ballochroy.com

Taking a weight-loss product containing ephedra can be very risky. Ephedra has been connected to serious side effects such as seizures, strokes, & even death. Fortunately, the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has taken action & banned every weight-loss product containing ephedra in the market starting April 2004.

What is ephedra?
Ephedra used to be a popular ingredient in dietary supplements & weight-loss products. It comes from the plant Ephedra sinica. It’s also known as Ma Huang, & is used by the Chinese as a medicinal herb to treat respiratory illnesses like asthma, the common cold, & hay fever. Ephedra also works as a powerful stimulant that directly affects the cardiovascular & the nervous systems.

Ephedra also works as a thermogenic, which can cause your metabolism to increase since there is an increase in your body heat. This has made ephedra gain its popular reputation as a ‘fat burner’. Many people take a weight-loss product containing ephedra together with caffeine & aspirin. Studies show that when taken with proper caution, it’s very effective for short-term weight loss.

Known side effects
Ephedra has been known to increase heart rate & constrict blood vessels, resulting in high blood pressure. A weight-loss product containing ephedra may cause irritability, dizziness, trembling, nervousness, severe skin irritations, insomnia, dehydration, itchy skin & scalp, vomiting, profuse perspiration, headaches, hyperthermia, seizures, irregular heartbeat, stroke, heart attack, & even death.

Dosage
There is actually no standard requirement for the dosage of any weight-loss product containing ephedra, mostly because they vary from brand to brand. Here is an example:
? Dosage for Metabolife 356: 2 tablets for 2 to 3 times a day, an hour before meals, & on an empty stomach. It’s highly advised not to take more than 8 tablets in a day.
? Dosage for Ma Huang: Not more than 100mg a day & not more than 12 weeks. However, because of its serious side effects, it has been recommended that ma huang should be taken in doses not bigger than 8mg per serving every 6 hours, but not exceeding 24mg in a day.

Ma huang
Ma huang is classified as a fat burner & an appetite suppressant. It’s also known as ephedrine, ephedra alkaloids, sea grape, ephedra, yellow horse, joint fir, Mormon tea, teamster’s tea, sea grape, postillion, & squaw tea. Since it has not actually been formally evaluated by the FDA for safety, purity & effectiveness, there’re no manufacturing standards set for ma huang. Do you follow? That is you should consult your doctor before taking Ma huang or any supplements containing it.

Metabolife 356
Metabolife 356 is another example of a weight-loss product containing ephedra. It contains a blend of ginger, Siberian ginseng, ma huang, guarana, spirulina, bovine complex, lecithin, chromium picolinate, vitamin E, magnesium, & many other herbs. Caffeine & ephedrine are the most active ingredients of Metabolife 356. They both work to produce more body heat to speed up your metabolism so you can burn more calories. Furthermore, it also works as an appetite suppressant, making you feel less hungry & limiting your food intake.

No precautions
Ephedra isn’t a regulated drug, & so many manufacturers are making false claims. There is more. The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has sent letters to a number of on line manufacturers because many of them lack sufficient warnings. There is more. The label should tell the user to stop taking the drug upon experiencing side effects such as irregular or rapid heartbeat, severe headache, chest pains, shortness of breath, insomnia, dizziness, nausea, & fainting spells.

Is ephedra legal?
The FDA has reviewed the data on ephedra’s safety, effectiveness, side effects, pharmacology, & its RAND Corporation report (which contains a review of published scientific literature on the safety & efficacy of ephedra). The FDA considered many studies that confirm the side effects of ephedra on the circulatory system. On February 2003, they evaluated whether weight-loss products containing ephedra pose a significant threat to a person’s health.

Ephedra & traditional medicine
The FDA has prohibited the sale of any weight-loss product containing ephedra in the United States. However, some medical conditions many call for the use of ephedra-containing drugs. Before taking any supplements, be sure to consult your doctor to see whether it will work for you.

Phillip England is a weight loss expert & Author of the popular report “The Ultimate Weight Loss Secret”. To receive your free information on the secret that doctors, & health companies either do not know, or do not want you to know, please see http://www.theultimateweightlosssecret.com/secret

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.