ECA
There is a 'fat-burning' product, also called
"thermogenics" or "ECA stack", that claims to increase your metabolic
rate and burn calories as heat - causing you to lose weight. It is made up of a
combination of different ingredients usually ephedrine (also known as MaHuang), caffeine
and aspirin, which work synergistically together to cause the desired effect.
Ephedrine is the main active chemical
component of the herb Ephedra. The action of this substance is associated with increased
fat release from adipose (fat) tissue, increasing free fatty acids in the bloodstream.
Increased heart rate, heart contractility, overall thermic (heat-producing) also occur in
almost all tissues in the body including muscle and fat tissue. That simply means it can
help you burn more fat. Ephedrine may also be able to suppress hunger.
Caffeine promotes fat metabolism and thus
spares carbohydrate for use as energy later in a workout. Researches have proven that
caffeine on its own has a positive effect on endurance and that the longer you exercise,
the more profound that effect becomes.
Aspirin contains Acetylsalicylic acid. It has
been proven that in conjunction with Ephedrine plus Caffeine, your fat loss process can
get even greater.
Although ECA may work, it is not without side
effects. Increased pulse rate, hand tremor, lost of appetite, nausea, headaches, increased
blood pressures, nervousness, insomnia are some of the minor side effects documented so
far. In certain cases, severe reactions like stroke, heart palpitations and even sudden
death were being reported. If you want to experiment with this product (for your
information, ephedrine is a controlled drug in many countries), approach it with caution.
Always use the minimum recommended dosage. Discontinue use and call a physician or health
care professional immediately if you experience symptoms mentioned above. This
product is not suitable for use:
If you are under 18.
If you are pregnant or nursing.
If you have, or your family have history of,
heart disease, angina, thyroid disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, recurrent
headaches, bleeding disorder, depression or other psychiatric condition, glaucoma,
difficulty urinating, prostate enlargement, seizure disorder, or drug abuse.
If you are taking a MAO inhibitor or any
allergy, asthma, or cold medications containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine,
phenylpropanolamine, or alcohol.
In general, we do not recommend the use of
this dietary supplement since it is not 100% safe, and it may lead to physical and
psychological addiction once you have experienced positive results from using it.
