One of the reasons that hoodia research is so very challenging is because it takes quite awhile for the plant that it is harvested from to mature (about five years). According to some reports, it is the flowering portion of the hoodia gordonii plant that is most effective.

However, the ability to research the effectiveness of hoodia as an appetite suppressant is not totally hopeless. Obtaining facts about the working power of this plant is possible even though some news sources attribute news about this place to an overabundances hoopla but very little science.

The most substantial proof of its working power is in how it curbs a person’s appetite. This has been documented in several ways. For instance, you may have seen many times in the media the story of how reporters have gone on excursions to South Africa.

One news reporter for sure has tried it first hand. Some others since then have then more likely followed suit. However, the one media presentation you hear about most often is the one that 60 Minutes had presented a few years back.

This 60 Minutes report is one that is most in favor of hoodia gordonii. Again, since it takes so long for the plant to mature researching its effects is very challenging. This leads into the next challenge about hoodia research.

It is very expensive. Of course, that is the case with any clinical trial. However, the complication of waiting for the plant to mature with the expense of research it just makes matters doubly difficult.

Another Answer

One of the most prevalent proofs of the hoodia gordonii effectiveness is its historical use. In fact, this is often the case. History often is far more advanced than science-as far as research is concerned anyway.

Along those lines, you should know that the history of indigenous tribes such as the ones located in South Africa was passed to later generations orally. What took place in early times was often not written down.

Still, the story was told and the fact that it was told orally does not necessarily make it any less accurate. Mistakes in writing could have been made just as well.

As it turns out, many reports indicate the use of hoodia gordonii as an appetite suppressant. You may have even heard the story. You may have heard that hunters used it on long trips when food was sparse.

They have noticed no improvements and they also notice they still weight the same as always. So why is that?

Why are Consumers Disappointed?

Oftentimes hoodia creators use false evidence to support their products. Worse yet, they use ineffective parts of the plant when processing a supplement.

This is especially true when selling the pill, but also could happen when the product is sold in any other form. By the way, from the research that I have conducted as far as I know the most effective portion of this plant is the aerial stem of it.

However, in some cases maybe the seed is acceptable. However, for the most part the best success has been with the stem.

Put another way, consumers are very disappointed. They feel lied to and mislead in many cases. Let this be a warning to anyone seeking hoodia information today.

You need to be aware that well over half of the products out there are shams and frauds. Stay away from them!

Oh, and did I forget to mention that sometimes suppliers use a variation of this plant source that is not effective the right one! Only one variety (gordonii) actually has the P57 enzyme, which helps suppress appetite.

So what product is effective?

Capsules and other supplements of which authentic South African hoodia gordonii is the main ingredient is your best bet. It helps if the supplier has a real (not fake) C.I.T.E.S. Certificate on file that helps, too. However, this printed online-albeit convincing-is often hard to prove. It can be copied from any place!

How do you rate them?

This blog (Hoodia Reviewed.org) is designed to help people who are looking for an effective hoodia supplement. You should rate each product you find according to reputation, as well as consumer experience. Of course, history of safety is vital.

Nevertheless, three top products are reviewed, and a summary of these reports are indicated below:

King Hoodia This product contains about 1,000 mg of h. gordonii, which you may or may not know is the only form of hoodia that aids in appetite suppression. This product has been thoroughly tested in laps and is USDA approved. Furthermore, it is C.I.T.E.S. certified (special document needed for exportation of hoodia from Africa).

Desertburn This product is not quite as potent as the King Hoodia, therefore, requires additional doses to reach the minimum of 1,000 to 1,500 mg needed daily. (Beware though that no set recommendation of dosage is established for any hoodia product.) It has been rated as just as effective, though at 5/5 stars for some reasons. It is C.I.T.E.S. certified, and USDA approved.

PowerSlim This one has been thoroughly lab tested and has been regarded as safe. Despite its reputation within the online community, it does contain a lower dosage of hoodia than other products sold today. Nevertheless according to some sources it is among the top three products marketed.

Runners Up

In addition to the above, a lesser potent version of Desert Burn is available. It is number four, according to ratings. Hoodithin, and Hoodia XR, Pure Hoodia are other products that remain on the top ten of most effective/safe products out there.

It may seem impossible to come up with a way to tell apart the “real” versus “fake” supplements such as pills, teas, and so on. However, the following list of clues can send you on your way to finding the right supplement:

• You might want to find a way to confirm that the product is marketed by a company that possesses a hoodia production permit. This information may be printed on the bottle, but in order to make extra sure you might want to visit reputable e-commerce bureau and consumer report sites.
• If you seek advice from reviews make sure you are aware of the source of the reviewer. You are likely to be provided less biased reviews from independent research teams not affiliated with any specific product.
• Beware that any product that claims that it has been approved by the FDA probably is not. Even as of 2007 hoodia has a long way from being approved by this very important agency.
• Notice any seemingly unrealistic weight loss claims. Evidence has suggested very strongly that this plant source does curb appetite, and even in some people a little too well. However, make sure you also know that a well-balanced diet is recommended.
• Of course, you can look on the ingredient list of the product. This is not a guarantee as some companies will not be totally honest about what is included in the supplement. However, you stand a better chance of finding the “real thing” if you look at the label.

The more research you conduct the more likely you are to find an authentic hoodia product. You might want to check FDA websites or you might want to research via various organizations that are supportive of safe distribution of quality herbal supplements.

When statistics are so promising, you do tend to be sanguine of the results of the product on you. Wouldn’t you love it if you just popped a pill and watched the pounds vanishing with each passing day? These are the apparent results of using Hoodia. But if you give it a second thought, Hoodia has its deficiencies.

The reason why Hoodia has its drawbacks is something called starvation response. This is a natural part of your metabolism. Everyone has his or her own peculiar starvation response.

We’ll show you how this works in this article.

Your body has a notion of the average number of calories you are going to consume per day. This information has been processed over years and it has become accustomed to your eating and exercise habits.

If the calories you consume decrease suddenly, your body is put on alert. There may be no initial response, so you tend to lose weight in the first few weeks.

But your body will react if you continue eating less over weeks. There will be some adjustment. All at once, it is not getting adequate nutrition. It thinks you are starving, so survival strategies start playing a role.

How does your body adjust to the sudden and large decrease in consumed calories?

It slows down the rate at which you are burning your excess fat. That is how it gives you what it thinks is the best chance at survival.

The rate at which your body burns calories is called the metabolism rate.

The more your metabolism rate falls, the less is your body going to burn extra calories, including fat. As metabolism decreases, your body stores what calories it receives as fat. So weight loss is hindered. The effect is twofold. Your existing calories are burnt at a lower rate, and new calories are burnt slower too.

Hence, the lower your metabolism, the more calories you end up storing. The fewer calories you burn, no matter what activities you do.

Learn how Hoodia and similar supplements work before you actually use one of them. These affect your body adversely sometimes. Your target should be a healthy effectual change that will have a long term effect.