Ever since hunger suppressant properties of Hoodia gordonii were discovered, manufacturers have filled the markets with powder/the capsule supplements, and the concentrated liquid supplements, purporting that they contain extracts from this South African wonder plant. Manufacturers of the liquid supplements have been gone a step further, claiming to be better than the powders, suggesting that the body is able to absorb the ingredient faster in liquid form, and therefore, they are more beneficial.

This is anything but the truth.

There are two ways of preparing Hoodia extract. In one, the powdered form of Hoodia gordoniii is left in alcohol, and water mix, while in another the mix contains water and vinegar, or water and glycerine. Other glycerols may also be used instead of glycerine. Consumers prefer the non-alcoholic liquids, primarily because of the taste.

Consumers should understand what is mentioned on the labels. If the label mentions 20:1, then it means that 20 parts of the wonder plant powder has been used to get just 1 part of the concentrate. Hardly something that can be called concentrated form of Hoodia gordonii.

Cost is another factor. Many Hoodia extract containing liquid concentrates are considerably cheaper than the capsules. Is this possible if concentration is higher? Of course it is not possible. These Hoodia extracts manufacturers are using powders from other Hoodia plants. There are 13 known species of Hoodia plants, of which, only Hoodia gordonii is effective against hunger.
So next time a Hoodia gordonii liquid extracts manufacturer writes volumes about concentrations and effectiveness, remember it is nothing but marketing ploy. In fact, Alkemist pharmaceuticals, a well-known laboratory has conducted tests on most of such liquid Hoodia products available in the market, and found that 80 percent of them are not genuine! That is a large percentage by any standards. It’s a pity that there are no regulatory actions against such claims.
In order to be effective, the Hoodia supplements should contain the stem portion of the plant. It should not be contaminated with other binders, fillers, or stimulants that have caffeine like properties. This plant was used in raw form by the San tribe, and therefore, it does not require any processing.
Amongst all Hoodia supplements available in the market, one product that has been identified as genuine is the UniqueHoodia. It has 460mg of the powder of Hoodia Gordonii plant’s stem in each capsule. The capsules are size-zero. UniqueHoodia has also been advertised on channels like CBS, BBC, and abc.