How Does Ephedra Work to Lose Weight?
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What is Ephedra
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Ephedra is a dietary supplement derived from the plant known to the Chinese as Ma Haung. The plant is also found growing wild in the arid regions of the western United States.
Ephedra has a long history of use by the Chinese in the treatment of colds, hay fever and even asthma. It also has a long history of use in the southwestern United States in teas and remedies of Native Americans. It has been widely used in recent history as a means to lose weight and to provide a quick energy boost.
How Does Ephedra Help in Weight Loss
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Ephedrine, the name of the manufactured version of the herb Ephedra, stimulates the central nervous system, thereby speeding up the processes of the body. By speeding up your body's processes, Ephedra speeds up the metabolism of your body. With a faster working metabolism, you will burn more calories throughout the day and night. This is where the marketers came up with the slogan "burn fat while you sleep."
Ephedrine is generally combined in a supplement with caffeine, which is another stimulant, and sometimes aspirin. In this combination it can work as an appetite suppressant. Also, the chemical makeup of the manufactured Ephedrine is also thought to make the body more efficient in the breakdown of fatty tissue to fuel the body.
Ephedra's role in weight loss is still not proven over the long term. Ephedra coupled with caffeine is proven to cause weight loss in the short term. It is not a miracle cure for obesity and is no replacement for a proper diet and exercise, but Ephedra can aid in weight loss.
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What are the Health Risks Associated with Ephedra
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The use of Ephedra as an over-the-counter dietary supplement has caused quite a bit of controversy. It has been linked with numerous deaths, most notably Baltimore Oriole pitcher Steve Belcher in 2003. Ephedra has also been reported to be the cause of strokes, heart attacks and seizures. However, a definitive cause-and-effect relationship between the use of Ephedra and these serious incidents has not yet been proven.
Because of its effects on the body, Ephedra should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women, the elderly, children or just before and just after surgery. Ephedra poses the greatest risk to those with pre-existing conditions.
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