Hoodia has a different mode of action. It is derived from a cactus-like plant, used by natives of the Kalahari Desert to keep from feeling hungry or thirsty when crossing the desert. Pfizer has spent millions trying to discover the active ingredient. However, Hoodia Plus advertises their version of hoodia on the web. They say it is safe and has no side effects because it is natural. This is misleading. Many natural plant substances do have side effects, depending on the person. Take coffee or tea that has been used by millions, of whom some suffer side effects. Many drugs derived from plants or the parts of plants used by herbalists can have side effects.

Another problem I have is their marketing on-line. Even when you click “Contact Us”, you don’t get an address and phone number you would expect from a reputable company, but only a chance to send them an e-mail after you fill out a form with your name, address and phone number.

Hoodia may well take your appetite away. Remember South American Indians chewed coca leaves for centuries for this effect. Many people world wide have suppressed their appetites by using tobacco. We now know that coca and tobacco products do have side effects even though both are natural.

The reason many diets don’t work and people on them always feel hungry might be because they are eating too few calories and often no fats. If you eat a healthy amount of fat, this will suppress your appetite for hours. I eat a couple slabs of a good quality whole milk cheddar cheese and don’t feel hungry for the next 5 or 6 hours. It’s the low-fat idea that has led to both intractable obesity and more type two diabetes as people think that eating complex carbohydrates is better for you than fats. I explain more in my posting on Body Fat and Exercise.

Best Diet Supplements -- Review