Hoodia

Hoodia Gordonii, popularly known as Hoodia for short, is an extraordinary plant that is indigenous in African nations. During early times in the African communities, it is acknowledged as an appetite suppressor. This is being used usually during long days of hunting in the forest of indigenous communities in the region.

It is a leafless and spiny watery plant, like a cactus, with claimed medicinal and dietary uses. The flowers of this plant stink like a rotten meat and being pollinated by flies and other similar insects. 

Primarily because of its property to suppress cravings to eat, it is recently being packaged as weight loss supplement. Products with Hoodia contents are usually in the form of pills or tablet, capsule, shake, pulp, juices, powder and many others.

Like any other dietary supplements or weight loss agents, its clinical and medical claims are still subject for scientific validation. Researchers and scientists are quite focusing on authenticating how true or effective Hoodia is in minimizing caloric consumption by 1000 calories daily at the maximum and other appetite suppression claims.

Reviews and researches are also finding out the applicability of Hoodia products to the general public and its scope and limitations. Like any other medicines and cosmetic products, Hoodia products might not be applicable to specific people with certain allergies or sensitive body composition. Parameters of its applicability are still being developed. Meaning, scientist must find out its extent of effectiveness and what can it cause to the human body whether negative or positive if consumed in several dosages. There is no prescription yet if Hoodia products can be consumed by all ages like teenagers, adults, males, females or specific population only. Even usefulness of Hoodia products to people with heart diseases and other critical sickness are still not known yet for the public to known if they must avail the claimed benefits of these products.

Last but not the least, one of the essential things to know about Hoodia is the legitimacy of its manufacturer or the authenticity of its product. Consumers must check if the company producing it is legitimate and licensed to do business. One thing to find is if the manufacturer possesses Certification from Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This CITES Certification is essential because Hoodia Gordonii is an endangered species threatened by extinction if will not supervised. In the United States of America (USA), aside from the CITES Certification, their government also required other documents pursuant to their several laws and legislative provisions on trade of the Hoodia.

Hoodia Cactus - Can you Buy and Grow your own Hoodia Gordonii