Are You Thinking of Using Laxatives to Lose Weight?

Some people who are trying to lose weight have heard that laxatives can help. The theory is that you can consume as much food as you want and then use laxatives to force the food through your body quickly; therefore, your body will not be able to absorb the calories before the nutrients are passed through the body.

This is a very dangerous myth. Most laxatives operate by forcing large amounts of water into the stool. This causes the fecal matter to pass quickly through the intestines. This expulsion can be forceful and unpleasant.

The problem with the theory that laxatives will allow food to be expelled before your body absorbs the calories is that by the time the food you consume reaches the intestines, the majority of calories and nutrients have been absorbed already. Therefore, the use of laxatives to lose weight is futile. Not only is it futile - it is dangerous.

You may notice the drop a few pounds if you use laxatives to lose weight; however, this is due to water loss. The way that laxatives work is as follows: they draw water from the body and then use this water to soften the stool and expel the fecal matter from the intestines. (Once you rehydrate, you will gain the weight back.)

The danger with this is that the loss of water can disrupt the delicate balance of electrolytes in your body. It is impossible to rehydrate your body quickly enough if you frequently use laxatives to lose weight. This imbalance of electrolytes can actually be life threatening.

Using laxatives to lose weight is not the answer. The only way to lose weight safely and effectively is through a sensible combination of diet and exercise. By making healthy choices in both your diet and your activity level - not by using laxatives to lose weight - you will be able to watch the pounds drop off and enjoy a longer, healthier life.

If you are trying to lose weight there are better, healthier alternatives. A great review of a safe and effective program can be found at Turbulence Training Review.