Hoodia is a plant found in the Kalahari desert of South Africa. It's been called Miracle Cactus.
Hoodia Side Effects are yet somewhat unknown. PUR-Hoodia Plus and SmartBurn are Hoodia brands.

Other Diet Pill Info:

Orlistat | Fahrenheit | Acomplia | Chromium | PatentLean | EPH200 | Leptopril | Perricone

Hoodia Marketing

Lack of scientific evidence or regulatory approval have not stopped dietary supplement companies from marketing Hoodia gordonii extracts with claims that it can lower blood pressure and reduce the appetite.

Goen Technologies Corporation's TrimSpa unit began marketing Hoodia gordonii under the brand name X32 with celebrity spokesperon Anna Nicole Smith, even though FDA has notified Trimspa that it hasn’t demonstrated that the product is safe or effective. NEW: FINDAFRIEND

As an example of how the media presents anecdotal evidence rather than scientific data, in 2004, 60 Minutes correspondent Lesley Stahl traveled to Africa to try hoodia gordonii for herself. According to Stahl, she did not have a normal "pang around mealtime," concluding, "I'd have to say it did work."

In March 2006, Consumer Reports investigated the dietary supplement and concluded, "This weight loss drug lacks the clinical evidence for the Consumer Reports experts to recommend Hoodia gordonii"

Some media quotes:

"Weight control is simply about calorie control. Scientific studies have proved hoodia's ability to suppress appetite, helping obese people lose weight. Even rats, a species that will eat anything from meat and plants to indigestible fiber, lowered their dietary calorie intake to a degree that made them get thin."

"Being overweight is often associated with high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and insulin resistance. Diabetes related illnesses affect 70 million Americans and is a common cause of premature death and disability. This Hoodia plant could be an important nutritional factor combating overeating and diabetes. One thing for sure, it fulfills its promise of appetite control and weight loss."