The modern fitness industry is experiencing an unprecedented rise. New training complexes, effective and safe diets appear. However, few things can compare in popularity with the "ECA effect" - a combination of three drugs - ephedrine, caffeine, aspirin. Together, they became the very magic pill that allows you to quickly and painlessly shed those extra pounds.
ECA efficiency
Many clinical studies have been conducted on this drug combination. First of all, the effectiveness of ephedrine was compared without the use of training. As practice has shown, the control group practically did not lose weight without exertion. However, in the case of a course with a combination of ECA and exercise on a treadmill, it turned out that ECA increases the efficiency of fat burning from aerobic exercise by 450-500%.
If we take on the real results, then for a course of ECA with the right diet and exercise, you can reduce the percentage of adipose tissue from 30% to 20%. Moreover, the result did not depend on the weight of the athlete, but only on the intensity of training. At the same time, people who took ECA for the first time and practically did not play sports before, noted less efficiency. It was associated with less performance during workouts, due to which excess energy was returned back to adipose tissue.
Why ECA?
There are a huge number of safer fat burners on the market, but the first place in popularity is still for the ECA complex for weight loss + clenbuterol. Why is that? It's simple - the action of other fat burners is based mainly on caffeine, which means that in terms of harmfulness and side effects, such fat burners can even surpass ECA, and be inferior in effectiveness.
Another option concerns various specific additives - antioxidants, etc. In particular, L-carnitine is extremely popular, which was developed as a complete replacement for ECA. Yes, it works, but unlike ECA, it is able to burn no more than 10 g of fat per workout due to the lower level of release. In addition, when using L-carnitine, glycogen stores are still consumed in the first place, which reduces its effectiveness.
As a result, ECA is an optimal and relatively safe option in terms of effectiveness / side effects.
Operating principle
| Substance | Effects on the body |
| Ephedrine | Powerful thermogenetic. Can trigger ketosis in the body and convert it to lipid energy sources |
| Caffeine | A powerful energetic, increases energy consumption, adrenaline-substitute, allows you to more efficiently spend excess energy obtained from lipolysis. |
| Aspirin | Reduces the likelihood of exposure to side effects of both products. Thinns blood, reduces the risk of stroke in professional athletes. |
Now in simple words about how this bundle works and why it is considered the most effective among all fat burners.
- First, under the influence of ephedrine and sugar, a small amount of insulin enters the bloodstream, opening up the fat cells. Further, the fat, under the influence of "pseudo-adrenaline" - caffeine, enters the bloodstream and is split into the simplest glucose.
- All of this glucose circulates in the blood, providing an extraordinary emotional boost and a significant increase in energy throughout the day. Caffeine, while still acting, slightly accelerates the heart muscle, which increases calorie expenditure per unit of time.
- Then the following happens. If the body (thanks to training) was able to spend all the excess energy (for which serious cardio loads are needed), then after closing them, a person loses up to 150-250 g of adipose tissue in one workout. If the energy released during exposure to substances was not spent, then over time it is converted back into polyunsaturated fatty acids and returned to the fat depot.
Conclusion: ECA is not effective without training.
Now a little more detail. Caffeine is one of the most potent diuretics approved, ephedrine enhances the effects of caffeine, which when combined with excess energy leads to an increase in body temperature. An increase in temperature not only promotes fat burning, but also leads to increased sweating during exercise. This in turn creates a tremendous level of dehydration. Therefore, during exercise, you need to consume enough water.
If the water-salt balance is not maintained, the blood thickens. This can lead (although unlikely) to the formation of clots that can block the vessel. Aspirin is used to prevent blood glucose from thickening and dehydration. In fact, it acts as a stabilizer of the reaction and does not directly participate in fat burning.
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Why do you need aspirin
Previously, ECA included no aspirin. It was added to one of the studies at the University of Massachusetts. Aspirin was thought to prolong the effects of ephedrine and improve fat burning. However, in practice, it turned out that it does not have a beneficial effect on fat burning. However, over the past fifteen years, it has not been removed from the formula. But we've already figured out why - aspirin reduces the chances of dehydration-related side effects of caffeine and ephedrine. In addition, it relieves headache, which often occurs as a result of a response from the vascular system to a sharp withdrawal of caffeine from the blood.
Can I drink caffeinated ephedrine without aspirin? Yes, you can, but athletes prefer to keep it in the lineup. The main purpose of aspirin is to mitigate side effects. For professional athletes, before performances, it is necessary to thin the blood. Since many athletes before Olympia consume a huge amount of diuretics in order to get maximum dryness, aspirin becomes the only way not only to relieve headaches, but also to avoid a stroke due to excessive thickening of the blood.
Ephedrine ban and new composition
In Ukraine and the Russian Federation, the active ingredient "ephedrine", which until then was freely distributed with many syrups for the common cold, was banned. The reason is the ability to prepare "vint" from ephedrine - a powerful energy drug that has a similar structure to cocaine, but is more dangerous. Due to the cheapness of ephedrine and its availability in pharmacies in these countries, more than 12 thousand deaths from the screw were recorded per year. This, in turn, led to the prohibition of ephedrine at the legislative level and its classification as a narcotic substance.
Fortunately, "ephedra extract", a purified chemical, has appeared on the market. It is devoid of its anti-cold mechanisms, but in terms of effectiveness in losing weight it is inferior to pure ephedrine by only 20%.
Experts recommend that you do not exceed the standard dose when using an ECA with an extract instead of a pure substance, since the likelihood of side effects of an ephedrine extract on the body has not yet been fully understood.
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Contraindications and side effects
Despite the fact that the dangers of ephedrine and caffeine are overly exaggerated, it is highly discouraged to take:
- during lactation and pregnancy;
- in the middle of the menstrual cycle;
- if you have pressure problems;
- dysfunctions of the cardiovascular system;
- increased excitability;
- individual intolerance to one of the components;
- improper water-salt balance;
- lack of physical activity;
- peptic ulcer and other problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
- dysfunction of the kidneys.
All this is due to its main and side effects:
- An increase in the load on the heart muscle, which also leads to an increase in blood pressure.
- Changes in the water-salt balance due to increased sweating - it is recommended to consume up to 4 liters of water per day and at least 2 g of salt or other substance containing sodium.
- Caffeine and ephedrine irritate the gastrointestinal tract, leading to the release of acid. This can aggravate the situation of ulcers.
- Due to excess water metabolism, the load on the kidneys and genitourinary system increases.
And yet, the effects of taking the ephedrine-caffeine-aspirin combination are greatly exaggerated. Since it is primarily intended for athletes, the chance of side effects without exceeding the recommended dosage was reduced to about 6% of the total number of people taking ECA fat burner.
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Course examples
Note: remember that the intensity of the course does not depend on the total weight and percentage of fat. In no case exceed the dosages indicated in the article. Before taking this medicine, have a preventive medical examination and consult your doctor.
Taking ephedrine with caffeine involves temporarily stopping your daily coffee and tea consumption. Any excess dosage of caffeine leads to increased sensitivity to ephedrine, which can increase the risk of side effects.
The standard course is:
- 25 mg ephedrine.
- 250 mg of caffeine.
- 250 mg of aspirin.
In the absence of headache or when working with lower dosages, aspirin can be discontinued. The most important thing is to keep the ratio 1:10:10. The duration of the course should not exceed 14 days, since after this period, due to the body's tolerance to the decay products of ephedrine, the dosage will have to be increased, which will proportionally increase the load on the heart muscle. Up to 3 servings are taken per day throughout the course. The first in the morning (immediately after eating). The second is 40 minutes before training. The third - 20-30 minutes after training.
Important: ECA is a powerful energy drink that can disrupt sleep function. Do not take caffeinated ephedrine after 6-7pm. The effect of the drug can last up to 7 hours.
Conclusion
The result of losing weight can be the release of up to 30 kg of exclusively adipose tissue while preserving muscles as much as possible. However, it is important to understand that if you are not a professional athlete, the risk of side effects and health damage can significantly outweigh the effect of losing weight. Therefore, at first, it is better for amateurs to consult with a professional doctor in order to regulate dosages and consult a trainer for the selection of optimal loads.
