Natural diet pills do not contain any stimulants and are safer than weight loss diet pills that may contain ingredients that have been proven to be unsafe for consumption, like ephedra and caffeine. If you're looking for a safe, natural way to help you lose fat and get slim , Hoodia gordonii is your answer.
This plant is gaining popularity as an all- natural weightloss product that will help you to stay slim and trim without any side effects. To understand why Hoodia is an effective weight loss aid , it is important to learn about the history of the Hoodia plant to find out how these natural diet pills came about.
What is Hoodia ?
The Hoodia gordonii cactus grows only in the semi-arid regions of South Africa , along the borders of Namibia , Angola and Botswana . More precisely, the Hoodia cactus or Xhoba, as it is traditionally called, is classified as a succulent because the plant produces flowers, but has thorns like those of a cactus. Within the family Asclepiadaceae, Hoodia gordonii is the only plant that is identified with the body slimming property of suppressing appetite, and made into natural diet pills for everyday consumption.
For generations, Hoodia has been used by the San Bushmen of the Kalahari to treat a number of ailments including stomach pains and fatigue. More importantly, Hoodia gordonii has been used as an appetite suppressant for the Bushmen during long hunting expeditions by eating the flesh of the succulent. Now, it is available in the form of natural diet pills .
Unfortunately, the supply of Hoodia gordonii is limited, as the plant is a protected species, making harvesting in the wild forbidden. To avoid over exploitation, only a select few are granted permits and licenses from the South African government to plant and export Hoodia . The supply is used to make natural diet pills and products around the world. Click here for more information on what Hoodia is.
Hoodia as a Weight Loss Tool
Throughout the 1960s, South Africa 's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) conducted studies on indigenous plants, reaffirming that Hoodia is effective in suppressing the appetite of animal test subjects. Further research allowed the CSIR to isolate the molecule that was responsible for appetite suppression. In 1997, the process of extraction and the formulation of the molecule, P57, were patented. The patent was then licensed to Phytopharm, a British pharmaceutical company, who had completed a successful human trial and was looking for a partner company to develop a line of diet pills to fight obesity.
Identifying Hoodia 's potential in the form of a weight loss pill , pharmaceutical giant Pfizer bought the rights to market and develop natural diet pills by subleasing Phytopharm's patent for $21 million USD. However, the costs associated with the extraction of the molecule proved to be too expensive for the mass production of a Hoodia diet pill. Hence, Pfizer ended the agreement in 2003 and Unilever stepped in to capitalize on the use of Hoodia in its line of weight loss dietary supplements in 2004. To date, both companies have yet to develop any diet products that are associated with Hoodia gordonii .
With increased attention on the obesity epidemic, Hoodia 's popularity and the developments on the natural diet pills continue to grow through news reports and features from networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, and even the BBC. On CBS' 60 Minutes Hoodia was even proven to be effective by correspondent Lesley Stahl, who sampled real Hoodia gordonii in South Africa as part of her Hoodia 60 Minutes report. Learn more about Hoodia here.
How you can buy Hoodia ?
Since Hoodia plant supply is limited and export quantities are strictly enforced, it is difficult and expensive to buy Hoodia on an individual basis. To allow for transport to other countries, Hoodia is available in two forms; powder and extract. Each form can be made into a liquid or into a weight loss tablet . These natural diet pills act as a supplement to your dieting plans by helping you to lose weight.
At first glance, the extract may appear to be the stronger form because it is made from pure Hoodia concentrate. However, extracts seem to be less effective because the whole plant is not used. It is believed that drying the Hoodia plant whole and then milling it into fine powder appears to be stronger as the whole plant is preserved. This ensures that the appetite suppressing properties of the Hoodia plant remain in the natural diet pills .
Buyer Beware
Because of Hoodia 's new found popularity as the ultimate answer to dieting in Canada and the United States, a number of diet pills have come on the market that claim to contain real Hoodia . In choosing the right natural diet pills for your dieting plans, use caution in evaluating which products contain pure, real Hoodia gordonii as some products only contain trace amounts. Other weight loss pills will include a mix of “fillers” to make their product sound more powerful, but do not contain any pure Hoodia . Many websites also contain a Hoodia review, which attempt to rate a number of Hoodia pills out on the market. However, these sites are biased in their claims, which often rate their product as the best diet pills around.
As always, it's buyer beware when purchasing any natural diet pills that claim to contain ingredients such as 100% pure Hoodia from South Africa . When buying your Hoodia pills , ensure that the company has proof that their supply comes from a licensed Hoodia distributor or grower. Most reputable dealers will offer a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with their product. Click here for more information on protecting yourself from Hoodia scams.
Are there any Hoodia side effects ?
Hoodia is not associated with any side effects as it is a natural botanical that has been consumed for many years by the San Bushmen of the Kalahari. It is natural and safe to use, but it is recommended that you consult your physician before taking any rapid weight loss pills or natural diet pills . Check out our Hoodia safety page and FAQs section for more information.
It is important to remember that these natural diet pills may not be the Hoodia magic bullet or whole solution to your weight loss. True weight loss can only happen by changing your lifestyle and eating healthier through a balanced diet combined with a moderate exercise regimen. Below are several sites that will help you get on the right track to a healthier lifestyle with an assortment of diet tips and healthy eating suggestions: