Hoodia Gordonii - the latest in the "Holy Grail" of weight loss and appetite suppression, is becoming overexposed, over advertised, and in many ways, is looking more and more like the new ephedra. Why the comparison to ephedra? It's the here today, gone tomorrow fad. Of course, ephedra was banned fairly recently, and has severe health risks, but the comparison holds true. So, is there really truth to the rumors of this rising dieting fad, or is it just another marketing ploy by savvy advertisers who know what people want? We'll show you what brands of hoodia offer the best results, and where to buy them.

Facts We Know About Hoodia

1.) Hoodia goes by several names, such as hoodia, xhooba, khoba, ghaap, hoodia cactus, hoodia gordonii, and South African desert cactus.

2.) Hoodia gordonii is a native African cactus received a lot of attention for its weight management and appetite suppressing qualities.

3.) The cactus can be found in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola. Hoodia is actually classified as a succulent, not a cactus, but due to its cactus-like features, it is commonly called the "hoodia cactus".

4.) Hoodia is no joke or scam. The plant has been featured on news shows such as 60 Minutes, the British Broadcasting Company, and ABC.

5.) There are several varieties of the Hoodia Cactus, but only the Gordonii variety has been used for centuries by the San bushmen for its appetite suppressing qualities, which was used on long hunting trips to stave off hunger and thirst. The purple flowers take five years to blossom, which signifies the Gordonii plant is ready for harvesting and use.

6.) The active ingredient in the Hoodia Gordonii concentrate which is harvested from the cactus is a molecule dubbed the "P57" molecule, which activates chemicals in the brain signifying fullness and telling our bodies to stop eating. 7.) Rumor is that Hoodia can take up to two weeks to kick in, but most people experience an immediate reduction in appetite. This is where the brand you choose comes in. The pure Hoodia supplements will produce immediate results.

8.) Unlike many other appetite suppression supplements which may contain stimulants, there are no side effects reported with Hoodia users.

So, how do you tell which brand of Hoodia you should buy?

With all of the brands of Hoodia supplements cropping up, it is getting increasingly difficult to know which ones actually use the right ingredients in order to be truly effective. Real Hoodia extract is very rare and very expensive to harvest and refine. Real Hoodia will display some where that it is certified. This is comparable to an organic certification. Most organic products require certification as being organically grown and cultivated. Same thing goes for Hoodia. The purity standard is directly related to the certification. If it's not certified, it's not pure, so run the other way!

The following are statements that are commonly stated about Hoodia

"I take one capsule 30 minutes before eating. Immediately I feel a loss in my appetite. The effects even help with my night cravings."

"After taking Hoodia for three months, I lost 20 lbs without the hard effort of excercise and time wasted."

"Coming from a family with a history of obesity, I needed extra help to achieve my weight loss goal. I began taking Hoodia Gordonii before meals and lost 27 lbs in the short time of four months."

So, from my research on the Hoodia product and my personal experience (that's in another article) using the product, this is the real deal. Hoodia before meals is a proven appetite suppressant. When taken over the course of a few months, it will yield an efficient weight loss. Its the quickest way, but its also the healthy way!

Visit Hoodia Diet Pills for information on the latest on this newest finding in weightloss and diet supplement technology. Danna Schneider is the cofounder of Dieting Magazine : Best Weightloss Supplements.