If you’re in the market for a fat loss product, one ingredient you may come across is that of ephedra. You may have heard mixed things about ephedra, some people claiming it is dangerous and should never be used while others stating that it’s the best fat burning compound out there.
What’s the real deal?
Let’s look at the facts about ephedra that you need to know.
What Is Ephedra
Ephedra is a compound that comes from a herb and serves as a central nervous system stimulant in the body. It’s through this that it exerts its positive benefits when it comes to enhancing your fat loss results.
You may have also heard of ephedrine before, which is often used to help treat allergies, hay fever, nasal congestion and it can help you manage respiratory tract conditions such as bronchospasms.
Some people have even used ephedrine as a means of increasing urinary flow output in those who are struggling. It can act as a diuretic in the body, flushing out excess water in those who retain fluids.
Benefits Of Ephedra
So what are the benefits of ephedra that you can look forward to?
First, you’ll get an increase to your resting metabolic rate, which then allows you to more easily create a calorie deficit required for fat loss to take place. Anything you can do to increase your energy out side of the equation is going to go towards helping you better manage your food intake. You won’t have to slash calories as low to see the results you’re looking for.
Next, you’ll notice increased energy as well. Another central nervous system stimulant you may be familiar with is caffeine, which also boosts energy levels. Many people often pair caffeine with ephedra to get an amplified effect.
Many people also report that their appetite decreases dramatically while using ephedra, which then makes it easy to consume fewer calories. Without hunger pains, your risk of cheating on your diet is that much lower.
Finally, you’ll likely notice increased focus when you take ephedra. Those who use it tend to report they have laser like concentration while in the gym, which can help you hit those PR’s you’re trying to reach.
This can be especially beneficial when dieting because often times, your focus and concentration are already waning as your calorie and carbohydrate intake drop down.
Overall, ephedra basically helps make sticking to your diet and exercise program easier, giving you that boost you need when things get harder.
Potential Side Effects
So now that we’ve reviewed all the good things that ephedra can do for you, what about the downsides? Like most things in life, there is a downside.
First, ephedra can wear you down. If you take it for a prolonged period of time, it runs down your central nervous system and can lead to high rates of fatigue, just like caffeine does if you start taking too much.
Furthermore, as you continue to take ephedra, eventually your body starts to adapt to it and you start noticing fewer and fewer benefits, so before too long, you wind up having to take more.
While you may not feel the ephedra that much any more, it still is wearing down your body, so eventually you may crash when your body has simply had enough.
This is why, just like any stimulant, it’s a good idea to cycle your use. Take it for a set period of time and then take a break for a few weeks to let your body rest and reset.
Because ephedra stimulates the body and speeds up everything, it can also cause racing heart rates in some people. This is where the big concern is with it and why many refer to it as being so dangerous.
Finally, some people may notice they start feeling jittery, anxious, or suffer from headaches while taking ephedra, so those are some additional side effects to be aware of.
Now, all of this said, usually this only happens at the higher dosage levels and after a prolonged period of use (or misuse, as the case often is!).
If you take ephedra in smaller doses, cycle it often, and pay attention to any warning signs that may indicate you’ve had too much, it shouldn’t pose many risks for side effects.
So there you have the information that you need to know about ephedra. It’s one of the better fat burning supplements you can take, but one you do need to be careful about taking. If you’re struggling to stick with your diet and exercise program and are not having the best of results, it can really give you the boost you may need.
