Ephedra in Slimming Tea and Diet Pills : What You Ought to Know

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Many people have searched and tried weight loss supplements that can bring forth fast slimming effects. But, most of these products possess risks. One in particular is ephedra also known as Ma Huang tea. This specific product can give you fast weight loss effects. Yet, it can also give you long-term side-effects because of its ephedrine contents. With that being said, in this article you will discover the dangers of ephedrine in slimming tea and diet pills. Furthermore, you will also read about safe alternatives you can opt for.

Ephedra and its many uses 

Ma Huang tea has been used as an ancient Chinese remedy for more than four thousand years. As of today, it is sold as an over the counter drug labelled as "bronchodilator" or "decongestant" all over the world. It is also currently used as a dietary ingredient in some fat burning formulations.

Because of its main constituent namely ephedrine, it was used for various respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and allergic rhinitis. Being a potent stimulant, it was recently used as a brain stimulant, energy booster for athletic performance and as a weight loss supplement.

As a weight loss supplement, ephedra acts as a stimulant. Its main effect is to increase calorie burning by boosting your metabolism. It can also inhibit one’s appetite. Thereby, decreasing calorie consumption. However, these effects are only for short durations. Without proper diet and physical activities, you will automatically gain weight especially when you discontinue taking this supplement. In addition to that fact, long-term or consecutive intake of ephedra extract or Ma Huang tea is not recommended because of its severe side-effects.

The dangers of ephedra in slimming tea and diet pills

As a stimulant, ephedrine can cross the "blood brain barrier" and it can imitate your sympathetic nervous responses also known medically as the "fight or flight" response. To elaborate further, this substance can increase norepinephrine production and at the same time stimulate both the beta and the alpha adrenergic receptors. Stimulating beta-1 adrenergic receptors are beneficial for patients having breathing difficulties since it results to dilated airways. The problem is, it also affects both the alpha-1 and beta-2 adrenergic receptors which affect your heart and blood vessels. Stimulating these two receptors will cause contraction of the heart muscles, increase in blood pressure and decreased blood circulation in your kidneys or renal area. Aside from heart problems, there are other side-effects with consecutive use of ephedra namely hepatitis, psychosis and seizures.

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Recommendations

As you can see, ephedrine in slimming tea and diet pills is very detrimental to your physique. Hence, it is best to avoid purchasing weight loss products that contain this specific compound. Your best option is to lose weight the typical way, through proper diet and physical activities. If you are in need of a healthy and reliable weight loss supplement, there are various ephedra alternatives you can take. Green tea and coffee are safe and the most common alternatives you can drink. These products are proven to aid in trimming down your weight. Starch blockers are also popular nowadays. However, there are no substantial evidence that would support its efficacy as a weight loss supplement and health risks. Most health experts actually recommend fiber supplements. It was actually noted in several research works that high-fiber consumption aids in weight loss by delaying one's hunger. Hence, decreasing your calorie intake. 

With that, you now know the dangers of ephedrine in slimming tea and diet pills. If you want to lose weight the healthy way, don’t use shortcuts. It will only harm your physique. Remember, trimming down your weight takes time and effort. If you apply the right approach, you will get long-term satisfaction.