The September, 1999, FDA Medical letter and Berkeley Wellness Letter are just the latest of the many reputable, prestigious publications that have attempted to spread the word that consumers should avoid any herbal product containing ephedra, (also known as ma huang, ephedra sinica, Chinese ephedra, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and norpseudoephedrine).

Ephedra is sold in weight loss "supplements" as an energy booster, performance enhancer, body builder and "fat burner." However, the people who market and/or sell these pills neglect to tell you that this central nervous stimulant also has dangerous side effects including:

• nervousness
• headache
• insomnia

• dizziness
• palpitations
• skin flushing
• tingling
• vomiting
• anxiety
• restlessness
• diuresis
• hypoglycemia
• hypotension

The use of Ephedra has also been common in the history of many people who have liver cancer!!

Because supplements are regulated as foods, not drugs, the government can do very little to protect you from unscrupulous people who want a piece of the $40 billion weight management pie.

Ephedra is banned in more than 20 states and others limit the amount that can be in a product.

Remember, drugs create damage long before you feel symptoms. A leaner body, via a pill, is not worth the risks--especially since the pill is not what causes any weight loss that may occur.

If you are not taking a supplement with Ephedra (under any name) don't start. And if you are taking it, stop.

There is no shortcut to safe weight loss. No safe pill has been invented (yet) to take off pounds. Until then, let's become better fat burners by exercising.