2008 Woodie Awards
Ephedra is back with a vengeance
Issue date: 5/4/06 Section: Opinion
Weight loss for many is the product of looking like Jessica Simpson, Angelina Jolie, or even Lindsay Lohan.
In order to achieve such a goal, women and men go to extreme dieting, workout, and even the ever popular dietary supplement Ephedra.
Ephedra, otherwise known as Ma Huang, is an herb derived from botanicals. Ephedra was first primarily used for the treatment of asthma to clear air passages and help people to overcome the common cold with of course the side effects of weight loss.
When researchers began to realize that Ephedra could help dieters to lose more than 20 pounds in a month, the product began flying off the shelves.
With researchers finding that Ephedra really did improve weight loss, companies around the world swarmed to make weight loss pills containing Ephedra to increase their businesses.
Then again who wouldn't want to hop aboard the weight loss express with a product that is guaranteed to help consumer's lose weight?
Ephedra has been used for years to help with stamina, weight loss and energy. Ephedra helps to suppress appetites while still maintaining a well balanced diet.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had banned Ephedra from all weight loss supplements. The FDA had found that Ephedra was causing an increase in heart rate, seizures, strokes anxiety, nervousness, delirium, caused difficulty sleeping and headaches.
It wasn't until the complaints started rolling in that the FDA started to look into the use of Ephedra.
The only reason why it did this was because Ephedra worked well for some, while others abused the drug making it extremely unsafe.
Besides Steve Bechler's death Baltimore Orioles during Baltimore Orioles spring training which was linked to his over use of Ephedra, many other consumers of Ephedra either began having serious side effects, or died from the use.
The FDA released a warning to "…all Americans - particularly athletes and those who engage in strenuous activities - about using dietary supplements that contain Ephedra."
In order to achieve such a goal, women and men go to extreme dieting, workout, and even the ever popular dietary supplement Ephedra.
Ephedra, otherwise known as Ma Huang, is an herb derived from botanicals. Ephedra was first primarily used for the treatment of asthma to clear air passages and help people to overcome the common cold with of course the side effects of weight loss.
When researchers began to realize that Ephedra could help dieters to lose more than 20 pounds in a month, the product began flying off the shelves.
With researchers finding that Ephedra really did improve weight loss, companies around the world swarmed to make weight loss pills containing Ephedra to increase their businesses.
Then again who wouldn't want to hop aboard the weight loss express with a product that is guaranteed to help consumer's lose weight?
Ephedra has been used for years to help with stamina, weight loss and energy. Ephedra helps to suppress appetites while still maintaining a well balanced diet.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had banned Ephedra from all weight loss supplements. The FDA had found that Ephedra was causing an increase in heart rate, seizures, strokes anxiety, nervousness, delirium, caused difficulty sleeping and headaches.
It wasn't until the complaints started rolling in that the FDA started to look into the use of Ephedra.
The only reason why it did this was because Ephedra worked well for some, while others abused the drug making it extremely unsafe.
Besides Steve Bechler's death Baltimore Orioles during Baltimore Orioles spring training which was linked to his over use of Ephedra, many other consumers of Ephedra either began having serious side effects, or died from the use.
The FDA released a warning to "…all Americans - particularly athletes and those who engage in strenuous activities - about using dietary supplements that contain Ephedra."
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