5 Things You Need to Know About Ephedra

1. Ephedra Heats You up

Ephedra, or Ma Huang, is still the most effective fat burner. Steroid-free bodybuilders use products containing ephedra during the cutting phase of event preparation. Ephedra increases the metabolism and cuts fat by accessing its energy and releasing it in the form of fatty acids. It also has the naturally occurring side effect of appetite suppression and an increase in energy. It is thermogenic. It raises the heart rate and body temperature in the course of burning fat.

2. Fitness and Food Foundation

Ephedra products are useless alone. A consistent and methodical approach to training and clean eating is essential for any fat burner to be effective. A beginner or weekend weight room warrior should stay away from diet pills with ephedra and focus on a year of developing form and cardiovascular fitness. One of the purposes of ephedra is to increase the intensity of a workout. A good diet supports weight loss and includes an adequate source of protein in each meal, along with vegetables, fruit and some complex carbohydrates. Without preparing the body for fat burning, ephedra will likely only cause a newbie to lose water weight and a few negligible pounds that will be easily gained back.

3. Shop to Drop the Weight

You can buy ephedra diet pills at most grocery stores, sports supplement stores and yes--truck stops. You will find the most potent version, alkaloid based ephedra, in tea form. Look for caffeine, willow bark and yohimbe in the ingredients for the most effective combination. Always follow the directions on supplements and don't take more than is recommended.

4. Cycling is the Key

Bodybuilders use ephedra effectively because they know how to do it the right way. Off season, a competitive body builder will gain weight, rest from supplements and focus on weight training. For extreme physique building, don't try to create harder, bigger muscles and lose body fat at the same time. After the bulk is built up, fat burners, carbohydrate depletion and increased cardiovascular activity strips the fat off the top of the muscle. Don't use ephedra or any fat burner for more than six weeks at a time and make sure to take a good two months of rest to keep from building up immunity.

5. Warning to the Risk Takers

The FDA challenged and banned pure ephedra in 2004. Although it concluded that ephedrine alkaloids are no longer legal, certain forms of ephedra are still available and legal to use. The studies concluded that ephedra may be a danger to the heart, blood pressure and have a "significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury." Many proponents argue that used correctly, ephedra is no more of a danger than the pharmaceutical drugs, including fat loss drugs, that are still available on the market today.