Weight loss diuretics: is the game worth the candle?

Diet pills - especially diuretics - are perhaps one of the most tempting ways to lose weight. How great it would be to swallow a pill in which someone smart has packed the active substances and calmly watch the needle of the stone crawl down, and the hips acquired during the winter melt! . . Too bad, but in reality it’s all far from being so wonderful.

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 that is partly true: if not 90, then 65-70 percent of our body is really liquid. And it's not just obvious blood, sweat and saliva! Every cell of the body contains water without which it could not normally exist, divide and develop.

However, from time to time there are delays in metabolic processes and too much water in the human body, and there is swelling, high blood pressure and interruption of the heart, which is heavily loaded in such periods. In this case, diuretic drugs-diuretics were invented. They are:

• removes excess fluid from the tissue, contributing to its transformation into urine;
• block those renal systems that are responsible for the reabsorption (reabsorption) of water in the urine.

As a result, there is a sharp "spill" of fluid from the body, which affects the reading 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 them, does not break them down and does not remove them.No matter how impressive the fix, fix it, remember that this is just water, which will recover quickly if you stop taking the pills.

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

1. They have a cleansing effect, removing decomposition products from the body. And this has a beneficial effect on both the health and appearance of the person.Here it is important not to overdo it, because, after cleansing unnecessary substances, diuretics with the same heat will take the necessary and leave you without salt and minerals (especially calcium).
2. A diuretic can provide strong psychological support to a person who is losing weight: sometimes it is very useful to see how the extra pounds melt before your eyes.

But all this will work only if the drug is due to medical indications - edema, pressure - or if it 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 disappear in a few days. But doctors categorically do not recommend the use of diuretics solely for the purpose of combating excess weight. In this case, the harm from unauthorized use of the drug far outweighs its benefits.

Diuretics should not be taken as diet pills. These are primarily drugs intended for 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

Pharmaceutical diuretics can be divided into 3 main groups.

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

Careful! These are the diuretics of the strongest action. Prescribing yourself a diuretic loop without consulting a doctor means that you endanger your health.

Another group- tazid drugs - has a less pronounced effect. Their "attention" is focused on the renal tubules, which is why salts and fluids are also removed from the body, but with less force. Tazid drugs are prescribed for edema, pressure, glaucoma.

Tazide diuretics are sometimes taken in combination with loop diuretics.

Third group, diuretic drugs with potassium-sparing effect, has the most gentle effect on the body and minimal contraindications. They reduce blood pressure, fight swelling, but at the same time prevent potassium loss.

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 side effects. But natural diuretics do not carry such a danger. Of course, compared to tablets, they act very gently, but they still have the desired effect, provoking the kidneys to remove fluid from the body. What are these products?

Fruits, vegetables and berries

1. It's no secret why you can'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 dangerous, because it contains a lot of glucose, so you should not get carried away with eating fragrant fruit.Everything should be in moderation.
2. But you can be bolder with cranberries. Its acidic 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 of the 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. She - the first - is full of water, so she puts her kidneys on standby. And others - contain sulfur and silicon, which contribute to the removal of uric acid from the body.

5. Juicy steamed celery with cucumber supplies the cells of our body with fluid and starts water metabolism. Often add it to vitamin shakes or crispy on fresh stalks as a snack.
6. You have probably heard about the laxative effect of beet salad. But few people know that it is both 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 further strengthen the heart and do a service to the stomach.
8. No less useful and raw carrots. Diuretic effect - times; benefit for sight - two; restoration of intestinal microflora - three; ability to regulate carbohydrate metabolism - four; nicotinic acid storage, which helps burn fat - five. . . You can go on and on, but it's better to just add carrot dishes to your menu and enjoy delicious weight loss.

In addition to these products, melons, pumpkins, pears, strawberries, viburnum, blackberries, gooseberries, cranberries, lettuce, asparagus, eggplant, zucchini, spinach, onions and garlic have a mild diuretic effect.

Another advantage of fruits and vegetables in relation to tablets is that, while they wash out some of the useful substances from the body due to their 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 packaging with this valuable drink will surely find a place for itself on the shelf of your kitchen cabinet. It is recommended to drink 1 to 3 cups of green tea a day.
2. Ginger removes excess fluid and toxins. Use it as follows: 1 tbsp. l. Pour 1 liter of boiling water over the grated ginger root, leave it to stand in a thermos for 2-3 hours and drink the resulting infusion with the addition of honey and sometimes milk, like ordinary tea. However, the burning root irritates the mucous membranes, so use it very, very moderately - no more than 1 tbsp. l. ginger shavings daily. The duration of the course depends on how you feel, but it is desirable that it is not longer than 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 feel free to add it to dishes during cooking. Or do this: 1-2 tbsp. l. chopped parsley, pour 500 ml of boiling water, leave to cook until completely cooled, strain and drink broth during the day - 3/4 cup 20 minutes before eating. The course of treatment is 2 weeks.
4. Dill is known in folk medicine as a strong carminative and diuretic. Cook it in the same way as the first course, or do this: 1 tsp. dill seeds pour 1 cup boiling water, cool and drink the resulting infusion, 2 tbsp. l. before each 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 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 one week to 1-1, 5 months.

Strengthening the morning drink, coffee, literally dehydrates the body, removes fluid from it. If you are afraid of your pressure, try the usual one. . . oatmeal. Surprisingly, it can also act as a mild diuretic. But salt, sugar and plenty of protein foods, on the contrary, will do everything possible to prevent you from losing even one drop of moisture. Limit your intake of these foods.

Dietary supplements serve as a kind of compromise between pharmacy and natural remedies. Because they are, in fact, a creation of the pharmaceutical industry, they contain extracts of herbal components, so they are considered less dangerous than other diuretics. Which doesn't 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 for shopping:

• dehydration;
• blood pressure spikes;
• reduced vision and hearing;
• dizziness and headache, tinnitus;
• weakness, and in some cases loss of consciousness;
• defects of the vestibular apparatus responsible for the sense of balance;
• electrolyte disturbances caused by electrolyte loss;
• skin rash 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.

No one should take diuretics without consulting a doctor. But people with diabetes, tuberculosis, gout, kidney and liver diseases should be especially careful with them. A special category are pregnant women. The future mother is 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 an expert will be able to anticipate all the pitfalls of your decision and prevent possible complications.And don’t forget to tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications - this will determine their compatibility with diuretics.
2. Drink clean water in the amount of 6-8 glasses a day. Otherwise, you run the risk of developing dehydration.
3. Consume as little salt and sugar as possible, which will retain fluid in your body. But do not deprive yourself of natural diuretics: fruits, vegetables and spices.
4. Pay attention to fluctuations in weight by standing on the scales every day - in the morning, at the same time, after going to the toilet.
5. If you are not feeling well, stop losing weight on diuretics immediately and switch your efforts to a diet with exercise.

User review

I'll be honest: a few times, when I had to put on a tight dress on the eve of the holiday and get excess water out of my body, I resorted to loop diuretics. But I was aware that this was a one-time action and that I would not take these pills all the time. For weight loss, diuretics are better either not used at all, or used very, very rarely!