What is Ephedrine?
If you have done research on weight loss pills you have probably heard of Ephedrine. Whether you’ve heard good or bad things, Ephedrine is definitely a popular ingredient. But what exactly is it and is it safe and effective for weight loss?
History of Ephedrine
Ephedrine comes from a genus or plants called ephedra. Ephedra can be found in dryer climates around North America, Europe, and Africa. Historians suggest that ephedra and its extracts have been used to tens of thousands of years, mostly for medicinal purposes.
Not until the early 1990s did ephedrine begin to be marketed as a weight loss supplement. Early manufacturers claimed the stimulant boosted energy and burned fat faster than anything else in its time. But later research brought about the bad side of ephedrine.
Is Ephedrine Legal?
In 2004, the FDA issued a ban on all weight loss supplements containing ephedrine. In fact, it is illegal in the U.S. to use ephedrine for anything other than to treat asthma, allergies, colds, or other diseases.
Despite current regulations on obtaining ephedrine, there are still ways to get around those regulations. For example, ephedrine is used in medications that are designed to treat asthma and other diseases, but they are only offered with a prescription. Without a prescription, you can purchase a tea called má huáng, which contains ephedrine. However, the FDA ban restricts the tea to be sold as a dietary supplement or an ingredient in a diet pill.
Is Ephedrine Safe?
There is a reason why the FDA has banned ephedrine as a weight loss supplement. There are quite a few common side effects associated with ephedrine that include: anxiety, dizziness, nausea, headaches, sweating, and stress.
Along with the minor side effects, there are also chances of experiencing more serious adverse effects. These kinds of effects are one reason the FDA decided to put a ban on ephedrine. The overall risks from taking ephedrine outweighed the potential benefits. Serious side effects may include: heart attack, stroke, difficulty breathing, and anorexia.
Does Ephedra Help Burn Fat?
It’s remarkable that people still try and market ephedrine as a weight loss pill. As already stated, it is illegal to sell over the counter in the U.S. and additionally, it hasn’t ever been proven to be effective in weight loss. Extensive research has been done on ephedrine as a weight loss supplement with little to no evidence suggesting major long-term results. The only beneficial results were small and short term.
Is It Worth It?
Because ephedrine is illegal to sell and buy in the United States, it would be extremely risky to import it illegally to the country. On top of that, you would have to pay a fortune to get it here, not to mention the numerous health risks you could potentially experience from taking the supplement.
Even if ephedrine had proven and powerful results, there would be no reason to risk so much to try it out. Nowadays, there are weight loss supplements that are designed to give you the same fat burning results without the serious side effects. You can find some powerful weight loss pills on www.weightlosspills.org. Don’t get caught up in the hype of ephedrine. It’s just not worth it.
Supplements have used Astragalus Root to help people boost immunity and heal wounds but many have started using it for weight loss. With so many supposed effects, can this ingredient really help people significant amounts of fat?
Astragalus Root has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. It’s considered to be one of the 50 Fundamental Herbs. Traditionally, it was used in many teas and soups to help strengthen immunity, aid digestion, and even treat diabetes. As herbal medicine has grown more popular in the West, Astragalus Root is becoming common in many supplements across the world. However, in many cases it’s being used in ways that are not supported by clinical studies. Is weight loss one of these?
Astragalus Root and Weight Loss
Astragalus Root has been used in herbal remedies to boost metabolism. Higher metabolism can help increase the rate at which the body converts fat and calories are converted into energy. In most diet pills, you’ll find stimulants that are designed to achieve this effect. Some though have started using Astragalus Root as a stimulant substitute. Unfortunately, we have not been able to find studies that have shown Astragalus Root to be anywhere near as effective in creating these same fat burning reactions as a common stimulant might.
Other Astragalus Root Benefits
But while Astragalus Root may not be the best approach for losing weight, it does have other interesting results to offer. The most impressive possibly is its properties as an antioxidant. Astragalus Root’s chemical makeup has been shown to be effective at limiting the production of free radicals thus protecting cells from damage that may cause cancer or premature aging. New research is also popping up that suggests Astragalus Root extract might be able to decrease errors in DNA replication. These errors are one of the main causes of aging. Thus Astragalus Root would be a much more fitting inclusion in an anti-aging product than it would be in a diet pill.
Damiana Herb
Damiana Herb can be found in many supplement blends these days. It pops up in multiple kinds of products, each formulated for different results which might make you wonder- What does Damiana really do?
What is Damiana?
Damiana herb is a plant native to Central and South America as well as some regions in Mexico and the American Southwest. It has been used in Native American folk medicine since the time of the Mayans. Over the centuries it has been used in relaxing herbal teas and in some instances as an aphrodisiac. But today, supplement have begun using Damiana for a very different reason.
Damiana and Weight Loss
The most interesting aspect of Damiana is probably is that it can be used as a weight loss supplement . . . sort of. Many diet pills have begun adopting Damiana into their blends for its ability to suppress appetite. But before you buy anything containing Damiana, though, make sure that it is included with two other vital ingredients- Guarana and Yerba Mate. Only as a trio can these compounds work together to function as an appetite suppressant. If a formula contains only one or two of these ingredients, you can be sure that you’re paying for compounds your body cannot use.
When Damiana, Guarana, and Yerba Mate are all present in the same blend, they have the power to delay gastric emptying, meaning they hold food in your digestive tract longer. By slowing the digestive process, your stomach will feel full longer. By staying satisfied longer you can curb cravings, reduce your caloric intake, and even lose weight. Combined with diet and exercise, this trifecta of ingredients was shown in one study to help test subjects lose an average of 11.2 pounds over the course of the study. With results, like these Damiana should definitely be a product to keep your eyes out for . . . as long as it is included with Guarana and Yerba Mate of course.
Grape Seed Liquid
Grape seed liquid is finding its way into hundreds of different supplements these days. The companies behind these products market this extract as being able to do everything from fight fat to helping you to look younger. This article has been written however to determine whether grape seed liquid is just another over-hyped ingredient or a useful addition to your supplement regimen.
Unlike some “miracle ingredients” of yesteryear, grape seed liquid’s benefits are actually backed by some rather sound studies. Though it hasn’t really been shown to help reduce fat, research has been especially strong in supporting that it can promote heart health and function as an antioxidant.
Grape Seed Liquid & Cardiovascular Health
Several clinical studies have suggested that grape seed liquid can be a great way to promote heart health. Containing some unique chemical compounds called Phenols, grape seed extract has been shown to relieve inflammation in veins, regulate cholesterol, and inhibit platelet buildup. By clearing the vein of these barriers, this ingredient can lower blood pressure. Low blood pressure puts less stress on heart muscles, preventing potential cardiac problems in the future.
Powerful Antioxidant
Other clinical research has tied grape seed liquid to a number of antioxidant benefits. First it can thwart enzymatic processes that catabolize collagen and elastin. By preserving these tissues, grape seed liquid can help fight wrinkles and keep skin firm and thick. This gives it great application in several beauty supplements or creams. Its ability to seek out and destroy free radicals also makes it great for preserving cellular health and preventing the damage that can lead to cancer.
Other Benefits
Though much research still needs to be conducted, early findings are suggesting that grape seed liquid may also accelerate healing from wounds, prevent tooth decay, enhance bone density, and even treat certain types of skin cancer. With so many effects under its belt, this ingredient is definitely worthy of the attention it’s getting. If you’re looking for a potent antioxidant or for a natural way to improve heart health, grape seed liquid is a great option.
CLA Dosage
CLA has been hailed as an easy way to support and maintain healthy weight. Its effectiveness has made it a part of thousands of health supplements. But no matter how effective the ingredient might be, it’s important to get it in the right dosage to make sure it provides the best results.
CLA is a fatty acid shown to help people manage their weight. It has been clinically proven to reduce body fat and build lean muscle mass to improve body composition over all. But as good as its benefits are, CLA will not be effective if not used in the proper amounts. Studies have shown the dosage of CLA that will help you lose the highest amount of weight is about 3 grams per day. 3 grams per day was shown to help people lose an average of 90 grams of fat per week. More than 3.2 grams showed no added benefits.
As mentioned above, proper dosages of CLA can help the average person lose about 90 grams of fat a week. It may not seem like a whole lot, but that’s about ten pounds over the course of the year. This slow approach to weight loss may not be ideal for helping obese people get slim fast, but it still can be a valuable asset in your quest for weight loss.
In the future, make sure that you always look up the clinically tested dosages before buying a product. If you’re buying too little of an ingredient, it won’t yield its maximum benefits. If you’re buying a supplement that contains too much of an ingredients, your paying for more than your body can actually use. To make sure you always get the most cost effective products, make sure they have precise dosages.
Inositol Benefits
Inositol is renowned for its beneficial effects over the mind but new data is suggesting that it may also have potential to fight fat also.
Mental Benefits
Inositol is a compound similar in many ways to a B-complex vitamin. It is not considered a vitamin since the body can produce it on its own. But even while the body produces its own supply, some benefits have been observed by supplementing your diet with more inositol, especially benefits in the nervous system. Inositol has been shown to help the brain produce and use choline, an important neurotransmitter. By supporting choline, Inositol can actually improve memory, lift mood, relax the body, protect neurons, and regulate nerve impulses.
Fat Benefits
But aside from these mental benefits, recent studies may show that Inositol has the power to reduce fat. Working as a lipotropic, Inositol has been shown in emerging studies to help break up fat into smaller components. Breaking fat apart helps the metabolism burn it more easily. Inositol has also been shown to also reduce cholesterol levels. It removes fat from the liver and reduces the amount of bad cholesterol present in the bloodstream while increasing HDL. This can help prevent cholesterol buildup in the veins that lead to arterial hardening.
Conclusion
However, the studies showing these benefits are still fairly new so going out an buying an Inositol supplement may be a little premature. A better alternative would be adjusting your diet. You can probably get enough Inositol from eating healthy. Grains, fruits, and beans have all been shown to be high in Inositol.
Valerian Root Side Effects
You are getting sleepy . . . and depressed? Valerian Root is common ingredient in sleep aids but does it cause annoying or potential serious side effects? Some reports are coming through saying that it can.
As one of the most popular ingredients in sleeping supplements, its important to know whether or not Valerian Root is safe or not. For thousands of years its helped induce drowsiness but can induce unwanted results as well?
Common Side Effects
Though not serious Valerian Root has shown to produce some minor health problems. Mild depression, apathy, stomach aches, and mental dullness have all been complained of. Since it is a relaxant, it’s important not take before driving or operating heavy machinery. You might fall asleep behind the wheel and incur a lot more than a headache.
Serious Side Effects
If taken in excess, some serious side effects have been reported. These serious effects include night terrors, delirium, and cardiac complications. Furthermore, Valerian Root has been shown to be toxic to the liver when combined with an extract called “skullcap.” It can cause complications with other medicines and supplements as well so be sure to talk to your doctor before using it in conjunction with anything else.
Conclusion
These side effects sound pretty scary but the truth is they are exceptionally rare. The overwhelming majority of people taking supplements containing Valerian Root have not complained of these side effects. Usually these adverse reactions are only caused when Valerian Root is taken in excess or is combined with a harmful ingredient in something else. If you are still uncertain about trying anything with Valerian Root, talk to your doctor for advise.
