Laxatives for weight loss

Laxatives that might help in losing weight

Slimming tea is a very popular form of laxatives, which is sold at more than affordable prices. Those that are based on herbs are certainly healthier, even though when it comes to the effectiveness, they are all equally effective.Saline laxatives are effective due to the fact that they have sulfate, phosphate and magnesium as ingredients. Given the fact that these ingredients cannot be absorbed, they remain in the colon and cause softening of the stool thanks to the water that they draw. Those laxatives that contain more magnesium sulfate are better, and Epsom salts is regarded as one of the best.Lubricant laxatives make the stool softer due to the fact that they consist of mineral oil, which tends to remain in the intestine not allowing water to leave the stool.Emollient laxatives contain the so-called wetting agent that helps the water penetrate the colon and reach the stool. However, even though this type of laxative is regarded as the safest, it does take a week or even two before the first results appear.Hyperosmolar laxatives also retain the water after the person takes them, but the fact is that this type of laxatives can only be obtained with the prescription from the doctor.

Are laxatives healthy for weight loss?

Even though people who desperately want to lose excessive weight are sometimes ready to do anything, the use of laxatives for this purpose is not a good solution. Despite the fact that they are helpful for people who have problems with infrequent bowel movements and constipation, there is a number of side effects associated with their use, and when they begin to take them, people are usually not aware of them. Some of the possible side effects include nausea, chronic diarrhea, vomiting cramps in the stomach and dehydration, but those are only milder ones. Those that are serious and that can really impair one’s health are rectal bleeding, electrolyte disorder and even fainting, not to mention permanent changes in the functioning of the digestive system. The loss of minerals that are essential for proper functioning of the body might lead to weak bones and osteomalacia, while overuse might result in conditions such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. Even though it might sound hard to believe, continuous use of these medications might have fatal consequences. When all of these problems are taken into consideration, it is more than obvious that laxatives are not a safe solution to lose weight.