Ask Shannon: Fitness and Nutrition Q & A at Her Active Life

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Ask Shannon: Fitness and Nutrition Q & A

Posted June 6, 2008 at 02:00 PM by Shannon Clark

Section: Her Nutrition, Supplements

With years of training under her belt, resident fitness and nutrition expert Shannon Clark is ready to help you on your way to a healthy, informed lifestyle. Got a question? her your inquiries, and be sure to check back every week for the latest Q&A.

Q: A few of my friends have mentioned to me recently that they have been using the ephedra supplement to help them lose weight. From what I’ve heard about it though I have to admit I’m a little worried about putting it into my body. Didn’t people die from taking it? And what are the real benefits to it? Would it actually help me lose weight faster?

A: Great question. There are a wide variety of fat loss supplements out on the market today; some that work, some that, well, don’t. Deciphering which ones will work and more importantly, which ones are safe to take can be a challenge.

First off, before you go purchasing any supplement you need to understand that there is no product that will make you lose weight in and of itself. People who get into this mindset – that they can eat whatever they want and they’ll still lose weight because they’re taking such and such a supplement are in for a large disappointment.

The work still has to be done, what supplements most often do is make doing the work slightly easier.

Let me explain.

With ephedra for instance, yes, it most definitely can be dangerous, but this is if you take too much of it (with the exception of course for the few people who will have issues of it regardless of the dosage). Some people will get into the mindset though that if some is good, more must be better. After all, everyone wants to lose weight as fast as possible right?

When it comes to supplements, this should never be done. You must use a proper dosage, if anything, slightly less than recommended when first starting out to see how your body reacts.

The benefits that ephedra offers for most people is an increase in energy levels (thus they can work out longer and harder, therefore burning more calories which helps with weight loss), a decrease in appetite (allowing them to consume less food and contribute to a lower calorie intake that way), and an increase in body temperature, which can be beneficial because when dieting you might find you are feeling colder than usual.

It should be made aware though that there can be some side effects for some individuals such as an increase in heart rate (if you have predisposing heart problems this is likely not a product you should consider), feeling jittery or anxious, and an increase in blood pressure. You would need to evaluate yourself (possibly with the help of a doctor) whether or not it’s a safe idea for you to supplement with ephedra.

Usually when it is taken, ephedra is combined with about 200 mg of caffeine (commonly known as the E/C stack). It is optional to add the caffeine, but most people do.

Additionally, as with other supplements you should cycle this product on and off, both so that your body does not adapt to it over time and to give your CNS a break. Since this is definitely going to stimulate the nervous system, it is placing additional stress on the body and over time this can lead to feelings of burnout, fatigue, and a general sense of being unwell. This could happen with any supplement though, even having far too much caffeine each day could produce similar effects.

So, before you start taking ephedra, consider the benefits and drawbacks of it yourself. If you are doing well on your diet – your hunger is controllable, you have enough energy for your workouts, and you don’t feel like you’re struggling all that much, you likely don’t need it and might as well avoid it. If, however, you are showing the above symptoms, it may be something to consider – BUT, only if you take it in a safe manner. Always start with a half dose the first two days to a week to make sure that you tolerate it alright before continuing on.