One Night Only

IT’S probably the most popular prep for the big night… Can’t squeeze into the little black dress? Just pop a laxative a few hours in advance. But don’t kid yourself that you’re losing weight. All you lose is water, which the body replenishes in 48 hours.

That’s not all the body loses. Besides putting intense pressure on vital organs, laxatives and diuretics can be habit-forming, and over-dependence on these is dangerous.

What’s more, a University of Texas study showed that girls who resorted to extreme weight loss measures such as using appetite-suppressants were as likely to gain weight as those who binge-eat.

Anorexia Alert If you are used to popping a pill to keep your system clean, and find it accompanied by self-imposed dietary strictures, significant weight loss and an intense fear of gaining weight, you could be suffering from anorexia nervosa. This eating disorder demands immediate medical help.

Why are diuretics and laxatives not an effective way to lose weight?
Both laxatives (which work on the colon) and diuretics (which work on the kidney) encounter foodstuff that has already been processed by the stomach. They stimulate water loss, not fat loss. For e.g., if you take a pill that makes you lose 1 litre of water, your weight will decrease by 2 lb, but the moment you drink liquids, this water will be replaced and your weight will return to normal.

So what’s the problem?
The problem lies not with the occasional intake of laxatives and diuretics, but with the dependence on them. Delhi-based nutritionist Dr Shikha Sharma lists the dangers:

Diuretics encourage the loss of potassium and lead to a condition known as hypokalemia which causes muscle weakness (including heart muscles) and mental confusion.

Laxatives cause severe diarrhoea, vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Strong laxatives actually weaken normal peristalsis (movement of the bowels) and inhibit the production of normal stools naturally.

Continued laxative use can cause bloating, cramping, dehydration, and electrolyte disturbances.

The combined use of diuretics and laxatives can trigger a sudden reduction in blood pressure, causing cardiac arrhythmias (fast heartbeats), irregular heartbeat and heart attack, renal problems and even death.

Over-dependence can lead to emergency conditions—for instance, collapse of the intestines—and lead to hospitalisation.

Are laxatives and diuretics completely taboo then?
Instead of turning to chemical laxatives, consider these natural remedies:

Jasmine tea and Darjeeling tea without sugar and milk

Rose petals
Celery soup

Trifala, an ayurvedic preparation of amla and other herbs