Diuretics for weight loss: is the game worth the candle?

Diet pills - in particular, diuretics - are perhaps one of the most tempting ways to say goodbye to excess weight. How great it would be to swallow a pill in which someone smart packed the active substances, and calmly watch how the scale needle creeps down, and the sides acquired over the winter melt! . . It’s a pity, but in reality everything is far from being so delightful.

The principle of action of diuretic diet pills

As the old joke goes, 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 liquid. And it's not just the obvious blood, sweat and saliva! Every cell of the body contains water, without which it would not be able to exist normally, divide and develop.

However, from time to time there is a failure of metabolic processes and there is too much water in the human body, and we get swelling, high blood pressure and interruptions in the work of the heart, which receives an increased load during such periods. In this case, diuretic drugs-diuretics were invented. They are:

• remove excess fluid from the tissues, contributing to its transformation into urine;
• block those kidney 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 readings of the scales. And sometimes very impressive!

And now about the unpleasant.Taking diuretics in no way affects the body's fat reserves, does not burn, break down or remove them away.No matter how impressive a plumb line you fix, remember that this is just water, which will quickly recover if you stop drinking pills.

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 the health and appearance of a person.It is important not to overdo it here, because, having cleaned out unnecessary substances, diuretics with the same heat will take on the necessary ones and leave you without salts and minerals (in particular, calcium).
2. A diuretic can provide powerful psychological support to a slimming person: sometimes it is very useful to see how extra pounds melt before your eyes.

But all this will work only if the medication 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 excess weight will get off the ground in a matter of days. But doctors categorically do not recommend using a diuretic solely for the purpose of combating excess weight. In this case, the harm from unauthorized use of the drug many times outweighs its benefits.

Diuretics should not be taken as diet pills. These are primarily drugs designed 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 drug 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 powerful- These are loop drugs, so named because of their ability to act on the loop of Gengle, located in the kidney. They relax vascular smooth muscles, 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, in a hypertensive crisis or pulmonary edema - and . . . have the widest list of side effects.

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

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

Tazide diuretics are sometimes taken in combination with loop diuretics.

Third group, diuretic drugs 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 the loss of potassium.

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

natural diuretic

Self-administration of certain drugs is always fraught with undesirable consequences. But natural diuretics do not carry such a danger. 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 enhanced mode. What are these products?

Fruits, vegetables and berries

1. It's no secret why you shouldn't eat watermelon at night - there will be no end to going to the toilet. And all because of its juicy pulp, which in our case is perfect for the role of a natural diuretic!True, it is also fraught with danger, since it contains a lot of glucose, so you should not get carried away eating fragrant fruits either.Everything should be in moderation.
2. But with cranberries, you can behave bolder. Its sour juice not only acts as a diuretic, but also has an antibacterial effect, retains 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 excretion, lowers blood pressure and protects the urinary tract from infections.
4. We already talked about cucumber at the beginning of the article. It - the first - is full of water, so it puts the kidneys on 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 fluid to the cells of our body and starts water metabolism. Add it often to vitamin shakes or crunch on fresh stalks as a snack.
6. You have probably heard about the laxative effect of beetroot salads. But few people know that it is also a good diuretic and a bunch 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: in this case, you will additionally strengthen the heart and render a service to the stomach.
8. No less useful and raw carrots. Diuretic effect - times; benefit for vision - two; restoration of intestinal microflora - three; the ability to regulate carbohydrate metabolism - four; pantry of nicotinic acid, which helps burn fat - five . . . You can list for a long time, but it's better to just include carrot dishes in your menu and enjoy delicious weight loss.

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

Another advantage of fruits and vegetables over pills is that, while washing out 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. From time immemorial, green tea has served people as a source of youth and health, as well as a quality remedy for edema. Make sure that the package with this valuable drink will definitely find a place for itself on the shelf of your kitchen cabinet. 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, let it brew in a thermos for 2-3 hours and drink the resulting infusion with the addition of 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 to use spices.
3. Parsley stimulates urination, improves digestion and floods the body with antioxidants. It also whitens teeth a little 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, let it brew until it cools completely, strain and drink the broth during the day - 3/4 cup 20 minutes before meals. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.
4. Dill in folk medicine has a reputation as a strong carminative and diuretic. Brew it in the same way as parsley, or do this: 1 tsp. dill seeds pour 1 cup boiling water, cool and drink the resulting infusion, 2 tbsp. l. before every meal. The full course is 2 weeks.
5. Nettle, like ginger, cleanses the body not only of excess fluid, but also of harmful substances. It works best when taken in equal parts with oregano and birch leaves. 3 art. l. collection, 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 a week to 1-1. 5 months.

An invigorating morning drink, coffee, literally dehydrates the body, removing fluid from it. If you are afraid for your pressure, try the usual . . . oatmeal. Oddly enough, she 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 plant components, therefore they are considered less dangerous than other diuretics. Which does not save you from having to read the instructions in detail!

Contraindications and side effects

Diuretic drugs have a number of contraindications that should be considered before going to the pharmacy for shopping:

• dehydration;
• jumps in blood pressure;
• decreased vision and hearing;
• dizziness and headaches, ringing in the ears;
• weakness, and in some cases loss of consciousness;
• malfunctions of the vestibular apparatus responsible for the sense of balance;
• disturbances in the activity of the heart caused by electrolyte losses;
• 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.

Diuretic drugs 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 them. A separate category is pregnant women. Expectant mothers are allowed to deal with diuretics strictly according to the doctor's prescription.

How to take diuretics at home in order to lose weight?

1. First and foremost rule: consult a doctor. Only a specialist will be able to foresee all the pitfalls of your decision and prevent possible complications.And do not forget to inform your doctor if you are taking any other drugs - this will determine their compatibility with diuretics.
2. Drink clean water in the amount of 6-8 glasses a day. Otherwise, you risk earning dehydration.
3. Consume as little salt and sugar as possible, which will retain fluid in your body. But do not deny yourself natural diuretics: fruits, vegetables and seasonings.
4. Watch for fluctuations in weight by getting on the scale every day - in the morning, at the same time, after going to the toilet.
5. If you feel unwell, immediately stop losing weight on diuretics and switch your efforts to a diet with exercise.

User review

"I’ll be honest: a couple of times, when on the eve of the holiday I had to get into 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 was not going to take these pills on an ongoing basis. In general, dear girls, for weight loss, diuretics are better either not to use at all, or to use very, very rarely!