Ephedrine & Weight Loss

What Is Ephedrine?

Ephedrine is in a class of drugs known sympathomimetics. Ephedrine is generally utilized as an appetite suppressant, concentration aid, stimulant, and decongestant. Ephedrine is an alkaloid derived from several plants in the ephedra family.

Additionally, ephedrine increases the release of norepinephrine, a very potent engogenous alpha agonist. Ephedrine acts in a manner similar to the body's primary adrenergic hormone epinephrine (adrenaline). Ephedrine is an alpha and beta adrenergic agonist.

Once ingested, ephedrine noticeably stimulates the central nervous system, raising the heart rate and inducing a slight increase in body temperature. The rise in body temperature will increase fat burning - through fatty acids being released from the breakdown of triglycerides in adipose tissue - contributing to weight loss.

Ephedrine: A Popular Treatment For Asthma

Ephedrine was at one time widely popular in the treatment of asthma. Ephedrine is still used as a very effective decongestant and bronchodilator, although its popularity is declining, which is a direct result of the availability of better pharmaceuticals with less adverse side effects.

Ephedrine can be found in common cold and various flu medications. In addition to raising heart and respiratory rates, ephedrine stimulates the thyroid gland by converting LT-4 (L-thyroxine) into the T-3 (Liothyronine), which significantly increases metabolism.

Ephedrine As An Ergogenic Aid

For athletes concerned about increasing muscle, ephedrine significantly increases metabolic rate.

From the standpoint of weight loss and diet, metabolism is the mechanism in which the human body converts food into energy, utilizes it for bodily repairs, or stores it as fat for future use. We burn calories much more efficiently and store less fat if we have a faster metabolism. In the event we have a slower metabolism, we burn calories in much less efficient manner and will store more calories as fat.

Ephedrine, when used properly, can increase fat loss, help spare muscle tissue, and increase energy levels by stimulating an increase in metabolism.