Laxatives For Weight Loss That Work

Laxatives For Weight Loss

One of the most popular methods for losing weight today involves using laxatives for weight loss. When people hear 'laxatives', many think of enemas or pills designed to help with constipation. The laxatives used for weight loss are very different, and while they are sometimes offered in pill form, they more frequently take the form of teas.

Occasionally these teas are not advertised as laxatives at all, but instead use deceptive names like "slimming tea" or "dieter's tea." Of course their active ingredients (aloe, buckthorn, cascara, castor oil, rhubarb, and senna) are almost always laxatives.

While these ingredients are natural, that is not a guarantee that they are always safe. This deceptive marketing can actually prove to be quite dangerous.

The idea when using laxatives for weight loss is to flush fatty substances out of the body before they can be digested and absorbed. Unfortunately, studies have shown that the quick-acting effect of laxatives does not significantly contribute to weight loss, as the laxative moves through the body too quickly to absorb calories.

Long-term use of laxatives for weight loss may be more successful, but ultimately may be very dangerous too. Even when you do not take a laxative with every meal, their cumulative effect on your body and more specifically on your digestive system may cause you to get prolonged diarrhea.

This condition may prevent your body from properly digesting food, thereby causing you to lose weight. Unfortunately it's not a healthy weight loss and is considered by many doctors to be a form of starvation. This method is frequently used by both bulimics and anorexics and can lead to serious health issues.

The use of laxatives for weight loss is especially dangerous for women that are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant, as these products strip vital nutrients from the body.

Ongoing use of laxatives may even interrupt a woman's regular menstrual cycle and affect her fertility. The use of laxatives with certain prescription drugs may also increase your risk of suffering from severe side effects because of the increased sensitivity in your stomach and intestines.

Laxatives in any form and taken for any significant duration of time may have side effects of their own including but not limited to: stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, gas, dizziness, rectal bleeding, and severe dehydration. Ironically, prolonged use of laxatives may even cause constipation as your digestive system stops functioning correctly.

Instead of using laxatives for weight loss, consider other healthy alternatives. For example, there are many teas that can effectively be used as part of a diet plan because of their low calorie content and active ingredients that boost both your metabolism and energy level.

There are also diet pills and supplements (both natural and artificial) that can encourage your body to burn fat faster while still allowing your body to absorb and process the calories and nutrients that it needs. For information on diet products that are both safe and effective, consult with your physician.