Supplement Judge Unbiased Supplement Reviews – Do they really work??
Ephredra/Ephedrine (Ephredra-free) is one of the most controversial supplements in the world. The one thing that we know for sure about it is its ability to burn fat. However it is extremely effective at doing so that it’s been deemed dangerous by several organisations and governments.
It’s claimed that:
Ephredra can burn fat
Ephredra can aid weight loss
Ephredra can improve athletic performance
Ephredra works in a very similar way to caffeine, it stimulates the central nervous system to release adrenaline, however the effects are stronger on the nervous system meaning that the result is strong enough to boost metabolism and weight loss.
There aren’t many studies that look at the effect of Ephredra alone, however combing it with Ephredra seems to work at burning fat and reducing weight. On average, people lost 8lb over a 6 month period from just taking Ephredra and caffeine. The weight loss effect seems to last longer when combining Ephredra and caffeine as opposed to caffeine alone. However, for the fat to stay off, one would have to continue taking Ephredra for the remainder of their life, otherwise, the fat will creep back on.
With regards to improving performance, early research has suggested that Ephredra can help improve preformance by increasing the maximum amount of oxygen the body can use, however that was later discredited. Using Ephredra will not help, however, combining it with caffeine seems to show that endurance levels can increase by up to 35%. However, there isn’t much research published with regards to that topic suggesting more research still needs to be done.
Side effects
There are lots of side effects associated with ephredra ranging from both serious to common, ranging from heart attacks, to stroke, and even sudden death, ephedra has
been linked to a surprisingly vast number of health problems. Taking ephredra increases the chance of getting a serious health problem by 100-700 times. Scientists believe that even the Ephredra-Free supplements have the same side effects.
How much should you take? Well we advice to steer away from it, however, if you insist, research suggests that 50-100mg per day is a dose with minimal side effects.
Overall, I think it’s not worth risking it. Ephredra is an expensive supplement to get hold of, and the risks are far too great. I would rather use other natural compounds to get the same results and not harm my body.
References:
Astrup A, Bulow J, Madsen J, Christensen NJ. Contribution of BAT and skeletal muscle to thermogenesis induced by ephedrine in man. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 1985; 248: E507-E515
Boozer CN, Daly PA, Homel P. Herbal ephedra/caffeine for weight loss: a 6-month randomized safety and efficacy trial. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2002 May;26(5):593-604
Shekelle PG, Morton SC, Maglione M, Hardy ML, Mojica W, Suttorp M, Rhodes S, Hilton L, Gagne J. Ephedra and Ephedrine for Weight Loss and Athletic Performance Enhancement. Rand Corporation
Gillies H, Derman WE, Noakes TD, Smith P, Evans A, Gabriels G. Pseudoephedrine is without ergogenic effects during prolonged exercise. J Appl Physiol 1996; 81 (6): 2611-7
Bell DG, Jacobs I, Zamecnik J. Effects of caffeine, ephedrine and their combination on time to exhaustion during high-intensity exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1998; 77 (5): 427-33
Powers ME. Ephedra and Its Application to Sport Performance: Another Concern for the Athletic Trainer? J Athl Train 2001; 36 (4): 420-24
Bent S, Tiedt TN, Odden MC, Shlipak MG. The relative safety of ephedra compared with other herbal products. Ann Intern Med 2003; 138 (6): 468–71.
