Should Hoodia Be Banned?

Hoodia gordonii became extremely popular as a weight loss supplement or more appropriately, an appetite suppressant. The popularity, unfortunately, is also directly correlated to its potential ban by the FDA. The weight loss industry took a hit awhile back with the ban of ephedra. Is hoodia unsafe like ephedra?

Ephedra was banned after its use was connected with the deaths of some young women who habitually used the product. The strong stimulant appetite suppressant caused cardiac complications.

Hoodia supplements are now the target of FDA scrutiny, but this time, it has less to do with safety. Hoodia seems to be a relatively safe appetite suppressant. It is mild and works in a way that tricks the brain into thinking you have had plenty to eat. A compound in hoodia mimics glucose in the body and the brain believes you do not need to eat; therefore, it does not signal hunger.


Unless you are diabetic, this effect usually helps you surpass an appetite that became out of control over the years. Diabetics need to monitor their blood glucose levels, so hoodia is not advised for diabetic patients. Hoodia is rather innocuous for the rest of us. In fact, some proponents of stimulant type appetite suppressants feel hoodia is too mild.

So, hoodia is relatively safe, but may still be banned due to weight loss companies who offer their customers fake hoodia at low costs. There are also a few companies offering “free trials” and then signing people up for automatic shipments for which they are charged on the credit card given for the shipping costs.

The frenzy over hoodia created a situation where legitimate companies were selling pure hoodia supplements at a premium price, and other companies low-balled the pricing. Unfortunately, this was not a situation where companies were seeking to make revenue via higher quantity of sales with lower cost per unit. Their profit margin swelled due to the actual product they were selling: fake hoodia.

The price of hoodia soared after its popularity caused a scarcity of hoodia in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa. It takes three years for a hoodia plant to mature and be harvested. In addition, it is extremely difficult to cultivate hoodia in commercial farming. The plants are sensitive to fungal infections, and they seem to only thrive well in Kalahari sand.

With the popularity of hoodia, the cactus became scarce which lead to black market trade. The South African government had to step in to preserve the species and attempt to regulate the trade. A C.I.T.E.S certification is necessary (allowing legal trade between an entity and South Africa) to obtain pure hoodia. All of this, of course, caused the price of hoodia to sky rocket.

If you are buying pure hoodia supplements, expect to pay a premium price. The cheap hoodia supplements are likely fake or contain such small amounts of pure hoodia that they are virtually useless. If the FDA bans hoodia, we may only have our never-ending quest for “cheap” products to blame.

Learn which hoodia brand you can trust? Go there now and discover our preferred hoodia brand.

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