Americans are buzzing about the FDA's recent decision to reverse the ban on ephedra and ephedrine supplements in the United States. Known as the "world's oldest medicine," ephedra has been used for thousands of years for its variety of healing properties. While ephedra is not a cure-all, it is successfully used in treating hundreds of afflictions, including some that may surprise you.
When the average person hears the word "ephedra" they generally think of two things: "weight loss" and "banned." The millions of people who have safely used ephedra to burn fat and lose weight were devastated when the U.S. ephedra ban was imposed in early 2004. The FDA was claiming a high death rate attributed to use (or misuse) of ephedra and ephedrine (the main "active" ingredient in the ephedra plant). However, further research showed that only five of these deaths could be attributed to ephedra use, so the ban was lifted. To put the number of adverse events into perspective, consider that over 12 million people reportedly used ephedra during 1999.
Ephedra has thermogenic qualities, which means it can be used to speed up the body's metabolism. This natural increase in metabolism is what results in virtually effortless weight loss and has earned ephedra the nickname "miracle fat burner." Unlike other weight loss products on the market, ephedra helps the body retain lean muscle mass. The thermogenic qualities of ephedra also improve the body's ability to eliminate toxins (through urine and sweat), which can reduce unnecessary water retention.
What you may not know is that the ephedra plant has been used to treat a number of respiratory and circulatory conditions, including asthma, allergies (such as hay fever) and the common cold. Ephedrine, or the synthetic equivalent called pseudoephedrine, can be found in many over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, including Sudafed. Ephedra is a vasodilator, which means it relaxes (or dilates) blood vessels, which allows blood to flow more easily, and allows nasal passages to open wider. In Chinese medicine, ephedra has been used for thousands of years to increase blood flow and improve circulation.
Athletes have used ephedra for centuries, since it helps build muscle and burn fat. Many people report increased energy and stamina while using ephedra, which increases overall athletic performance.
Ephedra is generally considered safe when adhering to the recommended doses. Since ephedra is a very powerful and effective supplement, you should check with your physician before using ephedra if you have any of the following conditions: anxiety, high blood pressure, glaucoma or heart disease. Do not take ephedra if you are pregnant or lactating. It's recommended to check with your physician before beginning any weight loss program.
Since the ban was lifted so recently, only one company currently offers ephedra supplements online, and they may be found at http://www.BetaFuelDirect.com.
Amy Grant is an avid fitness enthusiast who enjoys scuba diving, photography, and empowering people to achieve their goals.
Culver prom limo ..The multi-vitamin market is rich with choice. It's also very... Read More
Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that the body cannot... Read More
Colloidal Silver might just be a wonderful thing and here's... Read More
A lot of people actually pay a good deal of... Read More
Most people understand the concept of vitamin and mineral supplementation,... Read More
At the rate it's going, Saw Palmetto will soon be... Read More
1. What supplements do you take?A multivitamin, Glucosamine-MSM-Chondroitin, Odorless Garlic,... Read More
Nutritional Supplement ? what is it?So what is a nutritional... Read More
Did you know that when we breath oxygen, it interacts... Read More
OK, first let's get something straight here...If you think that... Read More
There is no doubt that Omega 3's can not only... Read More
There is a paradox of sorts when dealing with injections... Read More
Moderate amounts of vitamin E in the diet can protect... Read More
Nutrition Supplement ? nutrition.Nutrition supplement is a term familiar to... Read More
Part 1:A "better nutritional program" means the introduction of foods... Read More
Coenzyme Q10 has exploded onto the health scene. This powerful... Read More
Since its discovery in the late 1950???s Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)... Read More
Herbal Supplement ? what is it?So what is an herbal... Read More
Should I Take Vitamins With My Low Carb Diet?Most low... Read More
Bovine Colostrum is the form of "milk" taken from dairy... Read More
What Is Thiamin?Known as Vitamin B1, thiamin was the very... Read More
Biological oxidation involves transferring electrons from one oxygen molecule to... Read More
Since the release of a book called" beat chronic fatigue... Read More
Most people are becoming more health conscious. Many of the... Read More
Anti aging has become the latest craze.Wherever we look at,... Read More
Wood Dale limo ..Vitamin B3 is one of the vitamins that make up... Read More
Liquid vitaminsHardly does a day pass without the liquid vitamins... Read More
The initial success of penicillin generated an assumption which has... Read More
Myocardial infarction is a technical term used to describe an... Read More
No Money in PreventionI have been recommending a wide variety... Read More
When I began to study nutrition, I too believed that... Read More
With dietary supplements making their way in our daily life,... Read More
Nutritional supplements can play a key role in the health... Read More
I wanted to write this article because of my sincere... Read More
The more I study health and fitness, the more convinced... Read More
Vitamins and minerals play a major role in becoming healthy... Read More
With a high cholesterol and heart disease in the family,... Read More
The malabsorptive nature of the gastric bypass system prohibits adequate... Read More
With all of the exciting things people are seeing in... Read More
Some say that the benefits of this all-natural HGH releaser... Read More
Selenium is a type of trace mineral which supports healthy... Read More
I came across an article written by Dr. Ray Strand,... Read More
The growing numbers of health conscious people today living more... Read More
Many people take amino acids for height growth these days.... Read More
If you're smart, you should not only be focused on... Read More
Many years ago I became convinced of the need to... Read More
Vitamin E is an absolutely vital nutrient in your body,... Read More
Vitamin B is no small time player in the high... Read More
I began a quest to examine over 25 "leading products"... Read More
There are numerous herbal supplements on the market today that... Read More
Nutritional Supplements |