from Strictly Health Corporation, as well as the Hoodia Hoodia brand from Millennium Health.

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