| Gotten any email spam lately with a 'warning' | | | | takes time since Hoodia has never been cultivated |
| about buying fake Hoodia products or Hoodia | | | | before and all the problems of pests, plant |
| products with a variety of fillers?Of course, they | | | | diseases, correct growing conditions, etc. have to |
| assure you that THEIR product is 'the original | | | | be figured out.What all this really means is that |
| product.' It may be the original product, whatever | | | | right now the quantities of real Hoodia available |
| that might mean, but the chances of it containing | | | | are extremely limited. Some legitimate supplement |
| Hoodia are pretty close to zero.Or maybe you're | | | | companies have even been scammed by their |
| getting the spam about Hoodia 92--, whatever, or | | | | suppliers into believing that they were receiving |
| one about getting into skinny jeans or having men | | | | genuine Hoodia when they were getting roots, |
| chase you, or the brickwall last 18 pounds spam | | | | other succulents, sawdust, etc.As a consumer, |
| with the large "disc0unts". Obviously the | | | | you are likely to get burned buying any weight |
| spammers see this as a potentially lucrative | | | | loss product that is supposed to contain Hoodia |
| market. If any of the spam tempts you, you | | | | unless it has been licensed by Phytopharm. Food |
| really need to be aware of a few things about | | | | supplements (NOT labeled as a weight loss |
| Hoodia.The whole diet area is scam heaven for | | | | product) may or may not contain Hoodia. Ones |
| unscrupulous, dishonest con artists selling products | | | | that may actually contain Hoodia may not have |
| that do nothing and cost a lot. The few legitimate | | | | enough to have any weight loss effect. Some |
| ones can be nearly impossible to identify among | | | | may contain Hoodia, but not the active ingredient |
| the fakes.Legally, only one company has the | | | | (that P57 molecule).At this point, Phytopharm is |
| license to market Hoodia as a weight loss product. | | | | planning to bring out various food products |
| Hoodia gordonii, as a weight loss product, has | | | | containing Hoodia gordonii, hopefully by |
| been patented by CSIR (the South African Council | | | | 2008.Meanwhile, unless it's a Pytopharm product, if |
| for Scientific and Industrial Research) and patents | | | | it claims to be Hoodia and to be for weight loss, |
| have been submitted in territories all over the | | | | at the very least the marketing is illegal and |
| world. Exclusive license for these patents belongs | | | | infringes on Phytopharm's rights, and, most |
| to Phytopharm, a bio-pharmaceutical company.The | | | | probably, the product has either none of the |
| main problem is that Hoodia is a slow growing | | | | necessary product or too little to be |
| succulent (it looks sort of like a cactus) which | | | | effective.Once real Hoodia products do become |
| grows wild in limited areas in South Africa, Namibia | | | | more widely available, they could be extremely |
| and Botswana. While not endangered (yet), it is | | | | helpful in weight reduction and appetite control. But |
| listed in Appendix II of CITES (Convention on | | | | now? Over the internet? Scams seem to rule, so |
| International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild | | | | be prepared to waste your money. While Hoodia |
| Fauna and Flora). That means there are legal | | | | certainly appears to work - and probably is safe, |
| controls on collecting Hoodia and on exporting | | | | your chances of actually getting Hoodia, unless |
| it.Hoodia contains a molecule called P57 (catchy | | | | you are very careful, make focusing on |
| name, isn't it?). According to Phytopharm's Dr | | | | maintaining a workable diet and exercise program |
| Richard Dixey, P57 essentially tricks the brain into | | | | a much more certain alternative for losing |
| feeling full. No side effects except a sense of | | | | weight.Copyright 2006 Richard KeirRichard writes |
| feeling good have yet been identified but clinical | | | | on a variety of health and niche subjects. If |
| trials are still underway to ensure that the Hoodia | | | | you're interested in low carb (be careful with this |
| extract is safe. Unfortunately, while P57 can be | | | | kind of diet, it may be unsafe), has recipes, |
| artificially made, the process cannot be scaled up | | | | articles, news and diet resources. has more |
| to produce commercial quantities at affordable | | | | articles and information on diets, dieting, nutrition |
| prices.Phytopharm is, however, in the process of | | | | and fitness. |
| developing extensive Hoodia plantations. This | | | | |