Fit Women Over 40
Ways to achieve your health and fitness goals now
The Facts and Hype on Hoodia
Join Our Mailing List
Main Menu
Healthy Products
Fake Hoodia Diet Pills
While there is no question that the best selling hoodia products are genuine hoodia gordonii. There are some products that have been shown by independent testing to contain little or no genuine hoodia gordonii. These are the fake hoodia diet pills to look out for.
According to Hoodia gordonii.co.za, a South African based company which facilitates the authentication of hoodia gordonii products worldwide, there are still many fake hoodia diet pills on the market. They and the makers of Desert Burn, one of the best selling hoodia products on the market, have had nine different hoodia products tested at their own expense. Chemical testing is an expensive process, costing around $800, so testing of every hoodia product on the market has not been possible.
It is recommended that consumers who wish to avoid fake hoodia diet pills look for certification from hoodia gordonii.co.za or
independent testing by a pharmaceutical laboratory which confirms the presence of hoodia gordonii.
You can view sample chemical analysis reports at Hoodia Gordonii Plus
websites. The best selling hoodia products will have analytical reports available for inspection.
Hoodia Facts for Women over 40
So What Are the "Real" Facts on Hoodia?
You've read it in Oprah's magazine, "O", Millions watched it on 60 Minutes, You’ve heard about it on BBC and CBS NEWS.
CBS News' top-rated 60-minutes television show aired a segment on Hoodia, an ingredient that is quickly becoming a popular weight loss formula.
Leslie Stahl even said it worked.
Hoodia, is an African plant that may help fight fat which "Scientists say it fools the brain by making you think you’re full, even if you’ve eaten just a morsel…
hoodia is a natural substance that literally takes your appetite away."
What did 60 minutes report?
Lesley Stahl Reports On Newest Weapon In War On Obesity, Each year, people spend more than $40 billion on products designed to help them slim down. None of them seem to be working very well.
Now along comes hoodia. Never heard of it? Soon it'll be tripping off your tongue, because hoodia is a natural substance that literally takes your appetite away.
It's very different from diet stimulants like Ephedra and Phenfen that are now banned because of dangerous side effects. Hoodia doesn't stimulate at all. Scientists say it fools the brain by making you think you’re full,
even if you've eaten just a morsel. Correspondent Lesley Stahl reports.
So how did it work? Stahl says 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. "I'd have to say it did work," says Stahl.
So What are the facts around the Hoodia Hype?
All of the known hoodia gordonii clinical research has been performed by a company called Phytopharm or its partners.
There have been informal clinical observations by American doctors, but all hoodia reference initially comes from Phytopharm.
Phytopharm is currently partnered with Unilever, makers of Slim Fast and other food products, and announced in April of 2006
that they were moving on to the second phase of a five phase clinical research program into hoodia gordonii's use as an appetite suppressant.
Clinical research is research that involves human volunteers rather than laboratory animals.
Phytopharm's website provides answers to
frequently asked questions about hoodia gordonii and their main website publishes past and present press releases.
Here are some facts from their website:
Q. There are some other products that claim to contain Hoodia. Are they the same as Phytopharm's product?
Only Phytopharm’s patented Hoodia gordonii product is botanically verified to contain pure Hoodia gordonii and has quantified levels of the chemical constituents that produce the anti-obesity effects. Importantly, only Phytopharm’s Hoodia gordonii product has had extensive safety studies performed and been clinically proven to reduce calorie intake and body fat. The benefit sharing to the CSIR and the San people is only generated by Phytopharm’s patented Hoodia gordonii product.
Phytopharm and Unilever are aware of many companies that are selling products over the Internet and in some stores claiming to contain Hoodia and causing weight loss. Phytopharm and Unilever are in discussion with the relevant authorities concerning this development.
Q. When will the product containing the Hoodia gordonii extract be available?
The necessary clinical trials and other studies to ensure the safety of the extract will take a few years before a product will be available.
Q. Who are the San people and how do they and South Africa benefit from sales of Hoodia gordonii?
The CSIR have entered a benefit sharing agreement with an organisation representing the San people, to ensure that any financial benefit flowing from the commercialisation of the patented Hoodia gordonii extract is shared with people whose traditional knowledge first led to the investigation of the plant. In addition, Phytopharm has worked closely with the CSIR and appreciated the importance of the continuing development to South Africa. To this end, Phytopharm has collaborated with the CSIR and opened a clinical supplies unit and a botanical supplies unit in South Africa.
