Some will swear by laxatives to lose weight. This has even led to a few studies suggesting laxatives and weight loss through helping people eat more. But this reasoning is faulty on several counts. Firstly, laxatives are diuretics - they cause water retention, causing dehydration. And secondly, the amount of water retained by the body varies greatly depending on one's overall health and physical condition.
Most people's bodies retain water during bowel movements. In people who are undernourished or suffer from other forms of sickness, this process can be slowed down. Over time, this can lead to a considerable amount of weight gain, even if no food is actually eaten. So then, why would anyone use a laxative to speed up weight loss?
It has been argued that using laxatives to lose weight is actually more likely to result in gaining the weight back, than it is to prevent it. Because diuretics affect the lower digestive tract, they stimulate the release of additional amounts of water, which can ultimately cause you to retain liquid temporarily, rather than eliminating it. This can lead to dehydration and bloating, two symptoms of which are extremely unpleasant.
Another problem is the way that laxatives act on the colon. The main ingredient of a laxative is hydrine, a substance that can easily migrate into other parts of the body, affecting other organs. This means that even after you have eliminated all other food from your diet, you will gain weight due to the consumption of a hydrine-laced laxative. Also, a common complaint with laxatives used for weight loss is that they cause constipation, which leads to loss of vital fluids.
The best choice for those suffering from constipation caused by a lack of bowel movements is an over the counter laxative called Imodium. Available as a suppository, or you can take it orally as well, Imodium works by stimulating the colon to produce more enemas, which relieve constipation. Unlike many of its competing products, Imodium also contains a mild sedative, which gives the patient a milder form of anesthesia. For this reason, many laxatives do not contain this ingredient.
There are, however, other types of laxatives that are slightly less desirable for the average consumer. Some laxatives, such as Thymoquinone, work by encouraging the liver to remove excess estrogen from the blood stream. Estrogen is known to promote the production of fat stores, so using a laxative that encourages liver detoxification is not always a bad idea. However, for many women and men suffering from constipation, frequent bowel movements are a necessary component to healthy diets.
In addition to using laxatives to lose weight, there are also other dietary means of dealing with constipation. For example, many diet plans advocate the use of stool softeners in order to help ease digestive discomfort and promote weight loss through regular movement. Unfortunately, while stool softeners may be helpful for some people, they are not recommended for most. As a matter of fact, there is one well-documented case of a person using laxatives to lose weight and then gaining back all of the weight she had lost because she continued to have a laxative-based diet. Since laxatives cannot keep your bowels moving regularly, if you stop taking them your body will eventually return to its previous habits of bulk.
For most people, the most effective means of treating constipation and other conditions is to alter your diet. If you feel that you need a laxative to help you lose weight, instead of using a laxative to treat constipation look for other methods. You can find diets that don't require or encourage the use of laxatives, such as the GI diet (Get Healthy, Be Fit) which emphasizes the use of natural, whole foods that promote health. You can also look for alternative treatments like colon cleanses and herbal formulas. There are many guides on the market today that will help you find the best way for you to lose weight and regain control of your body. Instead of using laxatives to lose weight, consider other forms of treatment and enjoy better, more natural ways of weight loss!
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