How to Purchase High Grade Weight Loss Hoodia

How To Purchase Weight Loss Potent Hoodia

By Matthew Constantine, PhD (biochemist)

Over 1 billion people are overweight globally, with at least 300 million of those fitting the definition of being obese. Obesity is considered a disease of epidemic proportions with terrible consequences: an increase in chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and some types of cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study in 2009 that found that the cost of obesity in the United States is $147 billion per year. The CDC calls the U.S. an obesogenic society – meaning that the environment is conducive to creating obesity through excessive food intake, unhealthy foods and lack of physical activity.

Fact: Hoodia Is Effective, At Least For Some

Appetite suppressants offer a gleam of hope in the ongoing war against obesity, where other approaches have failed. Derived from 100% natural sources, Hoodia gordonii has sparked tremendous interest among people and companies worldwide. Dozens of international patent applications have been registered on Hoodia gordonii, and numerous products containing H. gordonii are already on the market.

The satiety enhancing properties of Hoodia have been studied and subsequently attributed to P57, an oxypregane glucoside and the plant’s only known active ingredient [1]. Experiments on rats have shown that the hypothalamus seems to be the target for the active ingredient’s possible mechanism of action. The hypothalamus is part of the central nervous system, and is renowned for its role in regulating hunger. It has been postulated that the P57 molecule affects the neurons in the hypothalamus that regulate the body’s food intake. In the above-mentioned experiments, rats had direct injections of P57 into their brains and subsequently exhibited anorectic activity – they consumed less food.

Regarding safety, the animal studies have not demonstrated any harmful effects. Phytofarm conducted short-term studies in human subjects that showed the plant extract to be well-tolerated. Furthermore, since the plant was introduced on the market several years ago, there have been virtually no consumer reports of safety issues or side effects related to the consumption of pure Hoodia. Lastly, the centuries-long association between Hoodia and the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert argues against any health-threatening effects associated with its use.

A Problem Foreseen: Adulteration Of Most Hoodia Products

Hoodia is indigenous to Angola, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. It does not grow in any other region as a native plant. Furthermore, it is categorized as an endangered species and its export from Africa is therefore strictly monitored by the government of South Africa and by the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES.) Another complication is that before the critical P57 molecules can fully develop, the plant has to be at least 5 years old. In order to ensure a sustainable supply, the mature plant may only be harvested every third year.

While the supply has become more and more limited, the demand for weight loss products made from Hoodia gordonii has grown exponentially. At present, more than 100 such products are marketed in the United States. These are packaged in the following forms: Hoodia powders, lollipops, protein shakes, tablets, hoodia capsules, liquid gels, snack or fruit bars, juices, tinctures, coffee and tea.

The gap between supply and demand has created dire shortages of this precious commodity. Because any product labeled as containing H. gordonii will find a market, the alteration of such products through the substitution of other material is a foregone conclusion. This assumption was proven by a peer-reviewed study conducted in 2008 at the University of Mississippi. An analysis of 35 dietary supplements claiming to contain genuine H. gordonii revealed that only 9 of them in fact had detectable amounts of p57 [2]. These findings represent a 75% adulteration rate, making the fake Hoodia trade one of the most fraudulent markets within the natural health industry.

Nevertheless, there are honest companies within the Hoodia market. These companies have integrity and work diligently to provide only authentic Hoodia gordonii to their customers. The question is – how do you know these legitimate companies when you see them?

The Proof – Laboratory Tests and Certificates

The primary way to avoid buying ersatz Hoodia is through certifications of authenticity. True Hoodia is always accompanied by a CITES certificate. This is a document that verifies that the product has been legally exported from South Africa. In order to export genuine Hoodia, the company must have an official permit.

Next on the list is the confirmation of independent laboratory tests [3]. Since adulteration of products that claim to contain pure H. gordonii has become widespread, authentication techniques were developed to analyze the products’ composition and safety. Alkemist Pharmaceuticals is one of many companies that specialize in phytochemical analysis. Because this is a reputable company, the majority of Hoodia products undergo rigorous analysis through this supplier’s independent lab tests. The approach is a very effective combination of three distinct testing protocols and follows the guidelines set forth by the American Herbal Products Association regarding the identification and authentication of the purity of powdered raw materials that are labeled as H. gordonii.

Authentication Method 1 – Via Microscopic Analysis

The aerial parts of the Hoodia plant are those that are above ground and this is where the compounds that have an anti-obesity effect are located. A trained microscopist can examine material to determine whether there are components present that are NOT consistent with the species Hoodia gordonii. Two common adulterants are Opuntia (cactus) and maltodextrin, a polysaccharide that is commonly used as a food additive. Both of these substances can be reliably detected through microscopic analysis. If the material passes this test of authenticity, then there will be a microscopic analysis certificate verifying that the material is the aerial part of the H. gordonii plant.

Although microscopy is effective at identifying the presence of foreign substances, it cannot be the only technique used to validate authenticity of Hoodia gordonii. This is due to the possible presence of related species that have a similar structure, such as Caralluma fimbriata. This is a succulent that has been grown and used in India for centuries and is known there as the “famine plant” for its appetite suppressing qualities. However, its effectiveness pales in comparison to H. gordonii and substitution with this material constitutes fraud.

Authentication Method 2 – TLC or Thin Layer Chromatography

A powerful means of identifying the presence of pure Hoodia gordonii is Thin Layer Chromatography. Each and every plant is composed of a mixture of chemical compounds. Analysis via the TLC method reveals the plant’s unique chemical fingerprint. The laboratory begins with a “voucher specimen” of true Hoodia and compares it to the material whose purity is in question. The two fingerprints must match if the new material is to be authenticated as pure Hoodia. Therefore, a TLC certificate must accompany genuine Hoodia products, verifying that the product matched the voucher specimen in the independent lab test.

Authentication Method 3 – HPLC or High Performance Liquid Chromatography

As of the present time, only P57 has been identified as an active ingredient in Hoodia. Any products that do not contain molecule P57 cannot be assumed to confer any weight loss benefits. Chemists use HPLC to isolate and verify the presence of the P57 molecule. They achieve this by extracting the test material’s chemical substances and inserting them into a chromatographic column, a kind of tube that is pressurized at one end. Each chemical compound will move through the tube at a speed determined by its unique properties and will reach the end of the tube at its predetermined “exit time.” If P57 is present in the test material, then it will be detected as it completes the journey through the tube at the exact moment consistent with that exit time. The HPLC certificate will confirm that the analyte P57 was detected.

Summing Up

Hoodia gordonii has been confirmed to be a safe natural supplement with anorectic properties. This has been proven through real life experience and by independent laboratory tests. However, approximately three-fourths of the products sold on the Internet or through health food stores are imitations. In order to guarantee that Hoodia products are authentic, it is important to look for current independent lab test certificates. However, forged certificates are always a possibility in this age of digital manipulation.

Unique Hoodia and Hoodoba are authenticated brands of Hoodia products that have been recommended by experts such as Mike Adams, the health ranger.

Hoodia is a star among the best-rated weight loss diets. Demand for this product has soared, surpassing even that for Medifast diet coupons—a popular diet in the US. Yet it is important not to expect supplements such as appetite suppressants to be a magic bullet. They should be just one component of an overall shift to a healthier lifestyle.

References

1. MacLean DB, et al. Increased ATP content/production in the hypothalamus may be a signal for energy-sensing of satiety: studies of the anorectic mechanism of a plant steroidal glycoside. Brain Res 2004;1020:1–11.

2. Bharathi Avula, et al. A rapid method for chemical fingerprint analysis of Hoodia species related genera, and dietary supplements using UPLC-UV-MS. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2008 Nov 4;48(3):722-31

3. American Herbal Products Association. www.ahpa.org