Diuretics for Weight Loss: Is the Game Worth the Candle?

Diet pills - especially diuretics - are perhaps one of the most enticing ways to say goodbye to obesity. How great would it be to swallow a pill that someone has cleverly packed the active ingredients into and watch calmly as the scale needle crawls down and the pages acquired over the winter melt away! . . Too bad, but in reality everything is far from everything being so delightful.

The working principle of diuretic diet pills

As the old joke goes, we're all a little bit of a cucumber because we're 90% water. Laughter is laughter, and that's partly true: 65-70 percent, if not 90 percent, of our bodies are really liquid. And it's not just the obvious blood, sweat and saliva! Every cell in the body contains water, without which it could not exist, divide and develop normally.

However, from time to time there are failures of metabolic processes and excess water in the human body, and we get puffiness, hypertension and disruption in the work of the heart, which during such periods experiences an increased load. In this case, diuretics-diuretics were invented. You are:

• remove excess fluid from tissues and contribute to its conversion into urine;
• Block those renal systems responsible for the reabsorption (reabsorption) of urinary water.

As a result, there is a strong "outflow" of fluid from the body, which affects the readings on the scale. And sometimes very impressive!

And now for the unpleasant.Taking diuretics in no way attacks, burns, breaks down or removes the body's fat stores.No matter how impressive a plumb bob you affix, remember that this is just water, which will quickly recover once you stop drinking pills.

However, we will not completely deny the benefits of diuretics in the fight against obesity.

1. They have a cleansing effect and remove putrefactive products from the body. And this has a positive effect on the health and appearance of a person.It is important not to overdo it here, since diuretics with the same heat, after removing unnecessary substances, absorb the necessary ones, leaving you without salts and minerals (especially calcium).
2. A diuretic can provide powerful psychological support to a person who is losing weight: sometimes it is very useful to see extra pounds melt away before your eyes.

But all this works only if the drug is due to medical indications - edema, pressure - or is prescribed by a doctor for preventive purposes. Support it with a simple diet and jogging in the park, and the problem of obesity will shoot up in a few days. However, doctors generally advise against using a diuretic only to combat obesity. In this case, the harm from the unauthorized use of the drug many times outweighs its benefit.

Diuretics should not be taken as diet pills. These are primarily drugs intended to help people with problems in the genitourinary, cardiovascular and endocrine systems. And weight loss is just an original side effect.

types of diuretics

There are two ways to remove excess fluid from the body: take an artificially synthesized drug or use a "natural" diuretic. The first option is more efficient, the second is safer.

medication

Pharmaceutical diuretics can be divided into 3 main groups.

The first and strongestare loop drugs, so called because they can act on the Gengle loop, which is located in the kidney. They relax vascular smooth muscle, accelerate renal blood flow, increase filtration, reduce the volume of interstitial fluid, and remove magnesium, potassium, chlorine and sodium salts from the body. Loop drugs act quickly, effectively, are used in peak situations - for example, with a hypertensive crisis or pulmonary edema - and . . . have the widest list of side effects.

Careful! These are diuretics of the strongest effect. Prescribing yourself a loop diuretic without consulting a doctor is putting your health at risk.

second group- Tazidnye drugs - has a less pronounced effect. Their "attention" is given to the tubules of the kidneys, which also remove salts and fluids from the body, but with less force. Tazidnye drugs are prescribed for edema, pressure, glaucoma.

Tazid diuretics are sometimes taken in combination with loop diuretics.

third group, diuretics with a potassium-sparing effect, has the most gentle effect on the body and a minimum of contraindications. They reduce pressure, fight swelling, but at the same time prevent potassium loss.

Despite the mild effect, potassium-sparing drugs will cause you many problems if you decide to take them haphazardly.

natural diuretic

Self-administration of certain medications is always fraught with undesirable consequences. But natural diuretics pose no such danger. Of course, they are very gentle compared to tablets, but still have the desired effect by stimulating the kidneys to remove more fluid from the body. What are these products?

fruits, vegetables and berries

1. It's no secret why you shouldn't eat watermelon at night - going to the toilet will never end. And all because of its juicy pulp, which in our case is perfect for the role of a natural diuretic!True, it is also dangerous, since it contains a lot of glucose, so you should not get carried away with fragrant fruits either.Everything should be in moderation.
2. But with lingonberries, you can behave bolder. Its sour juice not only has a diuretic effect, but also has antibacterial properties, retains potassium in the body and heals the organs of the urinary system.
3. Lemon behaves similarly. Squeeze half a fruit into a glass of water for a drink that stimulates fluid elimination, lowers blood pressure, and protects the urinary tract from infection.
4. We already talked about cucumbers at the beginning of the article. It - the first - is full of water, so it puts the kidneys on high alert. And the second - contains sulfur and silicon, which contribute to the removal of uric acid from the body.

5. Juicy celery steamed with cucumber supplies the cells of our body with liquid and starts the hydrogen metabolism. Add it to vitamin shakes often, or shred it on fresh stalks as a snack.
6. You've probably heard of the laxative effects of beetroot salad. But few know that it is also a good diuretic and a set of antioxidants. Arm yourself with a grater!
7. Cabbage retains its diuretic properties even when added to soup. But it is better to eat it raw: Then you strengthen the heart and do the stomach a service.
8. No less useful and raw carrots. Diuretic effect - times; benefits for seeing - two; restoration of the intestinal microflora - three; the ability to regulate carbohydrate metabolism - four; Pantry of nicotinic acid that helps burn fat - five . . . You can list for a long time, but it is better to include only carrot dishes in your menu and enjoy a delicious weight loss meal.

In addition to these products, melon, pumpkin, pear, strawberry, viburnum, blackberry, gooseberry, cranberry, lettuce, asparagus, eggplant, zucchini, spinach, onion, and garlic have a mild diuretic effect.

Another advantage of fruits and vegetables over pills is that while they wash out some of the beneficial substances from the body due to the diuretic effect, they more than make up for the losses due to the high content of vitamins and minerals.

herbs and spices

1. Green tea has always served people as a source of youth and health, as well as a high-quality anti-edema remedy. Make sure that the packaging with this precious drink definitely finds a place on the shelf of your kitchen cupboard. It is recommended to drink 1 to 3 cups of green tea per day.
2. Ginger removes excess fluid and toxins. Use it as follows: 1 tbsp. l. grated ginger root pour 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 2-3 hours in a thermos and drink the resulting infusion with honey, and sometimes milk, like regular tea. However, the burning root irritates the mucous membrane, so use it very, very moderately - no more than 1 tbsp. l. ginger shavings per day. The duration of the course depends on how you feel, but it is desirable that it does not exceed 2 weeks. And if you have problems with the digestive system, it is better to completely refuse the use of spices.
3. Parsley stimulates urination, improves digestion and floods the body with antioxidants. It also whitens teeth a bit and freshens breath, so feel free to add it to dishes while cooking. Or do this: 1-2 tbsp. l. chopped parsley, pour 500 ml of boiling water, leave to brew until completely cooled, strain and drink the broth during the day - 3/4 cup 20 minutes before meals. The duration of treatment is 2 weeks.
4. Dill has a reputation in folk medicine as a powerful carminative and diuretic. Brew it the same way you would parsley, or do this: 1 tsp. Dill seeds pour 1 cup of boiling water, cool and drink the resulting infusion, 2 tbsp. l. before every meal. The full course lasts 2 weeks.
5. Nettle, like ginger, cleanses the body not only of excess fluid, but also of harmful substances. It works best when taken with equal parts oregano and birch leaf. 3 art. l. Collection, pour 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 1 hour and drink in 4-5 doses during the day. The duration of treatment is from one week to 1-1. 5 months.

An invigorating morning beverage, coffee literally dehydrates and deprives the body of fluid. If you're worried about your print, try the usual . . . Oatmeal. Oddly enough, it can also act as a mild diuretic. Salt, sugar and plenty of protein foods, on the other hand, do everything to ensure that you don't lose a drop of moisture. Limit your intake of these foods.

Dietary supplements serve as a kind of compromise between pharmacy and natural medicine. Being in fact a creation of the pharmaceutical industry, they contain extracts of plant components and are therefore considered less dangerous than other diuretics. But that doesn't stop you from reading the instructions in detail!

Contraindications and side effects

Diuretics have a number of contraindications that should be considered before purchasing them from the pharmacy:

• dehydration;
• jumps in blood pressure;
• decreased vision and hearing;
• dizziness and headache, ringing in the ears;
• weakness and in some cases loss of consciousness;
• Functional disorders of the vestibular apparatus responsible for the sense of balance;
• disturbances in cardiac activity due to loss of electrolytes;
• skin rashes and increased sensitivity to sunlight;
• excretion of vitamins and minerals from the body;
• nausea, indigestion, loss of appetite;
• Gout due to increased uric acid levels.

Diuretics should not be taken by anyone without consulting a doctor. But people with diabetes, tuberculosis, gout, kidney and liver diseases should be especially careful with it. A separate category is pregnant women. Expectant mothers are allowed to handle diuretics strictly according to the doctor's prescription.

How to take diuretics at home to lose weight?

1. First rule: consult a doctor. Only a specialist can foresee all the pitfalls of your decision and prevent possible complications.And do not forget to inform your doctor if you are taking other medications - this will determine their compatibility with diuretics.
2. Drink clean water in the amount of 6-8 glasses per day. Otherwise, you risk dehydration.
3. Eat as little salt and sugar as possible as this will retain fluid in your body. But do not do without natural diuretics: fruits, vegetables and spices.
4. Watch for fluctuations in weight by stepping on the scale each day—at the same time in the morning after using the toilet.
5. If you feel unwell, stop using diuretics for weight loss immediately and shift your efforts to an exercise-based diet.

user rating

"I'll be honest: a couple of times, when on the eve of the holiday I had to put on a tight dress and drain excess water from the body, I resorted to the help of a loop diuretic. But I was aware that this was a one-time action and I would not take these pills permanently. In general, dear girls, for weight loss it is better either not to use diuretics at all, or very, very rarely!