Hoodia in Lip Gloss

Lip gloss, lip plumpers, lip shimmers - weight loss products? Obviously, a cosmetic product that touts an unbeatable combination of lip-enhancing as well as appetite-suppressing effects is too hard to resist. But the big question is: Does hoodia in lip gloss really work to curb appetite?

Several lip gloss products offered in the market right now claim to be able to stop food cravings with just a few swipes on the lips. Two of these have hoodia listed as key ingredient to promote appetite suppression - Huge Lips, Skinny Hips and Express Effects ThinGloss. Now anyone into weight loss is most likely aware that this ingredient is a natural plant extract that has appetite-suppressing abilities, and is now processed into diet supplements.

So before you go and buy yourself a year long supply of these lip-gloss-slash-diet-enhancers (unless of course, you're after their lip plumping and moisturizing effects), here are some essential facts you should know:

• Experts agree that about 500 to 3,000 mg of hoodia gordonii is needed daily to effectively curtail appetite. I doubt if the entire lip gloss product contains that much of the supplement; and imagine how much less of that one actually dabs on the lips at a given time.

• Only 100% authentic hoodia can be relied on to actually work. Just like all other items or goods that get to be a big hit among consumers, other manufacturers who are not actually selling authentic products are quick to jump on the bandwagon. Now this is not saying that the cosmetic companies are not using the real thing but the natural extract could lose its efficacy when mixed with other ingredients and subjected to many processes.

• Hoodia works best with proper diet and exercise. Let's face it. Shedding off those unwanted pounds could take so much more effort than merely using any cosmetic product. While hoodia in lip gloss may be a fun and novel strategy for appetite suppression, don't expect a slimmer you any time soon.

Ladies who are already within their ideal weight may find hoodia-containing lip gloss convenient to use when going to the occasional party where you don't want to stuff yourself too much. But for those who have more than a pound or two to lose, I'd say get down to the business of losing weight by eating right, exercising more, and using natural, authentic hoodia.

Lose Weight Safely And Effectively!

Find out which hoodia gordonii supplements are our choice for best rated hoodia and be on your way to a slimmer, healthier you.

Is There Really Any Cheap Hoodia?

According to Hoodia gordonii.com.za, the current price of hoodia gordonii is $39.55 (US dollars) per ounce. So how can companies sell cheap hoodia? One belief is that they are not selling pure hoodia gordonii. Another is that they are mixing it with inexpensive ingredients.

Advertisements of cheap hoodia gordonii products abound. E-bay sellers like to use this tag line, not to say that there is necessarily anything wrong with the products being sold on e-bay. Individuals could have bought large quantities and received volume discounts in order to turn them around for a lower than normal price and still make a few bucks. The hoodia in stores is not cheap. Even the hoodia herb mixtures that are commonly sold at Wal-greens and other retail establishments are not cheap. They may appear to cost less than the better known products like Desert Burn, but take a close look at the ingredients before you buy. The hoodia in stores is often something like “Green Tea with Hoodia!” Green tea is cheap. Cheap hoodia does not exist. There is also the question of cost per day. Many companies claim that a bottle is a thirty day supply when closer look at the label indicates otherwise.

According to Hoodia gordonii.com.za, they have researched the market and found that more than 75% of all products being sold as hoodia gordonii, possibly cheap hoodia gordonii, are not hoodia gordonii. Hoodia gordonii.com.za does not sell hoodia gordonii. They are a South African based company that facilitates the “authentication and monitoring of hoodia gordonii products in the global environment”. By buying hoodia in stores and retail outlets and sending these samples to an independent testing facility, they have been able to provide complete information about some of the products that are out there. Testing is expensive and this is a non-profit group, so every hoodia product on the market has not been tested by them at this time. One product that is listed in their “Hall of Shame” is currently the subject of a possible class action suit for making false claims.

Even the fake hoodia is not cheap hoodia. These companies know what price consumers are willing to pay for something that has been touted as a “cure for obesity”. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigates companies for making fraudulent claims. Consumers who have purchased hoodia in stores that did not work and can not be returned can visit the official website of the FTC to lodge a complaint. Consumers can protect themselves from cheap hoodia ads, simply by not falling for them. The FTC also advises that companies which make claims that seem “too good to be true”, making statements like “lose weight without diet or exercise” should probably be avoided.

Real Hoodia Gordonii Plus

What’s in there? The plus must mean something. Real hoodia gordonii plus is one of the many popular hoodia diet pills on the market. The hoodia content is not considered a high hoodia dosage, but there are other ingredients and exceeding manufacturer’s recommended dosage is not advisable. This may or may not be the right product for you. This information is provided to help you decide.

The primary active ingredient in real hoodia gordonii plus is, as the name suggests, hoodia gordonii. Real hoodia gordonii plus provides 400mg of concentrated hoodia gordonii. This is not considered a high hoodia dosage, but some information suggests that products which contain concentrates may be more potent than non-concentrated products. CITES certification and product analysis available for inspection at the real hoodia gordonii plus website support the authenticity of the hoodia gordonii used by the company. Some manufacturers do not have these certifications and analysis reports.

As the plus suggests, hoodia gordonii is not the only active ingredient in real hoodia gordonii plus. 50mg of garcinia cambogia is included. Garcinia cambogia which is commonly called gambooge is a plant native to West and Central Africa and parts of Asia. Gambooge was used in traditional Indian medicine to treat a variety of ailments. One must assume that it was included in real hoodia gordonii plus, because certain clinical studies indicate that the active compound found in gambooge can decrease appetite, body mass index, and increase the body’s ability to burn fat. Research of the effects of gambooge is contradictory. Some groups showed positive results while others did not, but it is widely recommended as a natural fat burner. Most products which contain a high hoodia dosage do not include any other ingredients.

Real hoodia gordonii plus also includes 250 mg of magnesium, an essential mineral found in most vitamin supplements. Some well known diet experts recommend supplementation of magnesium. It is not commonly found in supplements which contain a high hoodia dosage. Magnesium helps strengthen muscles including the heart and helps the body to make use of the B complex vitamins, (important for energy) vitamin C and E. Magnesium is found naturally in green vegetables, nuts and seafood, but since the average American diet is high in starches, breads and pasta, which are low in magnesium, most people do not get enough. Total daily intake of magnesium should not exceed 400 mg, as higher dosages can be toxic. If you choose to use real hoodia gordonii plus, check the label of your daily vitamin to make sure that it does not contain more than 150mg of magnesium. Most do not, but some high potency products may.

There is 50mg of green tea extract in real hoodia gordonii plus. Most products which contain a high hoodia dosage do not include green tea. There have been numerous studies about the health benefits of green tea. It contains anti-oxidants which are thought to prevent cancer and possibly even wrinkles. Presumably, hoodia gordonii plus includes green tea in its product because research has shown that green tea can raise metabolic rates, speed up fat oxidation and calorie burning. Because green tea contains caffeine, those who are sensitive to stimulants may not be able to use real hoodia gordonii plus.

There are other ingredients in real hoodia gordonii plus. Those mentioned here are just the most interesting. Most high dosage hoodia pills on the market, those which provide 750mg or more of pure hoodia gordonii powder do not contain any of these ingredients. Some believe that the other ingredients are included because the amount of hoodia is so small, that other ingredients must be used to obtain the desired effects. This is of course a matter of opinion.

Does Hoodia Gordonii Really Work?

Everyone wants to know. I have personally read and heard testimonials from people saying that it does. But, it may be necessary to compare hoodia products to find the right one for you.

If you asked a San Bushman, “Does hoodia really work?” He would probably tell you, through an interpreter of course, something like you will feel no hunger or thirst. Eating the plant reportedly makes the hunger go away. People say that do not even think about food, but all hoodia products are not the same and it may be necessary to compare hoodia ingredients, before you buy. Many companies only use hoodia gordonii as one ingredient in their weight loss supplement and most of these have some form of natural stimulant. Natural does not always mean safe and people who are sensitive to stimulants may want to avoid these products.

If you asked the British pharmaceutical company Phytopharm, “Does hoodia really work?” They would probably tell you that only Phytopharm’s hoodia gordonii product has been clinically proven to reduce calorie intake and body fat. In fact, that is a quote from their website. They do not compare hoodia products currently on the market to the product that they are working on. At one time, it appeared that Phytopharm would release a prescription form of hoodia gordonii, but since their new partner is Unilever, makers of Slim Fast, food products and over the counter meds, it is unclear exactly what their new product may be.

If you asked the manufacturers of the better hoodia products, “Does hoodia really work?” The answer would probably be that results vary depending on the individual’s diet and exercise program. If you asked, “How does your product compare to other hoodia gordonii products?” It is hard to say what their answers would be, but of course each company thinks that their product is the best.

In order to compare hoodia products, the first place to look is the label. There is no standard dosage and milligrams per tablet or capsule vary among manufacturers, plus we already mentioned that some products have other ingredients. Some dieters say that it takes 1500mg per day to control their appetites and some as much as 3000mg. In general, when you compare hoodia products, look for 750mg or higher per capsule, check for CITES license and chemical analysis reports to insure that the product is genuine. If you compare hoodia prices, you will see some differences. It is, in general, an expensive product, but if the answer to the question, does hoodia really work is yes, then price is not really important. Is it?

How does hoodia really work? That is apparently a complicated question, but the way that they explain it in laymen’s terms is that the brain believes that food has been eaten, shutting down the hunger mechanism. Does hoodia really work for everyone? Probably not, there has never been an appetite suppressant that works for everyone and there will probably never be an appetite suppressant that works for everyone. People, unlike animals, eat for other reasons than hunger. A hoodia weight loss program will only work for individuals who are motivated to succeed. When we compare hoodia products and read customer comments, it appears that some hoodia products work better than others.

Here is the real answer to the question; does hoodia really work? Anyone can lose weight if they reduce calories and increase activity. In order to maintain that weight loss, people must make changes in their lifestyles. When we compare hoodia to other appetite suppressants, there appear to be several advantages. Lack of side effects is one, but the important one to most dieters is lack of interest in food.

Hoodia Gordonii Results Promising

Results of available studies, both formal and informal, about hoodia gordonii’s effectiveness as an appetites suppressant are encouraging. There is no evidence that use of hoodia results in any unwanted side effects. However, reputable companies recommend that dieters check with their doctors before beginning any weight loss program.

News stories about hoodia gordonii have people searching for this natural appetite suppressant. The plant grows wild only in areas of southern Africa and is apparently relatively hard to cultivate. The San people of southern Africa reported that consumption of hoodia results in suppressed appetite. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa reported in 1963 that injecting lab animals with extracts of hoodia results in weight loss, but not due to any apparent toxic effect. A British pharmaceutical company heard about hoodia gordonii and began to investigate for themselves. They released results in 2001 of a clinical study of overweight volunteers who were given hoodia extract and the results were positive. There was a significant reduction in daily caloric intake and a significant reduction in body fat. In 2004, scientists at Brown University Medical School in Rhode Island reported that injecting laboratory rats with extract of hoodia results in increased levels of ATP, a neurotransmitter and cell energy source. Rats reduced their food intake over a 24 hour period by 40-60%.

Many people have questions about hoodia gordonii. The majority of questions are about safety and side effects. Many appetite suppressants contain stimulants and use of stimulants may result in unwanted side effects from sleeplessness to increased heart rate to, in the case of Ephedra, death. Apparently use of hoodia results in no unwanted side effects other than suppression of thirst, as well as hunger, which means that dieters need to be conscious of water consumption to avoid dehydration. The clinical studies by Phytopharm have not been completed at this time. Most information about hoodia gordonii comes from Phytopharm. There have been informal studies by interested doctors in the United States and no unwanted side effects have been reported. However, the importance of talking to one’s doctor about hoodia gordonii can not be overstressed. If they have not heard about hoodia, they soon will. One should be in relatively good health before using hoodia, results vary among individuals and all available products are not the same. A little investigation into ingredients and sometimes a little trial and error is necessary to find an effective product.

A non-profit South African based company, Hoodia gordonii.co.za, is involved in providing accurate information about hoodia gordonii supplements to interested consumers. They have had the products from several different companies tested by Alkemists Pharmaceuticals laboratories. These hoodia results are not so promising. While there are companies whose products do contain genuine hoodia gordonii powder, there are many products that do not. A list of products that have been tested and the results of those tests are available for view at their website. They have not tested every product on the market as testing is expensive and was sponsored by Desert Burn Industries and Ethno Africa. Many companies that are aware of customers concerns about hoodia gordonii authenticity have had their own testing done and display these results on their websites.

In conclusion, comparing use of hoodia results in lab animals to anticipated results in people could be a problem. Animals only eat because they are hungry. People eat for a variety of reasons and hunger is only one of them. While use of hoodia gordonii may suppress the appetite, it may not suppress psychological cravings and eating out of boredom. Binge eaters, habitual overeaters and those who need to “clean their plates” may not be helped by an appetite suppressant. Available information about hoodia gordonii’s effectiveness as an appetite suppressant is promising, but it is not a “miracle cure” for obesity.