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Hoodia, derived from the South African succulent 'Hoodia gordonii', is a popular, natural weight loss supplement which is quickly gaining attention, particularly from pharmaceutical companies who realize it's potential and are trying to develop a drug based on it's unique properties. It was introduced into the US market in early 2004, but has been used by the San people of the Kalahari for centuries to treat pain and help curb thirst when taking long trips in the desert.

The active component within Hoodia is P57. It tricks the brain into thinking you are full and have eaten enough food. Some people report immediate appetite supression while others claim it can take 30 minutes or longer. Most reports indicate that it takes up to 2 weeks to start noticing Hoodia's effects but that you also have to be realistic, combining healthy eating and exercise to get the best results.

Reportedly there are no symptoms, however this is cannot be guaranteed. Just like any type of natural or prescription medication, there is always a percentage of people who could experience side effects or interactions with presecription medications. Hoodia doesn't contain any stimulants, so it is considered to be much safer than other weight-loss supplements such as Ephedra and Phenfen. But, there just isn't enough data right now on it's safety. True studies and scientific data are scarce. Most of what you read on the internet is designed to sell the product, not provide facts.

And the big question is... does Hoodia work?

It would seem that this really all depends on which Hoodia product you are using. Some manufacturers claim their formula contains pure Hoodia, but when tested are proven to not have any Hoodia in the product at all. Another factor in determining effectiveness depends on the person taking it. Perhaps they have a body type that just doesn't respond or takes longer, requires a higher dose or perhaps they have unrealistic expectations.

Below is a list of some of the Hoodia products available on the market today along with an overview on their effectiveness based on actual people's experiences.

1. HoodobaTM Pure Capsules

Based on 39 reviews from http://Amazon.com, the average rating was 4 out 5. The majority of people expressed incredible results, with only a handful stating it didn't work. This appears to be one of the best Hoodia supplements on the market.

2. Desert Burn Hoodia

Based on 9 reviews from http://Amazon.com, the average rating was 2.5 out of 5. The majority of people found this product ineffective, with only 3 people reporting good results.

3. Pure HoodiaTM

This Hoodia product received very poor reviews. 3 out of 4 people reported no results and some are claiming it might not even contain real Hoodia.

4. Phytobase HoodiaLean, Vegetable Capsules

Out of 5 reviews on http://Amazon.com, only one person reported it to be ineffective.

Other similar Hoodia products had good reviews overall, but there just weren't enough opinions on individual products to form any reasonable perspective which is why they are not listed here.

Hoodia appears to be one of those products that you just have to "try and see" to form your own opinion about. While everything indicates that Hoodia works very well for the majority of people, there is always going to be a few that don't get the desired results. Because of the marketing buzz surrounding Hoodia, there is a lot of confusion both in finding true data on it's effectiveness as well as which Hoodia product contains only the purest ingredients.

A good tip in choosing a Hoodia product is to look at the ingredients on the package. It should state 100% pure Hoodia only. If the package lists "Other Ingredients" on the label such as cellulose, silica, phosphates, magnesium and stearic acid, then there is likely little to no value in the product. The fillers mean less natural Hoodia.

Topping the list clearly indicates Hoodoba's product line offers the highest quality products, with 100% natural pure Hoodia and no fillers.