Ephedra – 101
What is ephedra? Ephedra, which is also known as Ma Huang, is a 5000 years old natural remedy. It grows mainly in Mongolia and the bordering regions of China. It has been used in Chinese medicine and has become a popular herbal dietary supplement in the United States. Most noteworthy, ephedra is used as an energizer and for losing weight and gaining muscles.
The main active ingredients in the ephedra plant are called ephedrine alkaloids. Ephedrine is one of the naturally occurring alkaloids present in Ephedra. Ephedra is designed to naturally activate the sympathetic nervous system which increases the amount of food converted to heat, a process called thermogenesis. The results can be an effective treatment for the symptoms of asthma, allergies, and sinus problems.
Is Ephedra safe to use? Scientific studies confirm that Ephedra is a relatively safe remedy when used within the recommended serving limits. The ephedrine alkaloids in Ephedra act as a mild stimulant and develop effects similar to those of caffeine. Ephedra has been used in Chinese medicine to treat symptoms of asthma and upper respiratory infections.
In February of 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) imposed a ban on ephedra as a diet supplement but allowed synthetic ephedrine and ma huang used for traditional Chinese medicine to continue to be manufactured and sold. This ban came into effect on April 12, 2004.
On April 14, 2005 little more than one year after the ban on ephedra was imposed, a Utah court concluded that the FDA overstepped their power in banning ephedra. The court said that there was no evidence that low dosages, especially under 10mg, pose any health risk. The court decision puts the responsibility on the FDA to prove that ephedra poses a health risk, instead of manufacturers having to prove that ephedra is safe.
Finally, the Miracle Fat Burner is Back and available to the public. But this unparalleled weight loss concerned some people. Ephedra was so powerful, its safety was questioned. When the controversy peaked in 2004, ephedrine was taken off the shelves for further testing.
Since then, it’s gone through rigorous tests – and passed with flying colors. According to last month’s ruling in Utah, there was never any basis for banning doses of 10 milligrams or less. As a result, ephedra has once again been approved for public consumption?
When it is all said and done it all boils down to one thing – a choice. The choice is yours. Make it wisely!
Cephus Gunn is an independent marketing consultant and offers common-sense tips on health and weight loss for the informed consumer. For more information on ephedra and weight loss, visit the web site yoweightloss.com/
Contact Cephus at [email protected]Please note that this article is not a substitute for medical advice.
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Cafeteria At Fault for College Weight Gain
College weight gain is at an all time high, and as students continue to pack on the pounds at an increasing rate, we naturally want to know where the blame lies for this growing epidemic. Since food consumption contributes significantly to weight gain, is it safe to assume that cafeterias are responsible for the expanding waistlines of our students? Read on for three reasons why the cafeteria food you eat is making you fat, and tips to help you stop the weight gain.
1. All You Can Eat
When was the last time you were given a tray and let loose in an all-you-can-eat buffet? Although most people only experience this phenomenon while either onboard a cruise ship or visiting Las Vegas, college students often have the buffet going experience three times a day, seven days a week. That comes out to twenty-one opportunities to overeat each week. Students are handed the serving spoon, and the sky is the limit!
Let’s do some simple math together to help explain the damage done by the all-you-can-eat cafeteria. One must consume roughly 3,500 extra calories in order to gain a pound. This may seem like a large number, but when broken down between twenty-one meals, one pound can be gained each week by simply eating 170 extra calories at each meal. These 170 calories can take on the form of an extra helping of cheesy spaghetti, a salad drenched in creamy dressing, or a small, innocent-looking dessert. College cafeterias are lurking with excess calories that are on a mission to end up on your unsuspecting tray.
Cafeteria Weight Loss Tip #1: Ditch your tray. Instead of loading up an entire tray with multiple plates of food, desserts and beverages stick with just a simple plate. This will prevent you from overeating, since more food than can fit on one plate is probably more food than you need. 2. Main Dish Mayhem
College cafeterias are notorious for serving main dishes that are less than nutritious. Cheese covered pizzas, pastas and casseroles often dominate the lunch menus while fried meats, potatoes, and fat laden roasts turn up at dinner. Any direction that you turn to, in a cafeteria, will find you staring straight into the pot of something fattening.
Let’s consider the extra fat and calories that are found in the main dishes that are typically served in the cafeteria. An average serving of lasagna has 550 calories and 22 grams of fat. Two slices of pizza have 540 calories and 28 grams of fat. A serving of fried chicken has 480 calories and 26 grams of fat. When you consistently eat main dishes like these that are high in fat and extra calories the only possible result is weight gain.
Cafeteria Weight Loss Tip #2: Eat only a small serving of the main dish. This will prevent you from eating an extreme amount of excess calories, since the main dishes are usually very rich in calories and fat. Fill the rest of your plate with fresh vegetables and whole grains. 3. Desserts Galore
What is a visit to the cafeteria without topping it off with a mouthwatering dessert? Cookies, brownies, cakes, pies and ice cream are often just what you need to get your mind off of that exam that you need to study for. Women are especially prone to indulging at the dessert bar, due to their chocolate-loving, sweet teeth!
What most students do not realize is how quickly these extra calories add up, resulting in weight gain. A typical large cookie contains over 200 calories and 15 grams of fat. A typical brownie can pack over 400 calories and 25 grams of fat. These are often the calories that end up pushing you over your daily caloric needs, resulting in fat storage around your waist, hips and thighs.
Cafeteria Weight Loss Tip #3: Limit the number of desserts you eat each week. Rather than grabbing a cookie or brownie everyday, designate a day or two each week as your dessert day. This will prevent daily extra calories, and will make the desserts you do eat more enjoyable.
The next time that you are in line at the cafeteria pay attention to what ends up on your plate. Remember that most college weight gain is a result of a mismanaged diet. If you would like more information on avoiding college weight gain, visit www.AvoidTheFreshman15.com to download free information.
Diana Keuilian, Certified Personal Trainer, and author of "Avoid The Freshman Fifteen", has a proven method for avoiding college weight gain. Visit AvoidTheFreshman15.com to learn more. She is also the head Fitness Trainer for the nation’s leading online fitness site HitechPersonalFitness.com and board member of HitechTrainer.com
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