Hoodwinked by Hoodia: How to Spot a Hoodia Scam ?

Not all diet pills are created equal.  In fact, not even all Hoodia diet pills are equal.  If you’re serious about dieting and have chosen Hoodia to help you in your weight loss goal, you need to have information to help you avoid a scam.

Hoodia is a popular diet supplement that most of us have heard of.  It is also very scarce and requires a permit to export. Unfortunately some companies take advantage of desperate dieters by selling fake Hoodia or claiming there is more Hoodia in the bottle than there actually is.

Here are some hints to help you steer clear of anything less than the best.

1.      Random Lab Testing.  Any upstanding seller of Hoodia will use an independent lab for testing their product and boast their results.  There results will be conclusive, there will either be Hoodia or there won’t.  The most respected independent lab is Alkemists Pharmaceuticals and their logo will be displayed on the packaging.

2.      All Natural.  Hoodia Gordonii is expensive.  Obviously, the more concentrated, the more expensive.  Some companies to save money, theirs and yours, will cut the amount of concentrate and add filler.  This is why it’s important to read the labels!  Know what you’re paying for.

3.      According to experts, it can take between 2,000-3,000mg of Hoodia Gordonii per day to effectively suppress an appetite.  Of course, everybody is different and every body is different and will react uniquely needing more or less of the Hoodia Gordonii supplement.  Considering most tablets contain only 400 mg, it makes sense to take the highest amount of milligrams to reduce the number of pills you will have to take in a day.  It’s important to check the dosage because of the varying amounts of concentrate and some capsules only contain 25mg!

4.      As long as we’re talking about concentrate, let’s talk about fillers.  Some companies have added additional ingredients like caffeine, green tea and other potentially beneficial ingredients which may help but are not necessary for appetite suppression.

5.      Where in the world is Hoodia Gordonii?  The plant is found primarily in 5 countries at the present time.  The majority comes from South Africa, in the Kalahari Desert.  Other origins include: Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and in some parts of the United States (namely, CA and AZ) If the supplement you are looking at comes from anywhere else, it is most likely not authentic.

6.      What’s in a name?  There are 13 different varieties of Hoodia, only one of which will suppress your appetite.  Make sure what you’re looking for has the full name of Hoodia Gordonii.

7.      How the ingredients are processed can be as important as the ingredient itself.  Look for the type that uses the aerial stems of the plant as they contain the active ingredient.

8.      We looked at dosing a little earlier; let’s come back to it again for a moment.  Testing is the only way to determine the potency.  The highest concentrate will have somewhere between .34%-.45% while some supplements get away with as little as .1% or less!  You can find the results of the lab testing on any reputable website selling the supplement.  They should have a form called High Performance Liquid Chromatography.

9.      If it sounds too good to be true… it probably is.  Know the market.  An average monthly supply of Hoodia Gordonii will cost somewhere between $30-$60 depending on how much your body needs.  It’s too easy with too many loopholes to dupe consumers with low prices and inferior products.  Take the time to do the research.

10.  Look for the stamp of approval.  Hoodia is strictly monitored and exported.  You need to have a permit to collect Hoodia.  Any website that sells Hoodia should have their certificate (C.I.T.E.S. or “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora” displayed on their site.  If it is blurred, hard to read or otherwise obscured, be wary.