Many people are aware that hoodia diet pills are derived from the Hoodia plant. This is a succulent, and there are more than 20 varieties of the hoodia plant, but our interest is focused exclusively on the Hoodia Gordonii, which alone contains the magic ingredient, a new molecule named P57 by the team that discovered its amazing qualities.

The plant is native to South Africa, particularly the desert regions of the Kalahari. The indigenous tribes were aware of the natural ability of this plant to reduce normal appetite. This was very useful to these tribesmen, who would often have to undertake hunting trips that could last for many days, until they found the game they were after. They would more often than not set off carrying no food, and so would chew on the plant to stave off their natural hunger pangs.

Although this practice of the Kalahari tribespeople was recorded by a Dutch anthropologist in the 1930s, it is only recently that the pharmaceutical companies started to take an intense interest in this appetite-suppressing plant.

Their clinical trials revealed that the body would "demand" up to 2000 fewer calories where the P57 had been taken. In other words, the body was tricked into feeling full with a greatly reduced amount of food.

So, as non-scientists, we must accept that the case is proven. Hoodia Gordonii does indeed suppress the appetite, and, for most of us, if our appetite is reduced then we are far less likely to over-eat. If you take hoodia, you MUST continue to eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of liquids, and take regular exercise, and then you will lose weight and remain healthy.

The trouble is, once word got out about this wonderful and effective weight loss product, there was a huge demand, and this led to many unscrupulous parties getting involved in this booming market. Even today, the Internet can provide hundreds of sites offering different hoodia products.

The consumer was rightly confused with the variety of hoodia products, and rightly surmised that many of the claims made were fraudulent. In many cases, the product was based on a hoodia plant, but not on the Hoodia Gordonii, the only one with the magic active ingredient, so it would not suppress the appetite.

In other cases, many chemicals were added to the hoodia extract to produce a unique product, but these were not as effective, and could produce side effects. Remember that the hoodia plant is 100% natural, and so does not have any nasty side effects.

The old maxim of "Buyer Beware" applies here as in so many instances. You should only ever purchase a product based on 100% pure hodia gordonii, and anyone purporting to offer pure hoodia gordonii should carry appropriate certification. If they do not offer proof of certification, then go elsewhere.