Weight Loss Diuretics: Is The Candle Game Worth It?

Diet pills - especially diuretics - are probably one of the most tempting ways to say goodbye to excess weight. How wonderful it would be to swallow a pill in which someone smart has packaged the active substances and calmly watch how the scales needle crawls and the sides gained during the winter melt! . . It's unfortunate, but in reality everything is far from being so delightful.

The principle of action of diuretic diet pills

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

However, from time to time failures of metabolic processes occur and there is a lot of water in the human body and we have swelling, high blood pressure and interruptions in the work of the heart, which takes on an added load at such periods. In this case, diuretic-diuretic drugs were invented. They are:

  • remove excess fluid from the tissues, contributing to its conversion into urine;
  • block those renal systems that are responsible for the reabsorption (reabsorption) of urinary water.

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

Diuretics remove water from the body and reduce weight

And now for the unpleasant.Taking diuretics in no way affects the body fat reserves, does not burn them, does not break them down or removes them.No matter how impressive you fix a line of bullets, remember that this is just water, which will recover quickly if you stop taking the pill.

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

  1. They have a cleansing effect, removing decay products from the body. And this has a beneficial effect on both a person's health and appearance.It is important not to overdo it here, because, once you have cleared the unnecessary substances, diuretics with the same heat will take the necessary ones and leave you without salts and minerals (in particular, calcium).
  2. A diuretic can provide powerful psychological support for a slimming person: sometimes it is very helpful to see how the extra pounds melt before your eyes.

But all this will work only if the treatment is due to medical indications - edema, pressure - or is prescribed by a doctor for preventive purposes. Support yourself with a simple diet and jogging in the park, and the problem of excess weight will go away within a few days. But doctors categorically do not recommend using a diuretic just for the purpose of fighting excess weight. In this case, the harm from unauthorized drug use many times outweighs its benefits.

Diuretics should not be taken as diet pills. These are mostly drugs created to help people with problems of 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 medicine or use a "natural" diuretic. The first option is more efficient, the second is safer.

medications

Pharmacy diuretics can be divided into 3 main groups.

The first and most powerfulare loop medications, so named because of their ability to act on the Gengle loop, located in the kidney. They relax vascular smooth muscle, speed up blood circulation to the kidneys, increase filtration, reduce interstitial fluid volume, and remove magnesium, potassium, chlorine, and sodium salts from the body. Loop medications work quickly, effectively, are used in peak situations - for example, in a hypertensive crisis or pulmonary edema - and. . . have the widest list of side effects.

Carefully! These are the strongest action diuretics. Prescribing a diuretic to yourself without consulting a doctor means putting your health at risk.

Second group- tazidnye drugs - have a less pronounced effect. Their "attention" goes to the renal tubules, as a result of which the salts and fluids leave the body, but with less force. Tazidnye drugs are prescribed for edema, pressure, glaucoma.

Tazide diuretics are sometimes taken in combination with loop diuretics.

The third group, diuretic drug with a potassium-sparing effect, has the mildest effect on the body and a minimum of contraindications. They lower blood pressure, fight swelling, but at the same time prevent potassium loss.

Despite the mildness of action, potassium-sparing drugs will cause you a lot of problems if you decide to take them randomly.

natural diuretic

Self-administration of certain drugs is always fraught with undesirable consequences. But natural diuretics do not carry such a risk. Of course, compared to tablets, they act very gently, but nevertheless they have the desired effect, provoking the kidneys to remove fluid from the body in an improved way. What are these products?

Fruits, vegetables and berries

  1. It's no secret why you should not eat watermelon at night - going to the toilet will not end. And all because of its liquid pulp, which in our case is perfect for the role of a natural diuretic!True, it is also fraught with danger, as it contains a lot of glucose, so you should not be distracted even by eating aromatic fruits.Everything should be in moderation.
  2. But with blueberries, you can behave more boldly. Its sour liquid not only acts as a diuretic, but also has antibacterial effect, preserves potassium in the body and heals the organs of the urinary system.
  3. Lemon behaves in a similar way. Squeeze half a fruit into a glass of water for a drink that stimulates fluid secretion, lowers blood pressure and protects the urinary tract from infections.
  4. We have already talked about cucumber at the beginning of the article. He - the first - is full of water, so he puts his kidneys on alert. And the second - contains sulfur and silicon, which contribute to the removal of uric acid from the body.
  5. Vegetables and fruits are natural diuretics that do not harm the body
  6. Liquid steamed celery with cucumber supplies fluid to our body cells and starts water metabolism. Add often to vitamin shakes or to fresh stalks as a snack.
  7. You have probably heard of the laxative effect of beet salads. But few people know that it is also a good diuretic and a bunch of antioxidants. Arm yourself with a grater!
  8. Cabbage retains its diuretic properties even when added to soup. But it is better to eat it raw: in this case, you will also strengthen the heart and do a service to the stomach.
  9. No less useful and raw carrots. Diuretic effect - times; vision benefit - two; restoration of intestinal microflora - three; ability to regulate carbohydrate metabolism - four; nicotine with nicotinic acid, which 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 delicious weight loss.

In addition to these products, melon, squash, pears, strawberries, viburnum, berries, eggplant, berries, lettuce, asparagus, eggplant, zucchini, spinach, onions and garlic have a mild diuretic effect.

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

Herbs and spices

  1. Since ancient times, green tea has served people as a source of youth and health, as well as a quality remedy for edema. Make sure the package with this valuable drink will definitely find a place for itself on your kitchen cupboard shelf. It is recommended to drink 1 to 3 cups of green tea a day.
  2. Ginger removes excess fluids and toxins. Use as follows: 1 tablespoon. l. Minced ginger root pour 1 liter of boiling water, let it bake in a thermos for 2-3 hours and drink the infusion resulting in the addition of honey, and sometimes milk, like ordinary tea. However, burnt root irritates the mucosa, so use very, very moderately - no more than 1 tablespoon. 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 little and refreshes the breath, so do not hesitate to add it to dishes during cooking. Or do this: 1-2 tablespoons. l. chopped parsley, pour 500 ml boiling water, leave to cook until completely cooled, drain and drink the juice during the day - 3/4 cup 20 minutes before eating. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.
  4. Dill in folk medicine has a reputation as a strong carminative and diuretic. Boil it in the same way as parsley, or do this: 1 tbsp. dill seeds pour 1 cup boiling water, cool and drink the resulting infusion, 2 tbsp. l. before each meal. The full course is 2 weeks.
  5. Nettle, like ginger, cleanses the body not only of excess fluids but also of harmful substances. Works best when taken in equal parts with oregano and birch leaves. 3 art. l. collect, pour 500 ml of boiling water, leave for 1 hour and drink during the day in 4-5 doses. The course of treatment is from one week to 1-1, 5 months.
In a natural first aid kit, you can find an alternative to many medicines synthesized in the form of diuretic herbs.

An invigorating morning drink, coffee, literally dehydrates the body, removing fluid from it. If you are afraid of your pressure, try the usual oats. Oddly enough, it is also able to act as a mild diuretic. But salt, sugar and an abundance of protein foods, on the contrary, will do everything possible to prevent you from losing a single drop of moisture. Limit your intake of these foods.

Dietary supplements serve as a kind of compromise between pharmacy and natural remedies. Being, in fact, the creation of the pharmaceutical industry, they contain extracts of herbal ingredients, therefore they are considered less dangerous than other diuretics. This does not save you from having to read the instructions in detail!

Contraindications and side effects

Diuretics have a number of contraindications that should be considered before going to the pharmacy to buy:

  • dehydration;
  • jumps in blood pressure;
  • decreased vision and hearing;
  • dizziness and headache, ringing in the ears;
  • weakness and in some cases loss of consciousness;
  • dysfunctions of the vestibular apparatus responsible for the sense of balance;
  • disorders in heart activity caused by electrolyte loss;
  • skin rash and increased sensitivity to sunlight;
  • extraction of vitamins and minerals from the body;
  • nausea, indigestion, loss of appetite;
  • gout due to increased uric acid levels.
Health jokes end badly - do not take diuretics if there are contraindications

Diuretic medication should not be taken by anyone without consulting a doctor. But people with diabetes, tuberculosis, gout, kidney and liver disease need to be especially careful with them. A special category are pregnant women. Expectant mothers are allowed to deal with diuretics strictly according to the doctor's prescription.

How to take diuretics at home to lose weight?

  1. First and foremost rule: consult a doctor. Only a specialist will be able to anticipate all the pitfalls of your decision and prevent possible complications.And do not forget to inform your doctor if you are taking any other medication - this will determine their compatibility with diuretics.
  2. Drink clean water in the amount of 6-8 glasses per day. Otherwise, you risk gaining dehydration.
  3. Consume as little salt and sugar as possible, which will keep fluids in your body. But do not deny yourself natural diuretics: fruits, vegetables and spices.
  4. Take care of weight fluctuations by climbing on scales every day - in the morning, at the same time, after going to the toilet.
  5. If you do not feel well, immediately stop losing weight with diuretics and switch your efforts to a workout diet.

User review

A girl shares her experience of using diuretics for weight loss

"I will be honest: several times, when on the eve of the holiday I had to put on a tight dress and drain excess water from the body, I turned to the help of a loop diuretic. But I was aware that thisit was a one time operation and i would not take these pills constantly. In general, girls dear, for weight loss diuretics are better either not used at all, or used very, very rarely!