How To Buy Genuine Weight Loss Potent Hoodia
Over a billion people wake up every day confronted with issues of weight gain. There are 300 million obese adults and the numbers continue to increase. Obesity is more than just excessive weight gain; it also leads to increase of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and even some types of cancer. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention obesity costs as much as $ 147 million every year.
Hoodia: An Effective Weight Loss Supplement
With weight gain being such a vital health issue it is understandable that there is an increased demand for products that are effective in suppressing appetite. Hoodia gordonii is a natural appetite suppressant that is considered to be safe, according to studies that have been conducted on this succulent plant. Hoodia is used in a range of health products designed to help people lose weight. These products are found in the form of powder, pill or liquid, snack bar, beverage and as Hoodia tea and coffee. Hoodia has created a lot of interest amongst health food companies as well as individuals who wish to lose weight. Over 20 international patent applications have been filed for products that contain Hoodia.
Several studies have been carried out and it has been found that an oxypregnane glucoside is the active ingredient that leads to appetite suppression. Experts refer to this component as the P57. The hypothalamus, an integral part of the central nervous system, controls the body’s hunger. In experiments with rats it has been clear that the P57 led to anorectic activity and loss of weight. The studies have not indicated any harmful affects of Hoodia gordonii.
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Phytofarm has also conducted short term human studies that concluded that Hoodia was well tolerated by humans. Hoodia products have been available in the market for many years now and consumer reports indicate rare instances of safety problems and side effects. Hoodia has been safely used by the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert for many centuries now and this supports the argument against any health threatening effects of the Hoodia.
Adulteration – An Expected Problem
As the number of overweight and obese people across the world continues to increase, the demand for products that can help reduce hunger and weight gain is great. Hoodia gordonii is a plant that is native to countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Angola. It is indigenous and difficult to grow anywhere else. Hoodia is also among the endangered species, and its export from South Africa requires both the permission of the South African government, and a CITES -Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species – certificate.
The plant takes at least five years to mature adequately for the use of P57 commercially. The plant can be cultivated only once in two or three years. This means that the amount of Hoodia available for commercial use is limited and hence adulteration is a problem that can often be expected.
In 2008, Dr Avula studied 30 health supplements that claimed to contain Hoodia. These studies were conducted in the University of Mississippi and revealed some startling results. Only 9 of the supplements contained the P57, the appetite-suppressing component of the plant. As the demand for Hoodia based products increases, it is important for consumers to be very cautious. It is necessary to consider the certifications offered by independent testers and reviewers.
Testing and Authentication
As a consumer you need to be aware of the ingredients that are included in the health food products that you choose to consume. To avoid buying products that don’t contain Hoodia there are several things you can examine before you buy a product. First look for products that feature the CITES certificate; this means that the company has a license to import genuine Hoodia gordonii from South Africa.
Next, look for a statement indicating that independent tests have been conducted on the product. Hoodia based products may be adulterated, and authentication techniques such as phytochemical analysis done by specialists in a lab verify the validity of a product. Alkemist Pharmaceuticals is a well-known independent laboratory that offers three distinct authentication procedures.
Authentication Technique 1: Microscopic Analysis
According to scientists the P57—the active ingredient in Hoodia that is believed to cause appetite suppression—is found in the aerial parts of the plant. Hence, including any other part of the plant in the product is useless for the purpose of controlling hunger and appetite. A trained microscopist can study a given sample to verify that a product contains adulterants, such as Opuntia or maltodextrin—a common food additive. However, as there are other plant species that resemble the Hoodia gordonii, this technique cannot conclusively show the presence of Hoodia. It can only show the presence of foreign material that has structural characteristics different from that of the Hoodia gordonii plant. A certification, after a sample has undergone this technique, would state that the sample is characteristic of the aerial part of Hoodia gordonii.
Authentication Technique 2: Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
Every plant species is made up of several phytochemicals that exist in unique amounts and proportions. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) is a technique used to identify the chemical synthesis (fingerprint) of each species. First the chemical fingerprint of a genuine sample of Hoodia is obtained, and then it is compared with the chemical fingerprint of the sample that is being authenticated. If the fingerprints are identical then the sample is certified as authentic.
Authentication Technique 3: High Performance Liquidity Chromatography (HPLC)
The High Performance Liquidity Chromatography (HPLC) is a technique that is used to identify the presence of a specific compound in a mixture. When applied to Hoodia products, it aims to identify the presence of the P57. As this is the key ingredient that makes a product an effective appetite suppressant, it is important to ensure its presence in health supplements that claim to contain Hoodia. To test for P57, first the phytochemicals are extracted from the stems of the plant and introduced into the chromatographic column; then high pressure is exerted at one end. The chemicals move about in the tube at varying speeds and exit at a time unique to each; thus, each chemical reaches the end of the tube at a certain period of time. The exit time of the P57 is determined accordingly. Thereafter, a sample is studied to see if it exits at the time unique to the P57 in order to confirm the presence or absence of it. A HPCL certification will indicate the presence of P57.
Concluding Thoughts
Both experiences of consumers as well as a number scientific studies done on the Hoodia help us conclude that it is a safe appetite suppressant that controls weight gain. However, since there is a large number of dietary supplements, which falsely claim to contain Hoodia, it is important that one chooses products carefully. Whether you are shopping at your favorite health food store or online it is necessary to keep an eye on authentication certifications offered by independent laboratories.
Hoodia products such as Pure Hoodia, Hoodia Desert and Hoodoba are recommended by About.com and health rangers like Mike Adams. Hoodia is ranked amongst the top rated weight loss diets. In fact, daily online searches for the term “Hoodia” exceed those for promotional codes for Medifast diet, promotional codes for Nutrisystem diet and BistroMD savings coupons–three popular diet programs in the US. However, it is important to understand that Hoodia is not a magic bullet, while it certainly helps one to adapt to a healthier lifestyle.
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