If you want to lose weight safely and quickly chances are you've heard of the astonishing weight loss effects of Hoodia Gordonii.

But what exactly is Hoodia, what does it do, and will it help you lose weight?

Here is a review of Hoodia Gordonii as well as what you need to know before you buy Hoodia.

What is Hoodia?

Hoodia Gordonii is a cactus of the "succulent" cactus family, which has grown for thousands of years in the Kalahari Desert region. Hoodia has been used by the indigenous Bushmen as a natural appetite suppressant and thirst quencher during their long hunting trips for generations.

How Does Hoodia work?

Scientists believe that the reason for Hoodia's appetite suppressing abilities is a molecule called "P57". Normally, when you eat the glucose in your body rises and eventually signals to your brain (the hypothalamus) that you are full. It is believed that "P57" molecule in Hoodia mimics the effect that glucose has on your brain, telling part of your brain (the Hypothalamus) that you feel full. Consequently, you have no desire to eat.

It has actually been shown that pure Hoodia is 100,000 times more powerful than glucose in telling your brain to stop eating.

Does Hoodia Help People Lose Weight?

One of the first studies of Hoodia Gordonii was done in the UK on obese patients. Half of the volunteers were given Hoodia Gordonii, the other half were given a placebo. The subjects were allowed to read, watch television and eat.

After 15 days it was found that those taking Hoodia had reduced their calorie intake by 1000 calories a day. Despite having unlimited access to food, the Hoodia subjects lost weight.

Is Hoodia Safe?

Since Hoodia is a plant (versus a man-made chemical), it is completely natural and experts say it is safe to eat. Scientists have been studying Hoodia for almost 10 years and have not found any side effects. (Not to mention the San Tribesman who have been eating Hoodia for years with seemingly no ill effects).

The Downside

Even as public interest in Hoodia skyrockets, there is a downside: Not all Hoodia is created equal.

Because of the incredible surge in interest for Hoodia, many South African suppliers were simply unprepared for the demand (It takes 5 to 7 years for the Hoodia Gordonii plant to even reach maturity).

As a result the market has been flooded with 'Hoodia Gordonii' pills that are not as effective as real Hoodia. There have been reports of companies not putting the stated amount of Hoodia in their pills, using a 'Hoodia plant substitute' (not the real thing) or even filling their pills with silica, leaves, sawdust and other filler products that have none of the powerful Hoodia ingredients in them.

What Can You Do?

One way to tell if a Hoodia pill is real is to look for a document called the C.I.T.E.S. Certificate (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Since the Hoodia plant is a protected plant species it can only be sold to an exporter who has this certificate.

Another way to tell if the Hoodia is pure is to look for a company that displays a current Alchemists Lab report which runs HPLS, TLC and Micropscopy tests that prove whether the Hoodia is genuine or not.

Confused? It can be confusing to do all the research yourself (even if you want to save yourself 1000 calories a day!). If you're interested in 2 brands of Hoodia that fulfill the above requirements, you are welcome to check out Hoodia reviews at: http://www.freetobethin.com/article_Hoodia_Gordonii_Review.html.

Bottom Line? Hoodia looks like it offers something many other diet pills cannot: all natural, safe effective weight loss - without feeling deprived.

Vienna Miller is a contributing writer to Diet and Weight Loss Reviews.

For the latest weight loss tips and diet reviews, visit http://www.FreeToBeThin.com.