There is a lot of disparity in the prices at which hoodia gordonii is selling today.
One hoodia gordonii supplement is selling a month’s supply at £ 6.55 while another is selling at £ 37.37. This difference of over £ 30 for a month’s supply points to the simple conclusion that the £ 6.55 hoodia gordonii supplement is either not genuine or else contains so little hoodia gordonii that it will be practically ineffective. There are many reasons for this. Hoodia gordonii is a rare plant growing wild in the Kalahari Desert of Southern Africa. This is its only natural habitat. Since the time that it was discovered hoodia gordonii contained an active ingredient, a molecule named P57 that could suppress appetite, it has been in great demand worldwide. This led to hoodia gordonii being over-harvested and it is now on the endangered list and can only be exported with a certificate from CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
There are other species of Hoodia growing all over Africa, but they contain no P57. Only hoodia gordonii contains P57 and will suppress appetite.
Pure hoodia gordonii is very difficult to cultivate even on its own native soil. It has been taken to Texas and China and is presently being cultivated there as well, but hoodia gordonii has proved to be most effective when grown in its natural environment in Southern Africa. Only the core, the inner flesh of hoodia gordonii contains the appetite-suppressing molecule P57. The rest of the plant; its spiny skin, flowers and roots contain no P57 and hence have no effect on appetite suppression. Now, all these facts about hoodia gordonii show you that to make an effective appetite-suppressing supplement from this plant is going to be expensive.
1. First a certificate from CITES must be obtained and then the hoodia gordonii must be imported from South Africa.
2. Then, only the core of hoodia gordonii containing P57 must be used. The rest of the plant is useless.
3. After that it is necessary to get the product certified and thoroughly tested to prove that it is 100% real hoodia gordonii.
There are many cheaper ways to manufacture hoodia gordonii supplements.
1. Obtain hoodia gordonii from Texas or China – it will be less effective at suppressing appetite, but it will definitely be cheaper.
2. Use the entire plant – this will make the product only 60% effective, but certainly, it will cost less to manufacture.
Or use just a little hoodia gordonii and fill up the rest of the capsule with green tea, caffeine, etc.
3. Use any of the other Hoodia plants growing all over Africa.
These supplements will not be effective at all, but they will be cheap to manufacture and one can still call them “Hoodia”.
4. Forget the certificates and the tests.
The reason for the difference in prices should be crystal clear to you now. Pure and genuine hoodia gordonii comes at a price. Let’s examine UniqueHoodia retailing for a price of £ 37.37. UniqueHoodia uses the powdered core of 100% real hoodia gordonii in 460mg gelatin capsules. Their hoodia gordonii supplement carries the CITES certificate, an Organics Annex Certificate and a Certificate of Analysis. It has been tested by two reputable laboratories. Certainly, UniqueHoodia is expensive but rest assured that you are paying for the Real Thing.