Ephedra diet supplements Legal challenges continue

Health and Natural Living. Ephedra food supplements are also known as ma huang. They are powerful stimulants found in the popular "herbal fen-fen" weight loss product. Despite its widespread use in over-the-counter weight loss pills, there is only limited evidence that promotes weight loss. However, several studies, as well as tens of thousands of satisfied ephedra users, said they supported their use.

What is the status of ephedra diet supplements in the United States? In 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that food supplements with ephedra were banned. The FDA first issued a regulation on February 11, 2004 stating that dietary supplements containing ephedrine alkaloids present a risk of unreasonable illness or injury. After a long struggle with the supplement industry, the FDA was finally able to ban food supplements with ephedra. The FDA acted after receiving more than 800 reports linking ephedra with dizziness, headaches, chest pain, psychosis, seizures and strokes. Some countries prohibit the use of stimulants before the FDA acts. They stated that when you regularly take ephedra in weight-loss supplements, your body stays in an abnormally high gait and there is a risk of heart palpitations and heart attacks.

Manufacturers of ephedra diet supplements do not go down without fighting. In fact, two manufacturers made a final effort for the US District Court. The law in New Jersey, issued a temporary order to prohibit the FDA from enforcing the rules. But the court ruled that the regulation would not be maintained immediately and asked the parties to submit additional reports. So, saga continues even though the current pill is not allowed.

Many diet addicts like ephedra diet supplements because they can lose weight without dieting or exercise. Clinical studies show that ephedra products work for people without exercise. There are very few supplements in the world that work without exercise. In one study, subjects lost 10 pounds of fat in 6 weeks by consuming 20 mg of ephedrine, 200 mg of caffeine, and 325 mg of aspirin 3 times a day without doing any exercise.

Ephedra occurs naturally in the central nervous system. This is a stimulant obtained from the Ephedra equisetina plant, but is now produced by chemical synthesis. This is a white crystal product that is water soluble and very soluble in alcohol. This is closely related to methamphetamine, although it is much stronger and works for a longer time.

Sometimes, ephedra diet supplements are combined with caffeine and aspirin to help dieters achieve their weight loss goals faster.

Now that ephedra diet supplements are banned, products made with "ephedra leaves" are marketed. But many dieters find that these products are not a substitute for reality. Daun Ephedra is legal, but many claim that they are totally ineffective.

The fight about ephedra weight loss supplements is not over. Although it is currently illegal to sell these substances, manufacturers and dieters struggle to make ephedra weight loss supplements legal.