Weight Loss: Dangers of Using Laxatives For Weight Loss

One popular weight loss supplements available in the market today take the form of tea. Stores all over sell slimming tea, dieter's tea and others but all of them are actually the same. They may appear to be effective, but what is not seen may actually harm you.One of the effects of drinking dieter's tea is frequent bowel movement. This gives people the feeling of body cleansing. These people may get toxins out of their body but it isn't exactly the only thing that slimming tea actually does to the body. Slimming tea contains herbs which are natural laxatives. These include aloe, senna, rhubarb root, cascara, buckthorn and castor oil. These are products which are derived from plants and are used since the ancient times because of their potency in treating constipation and to inducing bowel movement.

Cascara, castor oil and senna are substances which are recognized as laxatives available over the counter and are also regulated as drugs. Scientific studies show that diarrhea induced by laxatives does not absorb significant amounts of calories taken in the body. The reason for this is that laxatives do not act on the small intesines where most of the calories are absorbed. Instead, they work on the large intestines. If taken in large amounts for prolonged periods, it can affect fat absorption of the body. This may lead to greasy diarrhea and loss of weight. Abuse of laxatives is common practice among people who suffer from bulimia and anorexia nervosa. While weight loss can be guaranteed by overdosing on laxatives, it may also cause permanent damage to the gastrointesitinal tract and the weakening and softening of the bones, a condition known as osteomalacia. Drinkers of slimming teas may actually patronize the product because they are less axpensive and taste better than other laxatives sold in the market.

Other people, such as those with eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa drink dieter's tea because they work fast and produce watery stool and having loose consistency.Women may even be more susceptible to the effects of slimming teas. Although they may are not known to interfer directly with the woman's menstrual cycle and fertility, they should watch out if drinking them causes them to rapidly shed off weight. It is also not safe for pregnant women to be taking in laxatives of any kind. Wise and reponsible herbalists also discourage the use of senna and other herbal products with laxative properties for pregnant women and women who are trying to conceive.

One should be wary about these findings because the labeling of slimming teas in the market today can be absolutely misleading. For instance, they commonly refer to the laxative qualities as "natural bowel cleansing properties" and not specifically use the word "laxative".Some even use the term "low-calorie" on their labelling.

These products in fact, contain essentially no calories nor nutrients whatsoever; unless of course, if they are sweetened.Adverse effects of misusing laxatives in the form of slimming tea 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. It was also reported that excess use of stimulant laxatives cause severe constipation and pain for long periods (as much as for decades) due to the colon losing its function. It eventually led to surgery removing the colon.

The Facts About Weight Loss Without Exercise

Of all the articles and ads about weight loss and weight loss products, you will notice that many of them seem to be saying that weight loss without exercise is what they have to offer. They will tell you about some diet pill, or perhaps a diet, which is going to take the weight off without you lifting a finger...other than to unscrew the cap.

So here's the question: Can somone really lose weight simply by adjusting their diet? So many people feel that they do not have the time to exercise, or feel they lack the energy to exercise, or just plain don't want to. It would be great if all they had to do was take some pill or eat some specific diet and the weight would go away, right?

Now, my problem is that when I think of, or advise someone on, weight loss, I automatically throw in adjectives like "healthy" and "permanent". I'm not really in touch with the concept of using a diet to lose a few pounds to get back into last year's clothes or to look good at the high school reunion. I tend to think of losing weight as a step to the point where you achieve your weight loss goal and enter the realm of weight management. At this point, you are living a healthy lifestyle of combined physical activity and proper nutrition and are able to enjoy life to the max...for a good many years to come!

"Yeah, Don, that's great, but I'm one of the first group of people you talked about. I just want to lose weight and don't want to mess with exercise. Heck, man, I'm so overweight and pooped all the time that just thinking about exercise scares me. Just tell me what diet pill to take or diet to follow so that I can get my weight down, look good, feel good about myself, and enjoy life like you say!"

Well, there are people who want to be rich but who don't want to "mess with" saving, or making wise purchasing decisions, or working hard, either. Whatever we really want in life usually has some sort of price tag attached, and, as the saying goes, we usually, "get what we paid for".

To throw in another old saying, anything worth doing is worth doing well.

To get back to the weight loss without exercise issue, let's look at a couple of facts.

1. Diets do not work as far as permanent or healthy weight loss is concerned.

2. Permanent, healthy weight loss is commonly achieved through a combination of exercise and proper nutrition.

3. While there are diet products and supplements which can enhance the effects of any weight loss program, they very seldom do the trick by themselves for most people.

Let's start with that last one.

Start by reading the labels or advertising literature of most diet pills and other weight loss supplements. Somewhere you will usually find a statement that will say something like "when used with regular exercise and a sensible nutrition program". To put it another way, maybe taking that diet pill or supplement will HELP with weight loss IF it is taken in conjunction with some other weight loss program.

At the moment, the Alli diet and fat loss pill, is the only federally apporved weight loss pill. The manufacturers of even this "successful" weight loss product let you know that you should be doing taking additional steps to experience effective weight loss. Testing of that pill, one of the most effective available, show that weight loss with the pill alone will be minimal unless it is used with a program of regular exercise and proper nutrition.

Let's face it. If there WAS one diet pill that you could take and then sit around watching TV, eating ice cream, and drinking beer...AND still lose weight and be healthy, there would not be so many different diet pills claiming to do the trick!

Okay, I started with the last fact, so let's jump around and deal with the first fact next.

Diets per se do not work for permanent, healthy weight loss.

When you suddenly decrease the calories you regularly have been feeding your body, it senses a starvation situation (built in survival trait) and lowers its basic metabolic rate. In other words, it adjusts itself to function with fewer calories. This could be a good deal except for one problem. When you go back to your old eating habits, eating the same amount of calories will store more fat on your body than it used to.

This is the reason that going on and off diets is very likely to cause weight gain, rather than weight loss! It's called yo-yo dieting.

Also, an extreme reduction in nutriton also means an accompanying extreme reduction in vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fats (needed for life), phytonutrients, and other nutritional factors normally required for health, energy, and long life. You can lose wieght but in the process endanger health and lower the energy available to live life with joy.

Just to throw in another monkey wrench, once your body has adapted to its new diet and adjusted its basic metaolism, the weight loss will cease. This will usually occur after only a few pounds of fat have been lost. To lose still more weight, you will again need to decrease your food intake even more, or perhaps decide it's not worth it and take a look at the second fact I listed.

Test after test and study after study has demonstrated beyond a doubt that the most effective weight loss program is one that includes regular, moderate exercise and healthy eating and living habits. The exercise does NOT have to be extreme, although overall results will usually be directly related to the amount of effort expended.

Most of us are NOT going to wind up looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Cory Everson unless we exercise and eat like they do!

However; regular, moderate exercise can burn calories and build lean muscle tissue which will continue to use up excess calories and burn fat even when we are not exercising. It will raise energy levels, make daily life easier, help elevate mood and fight depression, and will help protect us against a host of degenerative diseases. It has been shown to delay and mitigate the effects of aging, and has been shown a potent protector against many conditions including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, and many forms of cancer.

Healthy eating does not necessarily mean "dieting". Healthy eating involves such things as proper selection of foods, paying attention to portion sizes, and changing a few eating habits...including that great American pastime...snacking!

I used the term "healthy eating and living" because such things as getting the proper amount of sleep, having fun, and having friends can also contribute to health in general and weight loss in particular.

Is weight loss without exercise possible?

Sure! Millions of people throughout history have gotten very thin before they starved to death!

Millions more have simply combined exercise with healthy eating and living habits to experience permanent, healthy weight loss and have enjoyed a long and happy life as a result.

Your choice?

Donovan Baldwin is a central Texas writer. He is also a University of West Florida alumnus, a member of Mensa, and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. His interests include nature, the environment, health, fitness, yoga, and weight loss. He often posts articles on health and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.com/articledirectory/

Giving up on weight loss? Think again

Are you one of those who have lost hope in weight loss? You think you can’t do it for nuts. You think you have tried it all and it’s of no use? Think again! Most of you might have reduced weight only to gain more, or some of you might be frustrated on the slow pace of weight loss or few might simply hate the kind of diet they are following. Whatever may be the reason, weight loss is not such a horrendous or a tough task. Getting that into your head will prepare you psychologically for weight reduction. It will look a lot easier. So what is the secret of those who have successfully reduced weight?
1. Study pattern shows that they pursue aerobics. They practice an aerobic session 5-7 days a week. These people average about 45 minutes of aerobics everyday with their ranges spreading over 30-90 minutes. Aerobics helps you burn a lot of calories. It also increases your BMR- basal metabolic rate.
2. Weight training programs help you to tone your muscles. This is also another successful method followed by the successful group. They weight train for 2-3 days a week. Those who follow this are more successful at weight loss.
3. Workouts in the morning help tremendously in preparing your body for the rest of the day. You end up feeling great. Consistent morning exercises on a day to day basis puts in place your food habits. You tend to feel less hunger and hence eat the right food. This regulates your metabolic system and it works the way it should and helps you get into a healthy mind frame. Natural weight loss is the best way to reduce weight as in merges well with the body and helps in the long run. Crash diets won’t help. It is better to stick on to healthy food consisting of your favorites to make it tastier. Avoid junk food.
4. People often misunderstand the concept. 20 minutes of exercise every day won’t help if you are looking for serious weight loss. You have to work out vigorously to make changes. If it’s your priority go ahead and do it. You will definitely feel a change in yourself soon. 20 minutes every day can’t change your metabolic rate effectively, drastically reduce your weight, and make you feel great.
5. It is practically impossible to work out consistently for an hour. Make time, wake up early in the morning, make it a routine, fix your targets, and be sincere. And when you end up reducing weight, it is important to maintain it, or you will end up putting on more weight. Stick to your regime, you can probably ease out a bit but not too much. If you are looking for a serious change, then you will have to follow a serious plan. Weight loss tips can only guide, you are the only one who can make it work. So go ahead and make the difference.

Gary Grewal is the founder of the site http://www.101weightloss.com/; A site featuring many articles on weight loss subjects such as eating habits, exercise, foods & nutrition, diets, pills etc. Visit his site for many more tips on natural weight loss.