How to Tell the Real Hoodia Gordonii from the Fake

Since 60 Minutes ran a program about hoodia gordonii, the miracle plant that suppresses hunger naturally, the market has been flooded by imitations. So how do you tell the real thing from the fake? Like anything, once you know what you're looking for it's easy to tell the phoneys. Here are a few tips for finding a supplement that works like it promises, giving you results and your money's worth.

While hoodia, a cactus-like plant, grows all over the world, hoodia gordonii is only found in the Kalahari Desert. This is the only form of hoodia that works as a appetite suppressant. The Kalahari Desert is located in the countries of Botswana, South Africa and Namibia.

Hoodia Gordonii is now only produced on government-sanctioned farms. Phytopharm, the company who owns the patent of P57, the active ingredient, takes up most of the desert's supply as they get ready for their 2008 launch, so getting a supply of hoodia gordonii is especially difficult. Look for the CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) seal of approval. If your supplement doesn't have this permit, than you don't have the real thing. It is illegal to harvest hoodia in the wild, as it is a protected species.

Some companies may be made of real hoodia gordonii, but still aren't effective. This may be for two reasons - either they're made from the seeds, or the plants were grown somewhere other than the Kalahari Desert. This is the step where most companies will fraud their customers. Only full-grown plants from the Kalahari Desert will work as a diet supplement.

The San Bushmen receive a royalty on the hoodia, so make sure that you're product pays this fee. This is a sure way to confirm that you're getting real Kalahari Desert-grown hoodia, because government-sanctioned farms can easily keep track of who is paying these royalties and who is not.

Expect to pay for hoodia. It's not a cheap product to produce, when all the above steps are taken into account. Remember, there's government-sanctioned farms who don't seel hoodia cheaply, there's the costly preparation of making the hoodia into a powder, and there's the royalty to the San. If you find an offer that's too good to be true, it is.

Hoodia Control is a brand to trust. CITES certified, Hoodia Control is made from 100% real hoodia gordonii from the Kalahari Desert. The company is so sure you'll be completely satisfied that they offer a 60-Day full refund guarantee. If for whatever reason you are not happy with your product, just return the empty bottles and unused portions to get your money back. Only a company that stands behind its product would make a claim like that.