Laxatives to lose weight – Do they work and are they safe?

One concept that’s gaining popularity is using laxatives to lose weight. This kind of supplement usually takes the form of tea. Many supplement stores sell weight loss tea, diet tea and others but most of them have the same ingredients such as aloe, , rhubarb root, cascara, senna ,buckthorn and castor oil. Most of these substances are regulated as drugs. While there are many claims that they are effective , the truth is that they may actually cause you harm.

The primary outward effect of drinking laxatives to lose weight is frequent bowel movements. People feel that this is cleansing for the body and removes toxins.  However, from a weight loss point of view, diarrhea caused by laxatives to lose weight does not account for a significant amount of calories taken in the body.

Are laxatives to lose weight effective?

For laxatives to lose weight to work, they should act on the small intestine where most of the calorie absorption takes place. Instead, their effect is felt on the large intestines. However, fat absorption can be affected if taken in large amounts for prolonged periods but at a cost -  People who suffer from bulimia and anorexia usually overdose on laxatives to lose weight.

Harmful effects of laxatives to lose weight

Excessive usage of laxatives to lose weight can cause long term damage to the gastrointesitinal tract. It can also cause osteomalacia the symptoms of which are soft and weak bones. Common effects of misusing laxatives to lose weight generally occur when taken in more than or longer than recommended. These include nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, rectal bleeding, electrolyte disorder and dehydration as well as injury and worse, death. Laxatives to lose weight can also cause the colon to lose its function leading to constipation and long term pain for decades. It can progress to such an extent to necessitate removal of the colon via surgery.

Laxatives to lose weight may be even more harmful to women than to men. Although no evidence is present to indicate their interference with the woman’s menstrual cycle, any kinf of rapid weight loss for pregnant women is extremely inadvisable. Pregnant women should refrain from taking any kind of laxatives to lose weight.

Laxatives to lose weight – Conclusions

The reason for such products becoming popular is that they are cheaper and better tasting better than other laxatives to lose weight sold in the market. You should be wary about these products because many laxatives to lose weight are labeled as teas. They also do not also refer to the laxative property overtly instead marketing them as having being natural  and having cleansing properties. Some are even labeled low calorie. This is very misleading to people looking to lose weight as these products actually, contain virtually no calories or nutrients to begin with anyway.

 

So, do yourself a favor and stay clear of any laxatives to lose weight!

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