Dietary supplements are marketed as “performance enhancers,” “energy boosters,” “fat burners,” “street drug alternatives,” or “legal highs” on the internet, television, and in nutrition stores. With the increased attention to Ephedra, which was recently banned by the FDA, other products are quickly gaining attention. These new products, promoted as safe, ephedra-free supplements, are considered to be just as risky as Ephedra-based supplements. There are two reasons they are dangerous: 1) the supplements contain high levels of stimulants often in combination with caffeine 2) the makers of the supplements are not required to list the quantity or amount of the stimulants that are in their products.

WHAT IS A DIETARY SUPPLEMENT?

Congress defined the term "dietary supplement" in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. A dietary supplement is a product taken by mouth that contains a "dietary ingredient" intended to supplement the diet. The "dietary ingredients" in these products may include: vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, glandulars, and metabolites. Dietary supplements can also be extracts or concentrates, and may be found in many forms such as tablets, capsules, soft gels, gel caps, liquids, or powders. They can also be in other forms, such as a bar, but if they are, information on their label must not represent the product as a conventional food or a sole item of a meal or diet. Whatever their form may be, DSHEA places dietary supplements in a special category under the general umbrella of "foods," not drugs, and requires that every supplement be labeled a dietary supplement.
Source: FDA

EPHEDRA (aka epitonin, ma huang, sida cordifolia, sinica) is a herbal stimulant and a main ingredient in energy-enhancing and weight loss products. Several organizations, including the American Medical Association and Health Canada have recommended banning the sale of ephedra and many other organizations, including the National Collegiate Athletics Association, the International Olympic Committee, and the National Football League, prohibit the use of products containing ephedra.