Laxatives for Weight Loss
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| Laxatives for Weight Loss |
Generally, laxatives are a kind of medication used by people who suffer from constipation and/or desire to induce bowel movement. But in recent times, it is also being used as one of the numerous ways to lose weight. They vary in forms, from drugs which can be administered orally to food and also in form of tea. Just like everything else, using these as a way to lose weight can be both effective and disadvantageous but it all depends on individual usage. You should know that using these products could lead to a decrease in your water weight but at the same time might not dispel any fat from the body. Although it is believed that by controlling bowel movement, they can help also help the body burn some excess fat.
Before we go into the benefits of using laxative for weight loss, it is necessary that we know how laxatives work in your system so that you lose weight.
As earlier stated, laxatives can be anything taken into the system in order to encourage bowel movement. They function by reducing the amount of undigested food items in the large and small intestine. Basically, theya e used to treat constipation. This means that intake would make food not to stay in the body for as long as should, and even though your system would absorb little calorie from the food substance, most of the food would be expelled undigested. While, this would help you have the appearance of a thin person, the weight mostly lost using laxative is water and not fat. You would also lose useful nutrients from the process. However there are benefits you can get from using laxatives to loose weight.
Here are a few advantages of using laxatives for weight loss :
They are helpful in dispelling toxic materials from the intestines and are quite efficient and useful. They also soften the stool and make it easier to pass.
To safely shed extra fat, you are advised to consume foods that are high in fiber as they are said to be natural laxatives and help in speeding up the body’s metabolism.
Taking these twice a day combined with regular water intake is beneficial as the more you consume water, the less volume of food you are likely to consume. This will result in you burning some calories.
Using laxatives as a means to losing weight also has its side effects. They include :
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| laxatives for weight loss |
Laxatives have been known to leave the body dehydrated by decreasing the amount of water that the bowels absorb thereby increasing the water quantity in the waste excreted. Over time, you begin to lose vigor and energy, dehydrated and eventually become ill rapidly.
Regular and prolonged intake of these drugs would affect the absorption of fat in the body. This will result in diarrhea and weight loss. It could lead to rectal bleeding and stomach cramps.
Reports have shown that people who excessively use them suffer from serious constipation and abdominal pain. This is because the colon has lost its ability to extract moisture from food residue before it is excreted.
People have found out that taking these drugs in the long run has made them addictive. It is therefore advised that you consult a health professional and limit your use of these products.
Other related side effects are muscle cramps, difficulty in breathing, irregular heartbeat, urinary problems, skin rashes and itching.
Rectal bleeding is also one of the side effects of using this method to lose weight. This is happens when bowel movements become very frequent. It is also a symptom of diarrhea.
Weakness that comes from diarrhea and dehydration can cause fainting.
Worse side effect includes the destruction of gastrointestinal tract, and what is worse is that this condition may be permanent. This happens after your system is already used to the laxative intake and then you stop abruptly. The intestine would use the ability to get rid of food from the body.
Electrolyte imbalance is one of the worse side effects of taking laxative excessively. The constant use of laxative can cause the loss of some electrolyte elements like potassium, sodium and calcium. This cam lead to a disorder- electrolyte disorder.
With the use of these being accompanied by some very scary side effects, you can take steps towards having a sound body system to help you lose weight. You can also have a very healthy intestinal system once these effects are taken into consideration. One should endeavor to make additions to his/her diet by taking more greens. Also, the consumption of foods that are high in fiber should be incorporated. Drinking a hot cup of tea also helps in moving the bowels at least twice a day.
Foods known to be natural laxatives should be taken as often as possible in the form of vegetables and fruits. There have no side effects on the body as these foods are natural. Other healthier ways to encourage a good digestive system is by taking foods that contain a substance known as probiotics. This is another way of promoting good and healthy bacteria in the intestines. It will help the body in the breakdown and absorption of nutrients which is helpful to dieters as they need every amount of these nutrients.
The truth about laxatives is that it does not help in losing weight. Dispelling food that has not been absorbed is not like shedding excess fat. With these, substances that are lost are just water and body wastes leaving you hydrated and stripped of the body’s minerals. Sticking to natural supplements to keep your bowels clean will get you the same weight loss results and help your intestines process food effectively. Incorporate healthy eating habits as well as exercise into your daily life so you can burn extra fat.
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