Pure Hoodia Gordonii and the Importance of the CITES Certificate

By Reagan Miers

If you are thinking about taking hoodia diet pills to help you with your weight loss, you probably know that CITES certificates differentiate pure hoodia gordonii from inferior hoodia products. Yet, I wonder how many people truly understand what the CITES certificate really is and why it's so important. As a consumer I want you to know what the certificate is and what it means within the hoodia market.

The hoodia gordonii plant is a protected species due to its limited supply and high demand. It is only found in South Africa and until recent years, was only grown wild. Due to the increasing popularity for hoodia gordonii, farming began in an attempt to keep up with skyrocketing demand. In order to protect the hoodia plant and the industry as a whole, including the San people who have a vested interest in their native crop, the South African government implemented controls, licenses, and regulations for the harvesting and exportation of hoodia gordonii.

One of the basic regulations put in place for the endangered hoodia gordonii is the implementation of the CITES certificate. CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. This is basically an agreement between governments that ensures that international trade of the plant doesn't threaten its survival. There are other regulations and documents that are required, too, but for the sake of this article I am only going to discuss the CITES certificate.

In order for a company to legally export hoodia gordonii from South Africa, an export permit from CITES must be obtained. Every shipment exported from South Africa must be accompanied by a CITES permit. These permits expire in six months, but the expiration period only pertains to the actual shipment of hoodia gordonii out of South Africa. In other words, a supplier has six months from the time they are issued a CITES permit to actually ship the hoodia gordonii out of South Africa. If they don't and the shipment of hoodia sits in the port, the supplier must reapply for a new permit.

There has been a lot of confusion about the dates on CITES permits. Some people are made to believe that the dates on these permits must be "current" or the company involved in the selling of hoodia gordonii is shady or lying. A CITES certificate that is outdated or old is just that - which means the six month window of exportation has expired.

When someone exports hoodia gordonii from South Africa, the original CITES permit stays with the inventory until it is gone. If a supplier exports thousands of kilograms of hoodia on one permit, they may not sell out of it for months and months. Yes, the date on the CITES permit will be expired, but the permit itself is still valid and proves the hoodia gordonii is legal and authentic. Just because a CITES permit may have expired doesn't mean the plant that is being used is a fake, or that shady practices are involved in the business.

Something that is important for you to know is a CITES certificate may have a different company's name on it than the company you are purchasing the hoodia products from. This means you may go to the XYZ Company to purchase hoodia supplements and upon viewing their CITES certificate you see the supplier's name is ABC Company. The names on the CITES permits may not always match up.

Supplement companies purchase their hoodia gordonii from suppliers. Suppliers are the ones that are listed on the CITES permits. These are the companies that actually go in and export the hoodia out of South Africa. There are only a limited number of suppliers who can obtain CITES permits. In the above example, the ABC Company is the supplier of the hoodia gordonii to the XYZ Company.

It's important that you understand that just because a website display a CITES certificate isn't a guarantee that the company is packaging pure hoodia gordonii into their products. As you probably know, there are no regulations on supplements, so companies can make claims about their products, even if they may not be true.

That is not always true. Keep in mind that the only thing a CITES permit proves is that a supplier was given the right to export "X amount" of hoodia gordonii from South Africa. Once the supply is exported, the supplier and any company purchasing hoodia from the supplier can do what they want with the hoodia gordonii. A company may claim they are selling a hoodia diet pill that contains 500mg of authentic hoodia gordonii, and while they may have a CITES certificate for the supply they purchased, they may not use a full 500mg in each capsule! They may only use 250mg or 150mg or whatever may be the case.

Now that you have a better understanding of what the CITES certificate is and what its role is, you know why looking for one is important when trying to find authentic hoodia gordonii diet pills and products.

About the Author:

Did you know that the CITES certificate is just one of 13 things to be aware of when you buy hoodia pills? Get the detailed list of what to be aware of and read reviews of the best hoodia here.

What You Need To Know About Appetite Suppressors

By Therese Zachary

You could be one of the many who could use some appetite suppressors. But are you even convinced that you really need them? What are your appetite suppressant options?

Why Use Appetite Suppressants

Appetite suppressants are just what the term suggests. These are substances, procedures or techniques people use to help curb the appetite or craving for food. People typically need these as part of a comprehensive weight loss program. It is obvious that someone who has a constant craving for food will have a hard time managing or maintaining his ideal weight. Depending on the substance or technique of choice, suppressants can either modify chemical signals or reactions in the body or they can modify food choices and intake to cut appetite.

Suppressant Options

There are many appetite suppressant options. Your doctor could prescribe you with certain medications. It is important to note though that these medicines are usually recommended only for a brief period of time. They are therefore used only to control appetite while a person on a weight loss program is trying to fit into prescribed food choices and eating habits.

Appetite Suppressor Techniques - Aside from the medical option, you could also use techniques that are also appetite suppressors. Some of these techniques include eating slowly, drinking water before a meal, eating salads before a meal and eating small but frequent portions. You can also modify your food choices to contain more vegetables which contain fiber and whole wheat grains which contain complex carbohydrates. By modifying aspects of your diet and habits, you also limit your appetite.

Natural Products - A final option would be to use natural products to stop your appetite. Reputable natural products contain main ingredients that have been traditionally known in many countries as suppressants. In the past, the popular option has been to use products containing Hoodia. The plant however is an endangered and protected one so not every product that says it contains Hoodia really does. A more recent discovery is the Indian plant Caralluma. A reputable product that contains Caralluma has the same appetite suppressing effect as Hoodia products. Caralluma has passed tests for general safety.

Making Your Choice

The Trouble with Appetite - The truth is that it really is difficult to try to curb your appetite. Some individuals can jump from one method to another without truly finding that one method that is completely effective. This is because people are unique individuals and not every effective technique will work on everyone.

Safety - When you do make your choice though, safety should be your main concern. You would want to suppress your appetite in an effective but safe way. Otherwise, you could suffer from side effects or put yourself at risk of experiencing complications. In this case, losing weight would be pointless.

Consulting a Doctor - To assess the safety of an option, you could ask your doctor to extensively discuss each option. You shouldn?t just take your doctor?s word on it though. You should also perform your own research on various appetite suppressors. Always remember that your health and well being are on the line. Make the right choice.

About the Author:

Experience the wonders of appetite suppressors. Buy Caralluma online now.

Hoodia Gordonii: A Miracle Weight Loss Product

By Philip Mc Donald

It is not by a mishap that Hoodia Gordonii became a wonderful product for weight loss. Enormous amount of study and development was done before the launch of this product in the market. The various researches done on this product showed that this product could strongly and safely repress the desire for food so that the caloric intake is limited to one thousand calories per day.

Until now no case has been found where people who took Hoodia Gordonii as a supplement along with their diet had any dangerous side effects. There are a few tales which have floated up telling that a few are experiencing a "mild aphrodisiac and raise in mood". An element called "P57" is found in "Fat burners" that have Hoodia Gordonii. This substance is thought to be responsible for the repression of appetite.

Even though the popularity of Hoodia Gordonii has increased globally in recent times, it has been used for centuries as an appetite suppressant. While on long hunting expeditions in the Kalahari Desert, the Bushmen tribe will consume Hoodia Cactus to increase strength and restrict thirst and hunger.

Hoodia Gordonii is internationally famous as a neutral product. Until now no appetite suppressant has come into the market which is as effectual as Hoodia Gordonii. There are only a few companies that offer uncontaminated and effective Gordonii products that get consumer's approval.

Those who are keen to embark on a new weight loss or management program can take advantage of the new Gordonii compound. Its fame has increased manifold after more and more people showing interest in this new product.

Consumers are looking for an effective hunger & thirst reducing product to aid in weight loss and many insist that Hoodia supplements are the answer.

There are nearly twenty Hoodia plants and Hoodia Gordonii is one of them. Nevertheless, it is the only plant that has the appetite suppressant that helps in reducing weight. There are many diet pills and other "appetite suppressants" present in the market now a days, but are found to have many dangerous side effects. On the contrary, no known side effects are there in Hoodia Gordonii.

If you are thinking about adding Hoodia Gordonii to your weight loss plan, consult your physician before making changes in your diet and exercise plan. A carefully planned weight loss program is more likely to be followed, and as a result leads to success.

About the Author:

You may have seen the news piece about hoodia on 60 Minutes. Weight loss guru Philip McDonald gives more details on this natural weight loss plan in his articles.

Hoodia Gordonii & Side Effects

By Philip McDonald

The advantages of using Hoodia Gordonii have become much better knownin recent years. It has been shown to assist substantially in efforts to lose weight.

Hoodia has better health benefits and is quite widely accepted. There are no known side effects associated with products derived from pure Hoodia, and it does not contain stimulants.

Remember that the use of Hoodia pills to help you lose weight does not mean you are on a diet. Its purpose is to keep your appetite suppressed. It will help you feel less hungry while keeping your energy levels high.

As of yet, there have been no reported adverse side effects of Hoodia Gordonii. As a matter of fact it has been included in the African food chain for generations. Some of the world's eldest tribes in Africa have been consuming raw Hoodia for thousands of years.

The local tribes who have consistently used Hoodia generation after generation confirm that there are no side effects to be concerned about. As a result, the South African government classifies Hoodia Gordonii as a food, not a medicine.

The only proven side effect associated with the consumption of Hoodia Gordonii is that it causes the brain to believe that it is "full" even if one has not consumed food. This can be an issue when energy and power is needed if one participates in demanding activities.

There is a great concern that those with eating disorders will want to use Hoodia for rapid weight loss, thus depriving themselves of necessary nutrients.

Product disclaimers for Hoodia state that the product, "Not be used by children, pregnant women, or women who are nursing. It is not intended for those who have an eating disorder or for those who do not need to lose weight.

About the Author:

Philip McDonald writes in detail about hoodia side effects and other popular weight loss products.

Hoodia and Appetite Control

By Philip Mc Donald

Hoodia has become quite popular due to the fact that several journalists have broadcast reports of its powers. During a 60 Minutes segment, Leslie Stahl reported that she had used Hoodia and had not experienced any adverse side effects. Tom Mangold, a BBC News correspondent, reported that in addition to a noticeable decrease in his appetite, he found that Hoodia produced a feel-good, almost aphrodisiac effect.

But is there any actual proof that Hoodia suppresses the appetite? Clinical studies have been performed on Hoodia, but perhaps the Bushmen of South Africa present some of the most compelling non-clinical proof. For centuries they have eaten Hoodia Gordonii to suppress their appetites while on extended hunting expeditions. As far as anyone can tell, they have not experienced any ill effects; Hoodia is just an accepted, normal part of their lives.

In 2001, Phytopharm completed a double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study in healthy, but overweight volunteers using the P57 extract from Hoodia Gordonii. When compared, the P57 group had a significant reduction in caloric intake with no adverse side effects. On average, the P57 group ate about 1,000 calories less in a day than those in the control group.

So, what makes P57 (and Hoodia Gordonii) so effective in suppressing the appetite? The belief is that Hoodia (specifically the P57 found in the hoodia) imitates the effect that glucose has on nerve cells in the brain. Basically, it fools your brain into thinking you are full when you're not and this cuts your urge to snack on unhealthy food. In fact, hoodia is more powerful than glucose in telling the brain that you are full.

Actually, Hoodia seems to have a more powerful effect on limiting the appetite than glucose. According to Dr. Richard Dixey of Phytopharm, the hypothalamus is the area of the brain that senses glucose sugar. Blood sugar rises when you eat, causing the cells to activate and send the message that you are full. It appears that Hoodia contains a molecule that is approximately 10,000 times more potent than glucose. It causes the hypothalamus to send a signal to the cells to make you feel as though you are full, even if you have not yet eaten. In addition, you do not have any desire to eat.

Just remember, you still need to eat, not matter how much Hoodia you consume. We all need food to survive. You will need to learn the difference between real hunger and hormonal hunger. Real hunger is when your body does not have enough food to function and hormonal hunger is caused by fluctuating insulin levels. Hormonal hunger is usually the downfall of dieters, causing carvings for sweets and other junk foods.

You do need to continue to eat meals when you experience real hunger, but you will be eliminating all this snacking due to hormonal hunger. While hoodia can help eliminate both types of hunger, we feel it is unhealthy to skip meals. The real advantage we see to hoodia is that it suppresses cravings for snacks when you are not experiencing real hunger, but hormonal hunger.

What makes Hoodia different from other diet pills is that diet pills and or supplements work by attempting to increase the rate at which our body burns fat and that comes with serious health risks. Hoodia supplements are different because they actually prevent weight gain. As much as everyone argues about the best path to weight loss, it actually is as simple as basic math. You can not gain weight if you consume less calories than you burn. With Hoodia, you have a powerful weapon to fight hunger and therefore consume fewer calories.

About the Author:

Author Philip McDonald explores the hoodia balance. Find more of his articles on weight loss tips online.