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NaturalNews.com > NaturalPedia > Hoodia gordonii Hoodia gordonii page 1 of 3 | Next -> Email this page to a friend Want news about Hoodia gordonii and more e-mailed to you? Click here for free email alerts Hoodia gordonii update: Honest sellers, safety information and weight loss realities Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts So if you want genuine hoodia gordonii, you may want to order it now. Don't buy it retail: None of the retail hoodia products that I'm aware of are made with genuine hoodia gordonii. As far as I can tell, only a few Internet companies are offering real hoodia products. Then again, as a disclaimer, I haven't tested every single product on the market, either. So buyer beware. Don't trust CITES certificates, as they can be easily forged or Photoshopped. The bottom line on hoodia What's the bottom line on hoodia? Hoodia gordonii helps for weight loss, but isn't a miracle solution Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts It's also a drug, meaning you'd need a prescription, which makes it a lot more difficult to get than hoodia gordonii. So don't put any short-term hopes on the PYY nasal spray. Right now, hoodia gordonii is probably the best thing going. There's also the upcoming Acomplia prescription drug, but I'm highly skeptical of the safety of this particular drug. Unlike the PYY nasal spray which is a natural hormone, this Acomplia drug is not natural at all. It's not even available yet (still in testing) and yet people are asking for it by name at weight loss centers all over the country. Diet Pill Supplement Scam: Two-Thirds of hoodia gordonii Pills Sold In the United States Are Counterfeit Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts The laboratory tests, conducted by Alkemist Pharmaceuticals in Costa Mesa, CA, show that approximately two-thirds of the tested supplements contain no identifiable hoodia gordonii according to two plant authentication tests: High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Many samples were furthermore subjected to microscopy with digital photo documentation. For each specimen, an unopened, sealed plastic bottle was delivered to Alkemist Pharmaceuticals. The batch number and expiration date, if printed on the bottle, was photo-documented. Failure of this test does NOT necessarily indicate that the manufacturer is aware of the non-authentic nature of their hoodia gordonii raw materials (raw powder). Truth Publishing is aware of many cases where hoodia brokers are using dishonest tactics to fool U.S. manufacturers into buying bogus hoodia even as they believe they are purchasing the real thing. These tactics include: Counterfeiting lab results. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. hoodia gordonii was added to the CITES schedule during a 2004 meeting in Bangkok. The official CITES listing for hoodia now reads: Botswana , Namibia , and South Africa submitted a proposal to the 14th Conference of the Parties of CITES to list all species of Hoodia on Appendix II. This proposal was accepted in January 2005 and it is now prohibited to trade in any parts and derivatives of any Hoodia species without a permit. Because all genuine hoodia gordonii exported from South Africa must have a CITES certificate, the display of such a certificate by hoodia resellers is one of the ways consumers can confirm the authenticity of the product. See a CITES certificate on the DesertBurn.com website. Desert Burn also displays the sellers license and growers license, providing the most documentation of all hoodia resellers in the United States. Not surprisingly, some websites are counterfeiting the CITES certificates with help from Photoshop. By photo-editing the certificate found on DesertBurn. Hoodia gordonii helps for weight loss, but isn't a miracle solution Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts Right now, hoodia gordonii is probably the best thing going. There's also the upcoming Acomplia prescription drug, but I'm highly skeptical of the safety of this particular drug. Unlike the PYY nasal spray which is a natural hormone, this Acomplia drug is not natural at all. It's not even available yet (still in testing) and yet people are asking for it by name at weight loss centers all over the country. Some people believe this Acomplia drug will also help them stop smoking. One of the active ingredients in the herb is a chemical compound called P57, which is thought to be at least partly responsible for the appetite-suppressing effects of hoodia gordonii. But this is probably an oversimplification, since herbs typically work with an assortment of chemical compounds, not just one chemical. In terms of its overall appetite-suppressing potential, hoodia is just one of many products coming down the line. I suspect that the much-hyped PYY3-36 nasal spray, produced by a company called NasTech, might offer another realistic appetite suppressant solution. Diet Pill Supplement Scam: Two-Thirds of hoodia gordonii Pills Sold In the United States Are Counterfeit Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts These products, according to the lab test results, contain 100% genuine hoodia gordonii: Desert Burn Hoodoba Pure Dr. Wheeler's Afrigetics King Hoodia Hoodia Max Ethno Africa The other eleven hoodia products failed the authentication tests. For reasons that will be explained below, the brand names of those failing supplements are not being listed here, but Truth Publishing can confirm that those products are popular, brand-name products found on the internet and on health food store shelves everywhere. Hoodia gordonii helps for weight loss, but isn't a miracle solution Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts Until then, hoodia gordonii seems to be your best appetite suppressant (and, in fact, it may turn out to be the best choice even after these other drugs are released). Finally, I'd like to add that if you're not engaging in regular physical exercise, there's no way you'll lose weight, no matter what supplement you're taking. So don't turn to hoodia, PYY nasal spray or any other diet pills and expect to drop the pounds without getting into a regular exercise routine. Take responsibility for your actions, and don't make the mistake of thinking that you'll lose weight without physical exercise. Consumer Alert: hoodia gordonii weight loss pills scam exposed by independent investigation Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts REPPED: Truth Publishing can now reveal the details of an exhaustive investigation into what may be the largest hoodia gordonii supplement scam operating in North America: the Pure Hoodia, Inc. company. (This article has recently been updated with even more evidence, see below for details.) In this exclusive Truth Publishing report, you'll learn how: Pure Hoodia, Inc. is selling counterfeit hoodia as verified by independent lab testing (actual documents revealed below). Pure Hoodia, Inc. is failing to fill their capsules with the promised quantity of powder. Roots, unfortunately, have none of the active chemical constituents that give hoodia gordonii its appetite suppressant qualities. Wild harvesting species that appear similar to hoodia, but are not hoodia. While this may allow the bulk ingredients to pass a simple microscopy test (because it all looks like succulent material under the microscope), it will not pass HPLC and TLC testing (chromatographic tests) that reveal the active chemical constituents of the sample. The microscopy test shows the sample has no physical resemblance to hoodia gordonii. (Click image to see full-size.) The first test conducted by Alkemist Pharmaceuticals (the lab) on the Pure Hoodia sample was a microscopy test. This is essentially a visual inspection of the microscopic structure of the material. Families of plants show unique structures under the microscope. For example, flowering perennials look very different from succulents. As the lab report states, "The characteristic cellular structures above cannot confirm the identity of hoodia gordonii." I spoke with the lab about this, and was told that the sample was definitely not hoodia, although it was, as they explained, "A common adulteration of hoodia seen in many samples submitted by various companies." In other words, it's not only counterfeit, it's also a "common" counterfeit recipe. Even though the microscopy test is, by itself, conclusive, we wanted to conduct more testing to make certain that our investigation was covering all the bases. The TLC (chromatographic) test reveals no chemical constituents resembling hoodia gordonii. (Click image to see full-size.) This test reveals the chromatographic profile of the sample substance. In layman's terms, each chemical in a sample resonates with certain frequencies of electromagnetic energy. As this energy is directed towards the sample in a progression algorithm that sweeps from short wavelengths to longer wavelengths, chemicals in the sample will resonate, giving off peaks of energy that are detectable by the TLC sensors.

Hoodia gordonii is no miracle weight loss pill, health investigation reveals Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

Note: I have recently received lab analysis verification of the authenticity of the hoodia gordonii from Hoodoba - hoodia gordonii Diet Pills, which is now my #1 recommended source for hoodia capsules. In other words, in my experience, hoodia was a help, but it was not at a miracle pill. It didn't just shut off my hunger like a light switch. It was an aid, yes, but I had to take a lot of hoodia to have any effect, and I still had to control my food choices or the hoodia offered no help whatsoever.

Consumer interest in hoodia gordonii skyrockets, but can it really help with weight loss? Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

Enter hoodia gordonii And then, like a lone flower blossoming in the desert, a plant quietly appears from the desert itself: hoodia gordonii. Used by thousands of years as an appetite suppressant by the San tribe in South Africa, hoodia seems to turn off the human appetite. Your hunger drive just vanishes. You simply don't want to eat. And the pounds fall off without even trying. The magic bullet has arrived, it seems, and everybody who has heard about hoodia suddenly wants some. Yet there are hucksters and con artists at work. Some are selling worthless products.

Hoodia gordonii helps for weight loss, but isn't a miracle solution Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

REPPED: The popularity of hoodia gordonii as an appetite suppressant continues to skyrocket. I've had an increasing number of readers e-mailing me to ask about the herb and tell me about their experiences with it. And when I've talked to various retailers and suppliers of the herb, I've learned that demand is shooting through the roof. Let me give you an update on my impressions of hoodia, based on what I'm hearing from readers and users. So far, the results are mixed. Some people are reporting that hoodia does absolutely nothing for them.

Hoodia fraud: Counterfeit hoodia gordonii weight loss pills dominate the market Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

I do know, at least with a high degree of certainty, that there are several legitimate hoodia gordonii products on the market. They include Desert Burn and Hoodoba. You can't go wrong buying these products. At the same time, I know the names of many other products that are absolutely counterfeit. I've spoken with some of the people at these companies, and I don't trust them. They sound like crooks, and they answer questions just like crooks would.

Hoodia gordonii update: Honest sellers, safety information and weight loss realities Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

But there are a few honest players in the market who offer genuine hoodia gordonii, and I list them below. Let me be clear about my position on hoodia: My complaint is not with the hoodia plant itself. I am a strong advocate of plant-based nutrition and various nutritional supplements. Nature is not the problem here; the con artists are the problem. They're selling so-called "hoodia diet pills" that actually contain no detectable levels of hoodia whatsoever, and that conclusion is based on High Performance Thin-Layer Chomatography (HPTLC) testing, digital microscopy and other lab tests.

REPPED: I am an outspoken critic of hoodia gordonii scams and con artists, but a supporter of honest nutritional supplements and herbal medicine in general. I've followed this story for almost two years now, and was the first to reveal the "Pure Hoodia" scam. As a consumer health advocate, I speak out on anything that I see as ripping people off, whether it's drug companies, disease mongering psychiatrists, or counterfeit diet pills.

Hoodia fraud: Counterfeit hoodia gordonii weight loss pills dominate the market Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

That's why you see so much crime in this industry, and that's why it's unique to hoodia gordonii. Protecting against fake hoodia So, what can you do as a consumer to protect yourself? Well, it's extremely difficult to actually weed out who is honest from who is a crook in this industry. I've had trouble, and I've talked to many people. I've spent dozens of hours researching this. I've talked to labs, I've looked at countless hoodia lab test results and I've tried many different hoodia products myself.

Hoodia gordonii update: Honest sellers, safety information and weight loss realities Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

Don't buy it retail: None of the retail hoodia products that I'm aware of are made with genuine hoodia gordonii. As far as I can tell, only a few Internet companies are offering real hoodia products. Then again, as a disclaimer, I haven't tested every single product on the market, either. So buyer beware. Don't trust CITES certificates, as they can be easily forged or Photoshopped. The bottom line on hoodia What's the bottom line on hoodia? It can be a useful weight loss tool in conjunction with exercise and major dietary changes, but it's no miracle weight loss pill.

Hoodia fraud: Counterfeit hoodia gordonii weight loss pills dominate the market Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

Easy money for crooks Based on my own research, I now believe that as much as 75% of all the hoodia gordonii supplements sold in the United States today are counterfeit (my estimate used to be lower, but things have gotten worse). In other words, the hucksters and con artists who seem to dominate this industry are scamming the American people in a big way to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. You might ask, "Why are there so many crooks in the hoodia business? You don't see crooks in the business of selling vitamin B12 or cod liver oil or other supplements. Why hoodia?

I would love to help clean up this market so that legitimate, honest hoodia gordonii resellers or manufacturers can be free to sell an honest product at an honest price to consumers who want assistance with their weight loss efforts. That's what I want to see. I want to see dishonest operators locked away, and I want to see honest operators given a level playing field in which they can compete on customer service and efficiencies and how well they are able to deliver an honest product to the consumer. Today, we are a long way from that.

Just to repeat, the two companies that I absolutely DO trust, and who are selling genuine hoodia gordonii, are Hoodoba and Desert Burn. Other industries also suffer from fraud By the way, for some context here, this is not a unique problem for the nutritional supplement industry. In fact, if you look at the medical industry, the vast majority of money changing hands is fraudulent. California is suing 37 pharmaceutical companies.

I can assure you that right now, if you search Google for hoodia gordonii, at least five out of the top 10 results that show up there as advertisers represent counterfeit hoodia products. There's absolutely no question about this. In fact, it's probably a much higher percentage than that, but you can count on at least half of them being counterfeit. Again, I'm not going to name which ones they are, for legal reasons, and it's very frustrating for me to have to censor myself in that regard out of fear of legal backlash from those companies.

Consumer Alert: hoodia gordonii weight loss pills scam exposed by independent investigation Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

South African companies provided a genuine sample of hoodia gordonii. But once a large-volume order was placed, the bulk ingredients turned out to be counterfeit. Truth Publishing can confirm that at least one U.S. hoodia supplement company is now engaged in legal action against a South African hoodia supplier who used this bait-and-switch tactic. Meanwhile, back in the U.S., hoodia supplement companies were raking in astronomical sales as demand for hoodia weight loss pills skyrocketed. With all the money flowing, some companies decided that using authentic hoodia was irrelevant.

Hoodia Gordonii holds promise as natural appetite suppressant Mike Adams, the Health Ranger See article keywords and concepts

That's exactly what we'll discuss in the next installment of this investigative report series on hoodia gordonii. Continue with part 3.

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TERMS OF USE: Read full terms of use. Citations of text from NaturalPedia must include: 1) Full credit to the original author and book title. 2) Secondary credit to the Natural News Naturalpedia as a research resource and a link to www.NaturalNews.com/np/index.html

This unique compilation of research is copyright (c) 2008 by the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center.

ABOUT THE CREATOR OF NATURALPEDIA: Mike Adams, the creator of this NaturalNews Naturalpedia, is the editor of NaturalNews.com, the internet's top natural health news site, creator of the Honest Food Guide (www.HonestFoodGuide.org), a free downloadable consumer food guide based on natural health principles, author of Grocery Warning, The 7 Laws of Nutrition, Natural Health Solutions, and many other books available at www.TruthPublishing.com, creator of the earth-friendly EcoLEDs company (www.EcoLEDs.com) that manufactures energy-efficient LED lighting products, founder of Arial Software (www.ArialSoftware.com), a permission e-mail technology company, creator of the CounterThink Cartoon series (www.NaturalNews.com/index-cartoons.html) and author of over 1,500 articles, interviews, special reports and reference guides available at www.NaturalNews.com. Adams' personal philosophy and health statistics are available at www.HealthRanger.org.

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