Ephedra is not part of Natural Weight Loss

Ephedrine. Although it may be a naturally occurring substance, it really has no place as part of a natural weight loss program.

Ephedra is usually thought of as a weight loss or diet pill but for more than 5,000 years it has been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for a plethora of conditions including asthma, headaches, edema and nasal congestion.

In recent years, since the early 1980s, ephedra (aka ephedrine or Ma Huang) has been commonly used for increased weight loss, athletic performance and as an appetite suppressant.

So what exactly is it and how does it work?

Ephedra is a naturally occurring, central nervous system stimulant obtained from the plants Ma Huang, Ephedra equisetina and others. It is also produced by chemical synthesis, the synthetic product being marketed in the form of ephedrine sulphate, ephedrine hall, or pseudo-ephedrine. It is structurally related to the drug amphetamine (think along the lines of Crystal Meth).

Ephedrine acts by stimulating the ‘fight or flight’ response since it interacts with various neurotransmitter receptors. Consequently, the side effects can include anxiety, psychosis, tremors, irregular heartbeat, irreversible heart damage, high blood pressure, nervousness, sleeping problems, kidney stones , nausea, headaches, dizziness, strokes, seizures and even death.

Ephedra is extremely addictive, with long term use being very common. It can cause severe withdrawal symptoms when discontinued, similar to those experienced with heroin withdrawal.

Natural though it may be, ephedrine is not something to include in your weight loss program. If we think of it as a ‘natural weight loss remedy’ it can then be compared to something like arsenic. Arsenic is natural and it will indeed promote weight loss, as we tend to drop a lot of weight quite quickly when we are dead!

Losing weight should be as much about being healthy as it is about looking good. Leave the ephedrine and other weight loss pills where they belong. In a tightly sealed bottle, or better yet, the garbage.

Instead, focus on a healthy balanced diet and intense workouts. Whether it’s a fat burning workout, muscle building workouts, or  a general exercise routine to stay healthy and fit – stay drug free. Simply put – you don’t need these unhealthy Supplements
to reach your goals.

About Shauna
	Shauna is a personal trainer, nutrition consultant and health and fitness writer for Workoutbox.com. She is also the creator of the "Soccer Mom weight loss program".

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