Sammy Chim

When it comes to hair loss in men, while the problem can be distressing and embarrassing, it is not always surprising. In women however, tends to balk the norm of what we expect. Because of this, the problem in women can be even more upsetting, especially when you consider how closely a woman ties her looks and style to her full head of hair.

When a new diet supplement hits the marketplace and people begin making claims of incredible weight loss, media hounds jump all over the chance to expose the phenomenon as hype. But when investigators from 60 Minutes and BBC News tried to dispel the buzz about Hoodia, they were unable to find the story they were hoping for.

As an appetite suppressant, Hoodia has come under fire because of its incredible ability to stave off hunger and increase energy using natural ingredients found in a plant that grows in the Kalahari Desert.

Hoodia has been used by indigenous tribes in South Africa for centuries and has recently become known to the rest of the world for medicinal use.

Hoodia is a plant with 13 different species but recent medical attention has been shifted towards on particular species - Hoodia Gordonii - because of the effects on weight loss.

The tribesmen of South Africa used Hoodia as an appetite suppressant during long journeys through the desert to control hunger as food was sparse and not readily available.