Ephedra
weight loss
supplements should be
used with great caution due to its effectives. Infact only
a handful of other weight
loss supplements ingredients like hoodia
weight loss or the nearly revolutionary Caralluma
can equal the
efficacy of ephedra.
In
the U.S there has been a protracted battle between health agencies that
want ephedra weight loss
and ephedra
based supplements banned and supplement manufacturers that
want freedom of choice.
Ephedra is a species of herb that grow in desert areas.
The particular
specie Ephedra used for the weight loss is the species Ephedra
Sinica whose Chinese name is ma haung.
This particular
species contains alkaloid compounds called ephedrine and
pseudo-ephedrine which are the active ingredients that give Ephedra
Sinica its potency.
There are other ephedra species; however
they don’t have the potency as they have zero alkaloid
content.
Ephedrine one of these alkaloids is synthetically produced for use in
drugs.
Ephedra
is a stimulant, similar to the hormone adrenaline.
It is also a
thermogenic, meaning it raises your resting metabolism therefore
increasing the amount of energy you use simply by ingesting
it.
As
a stimulant it has been used to enhance athletic performance which
includes power and endurance.
It is one of the "illegal" drugs that are
tested for in competitions.
It also stimulates the brain, increase
heart rate improving blood circulation, constricts blood vessels
increasing blood pressure and expands bronchial tubes in the lungs
increasing effective breathing.
As
a thermogenic it is used in fat burners,
weight loss supplement and body building products, with great results.
In spite its proven efficiency to these ends, the herb has been greatly
abused.
In an effort to enhance it’s stimulating and
thermogenic
properties, supplement manufacturer have gone ahead and combined it
with another proven stimulant- caffeine. The resulting effect can be
fatal. A number of death and several hundreds of health anomalies have
been related to this mixture.
Ephedra Weight Loss Banned
In
2003, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of the U.S charged marketer of
ephedrine products with making deceptive efficiency and safety clams.
Similarly, Canada’s health agencies have been pushing for the
ban of
ephedrine. Howard Beale of FTC claimed "The marketer both overstated
benefits and understated the risks of using the products".
In April 2004, the U.S banned the use of ephedra in weight loss
supplement and similar formulations. This was overturned by the court
in 2005. The ban was reinstated again in April 17, 2006.
Tommy G.
Thompson then of U.S’s Health and Human Services (HHS) said "The
FDA rule
reflects what scientific evidence shows- that ephedra poses
unreasonable risks to those who use it." It’s ban resulted to
a major
demand of Hoodia another seemingly effective weight loss
supplement ingredient that was seen as ephedra alternative in
fighting obesity.
The ban though, does not mean that ephedra weight loss or ephedrine is not an
effective diet supplement ingredients. Here are some facts on Ephedra;
1.
It is scientifically proven to result to
weight
loss up
to 0.9 kg per month in the short term.
2. It relaxes air passages in
lungs by dilating bronchi in
lungs. This property is used in over-the-counter decongestant asthma
medicine as well as cold medicine. These produce use the ephedra
derivative ephedrine which unlike ephedra is controlled as a
drug.
3. It promotes perspiration
which helps one to recover from
a cold.
It
is probably clear that the battle to ban or not to ban ephedra does not
exactly lie in the absolute danger of ephedra. Rather it is with
expected misuse in products. This is ecause as a herb, ephedra is not
strictly controlled like its chemical derivative ephedrine.
The
question has been raised as to why ban ephedra without banning
ephedrine which are all essentially the same thing. We speculate that
since ephedrine is used under strict observance it is not abused.
The ban therefore does not affect ephedrine based drugs like nasal
decongestants and cold medicines; nor does it affect it’s use
in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) where it has been used for tens of
centuries. Both avenues are considered to responsibly use the herb.
Furthermore, the use of ephedra by the Chinese for over 4000 years point
to its safety when used responsibly and in moderation.
As far as it concerns choosing weight loss products
it is most advised
you choose ephedra free supplements. Their interaction with other herbs
has side effect that range from nausea, vomiting, psychiatric symptoms
like anxiety and change in mood to palpatations, seizures and stoke.
The use of diet supplements in a weight
loss plan
should be just as an
adjunct. A diet pill can not be the center of a weight loss campaign as
much a vitamin supplement cannot be the main meal.
But in the same breath, one should look for the most effective and
safest supplement available. Caralluma
is
one such diet pill.
But
if you are looking to lose alot of body fat fast. If you want to lose belly
fat and get a flat stomach or even six pack abs, you will need more than
just supplements. You will also need to Go Beyond Calories. And to do this
you will need two things; just two. These two things are...
This
content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new information on weight loss becomes
available. The information is intended for
educational purposes only. Please
consult your healthcare provider before beginning
any kind of weight loss program
