Ephedra was a good pill with a bad rep. But now that it's banned, even those of us who didn't abuse it have to look elsewhere for ingestible pound-dropping options. For those looking to take off a few extra ell-bees, here are four options worth considering.

GREEN-TEA EXTRACT

Admire green tea for its disease-fighting properties, but love it for its potent mix of caffeine and a metabolism-boosting compound called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Together, the combo may help you lose weight, beat cravings, and, according to one Swiss study, boost metabolism--sending the body's natural fat burners into overdrive.

CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID

CLA is an omega-3-like fatty acid found in beef and dairy products. It's also a powerful fat fighter that appears to speed metabolism and boost energy levels. According to a new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who took 3.4 grams of CLA daily for a year lost 9% more body fat than people who took a placebo.

BITTER ORANGE

Bitter orange and ephedra are "kissing cousins"--they're both part of a family of compounds known as ephedra alkaloids. The difference? Bitter Orange doesn't appear to cause the same bothersome jitters and side effects for which ephedra was so notorious. Preliminary animal studies on Bitter Orange are so promising that some Georgetown researchers call the supplement the best substitute for ephedra currently available.

CALCIUM

According to research from the University of Tennessee, men who add calcium to their diet can lose up to 70% more weight and 64% more fat than people who cut calories alone. Shoot for 1,000 mg of the bone builder a day. A supplement can help get you there, but you're better off getting your calcium from high-protein dairy foods.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group