Thread: Laxatives

Some people take slimming tea or pills that has laxative to help them move their bowel better and lose weight. I know many women who have lost weight because of this. I have to say that I have tried them once too to help me with my bowel movement. I was feeling good because it cleans up my intestines and I feel light to my stomach. However I don't like the feeling that I am forced to move my bowel all the time. Whenever it does that, it gives me goosebumps! It's a weird feeling that I don't want to experience ever again.

Do you know that there are certain people that cannot take laxatives? If you have a condition called phenylketonuria or a genetic disorder of metabolism, you shouldn’t take a laxative that contains phenylalanine. So before you take them make sure that you check with your doctor. You can not laxatives if you are allergic with psyllium, which is a key ingredient in some pills.

I read in an article that laxatives can get in the way of how the body absorbs certain medicines and nutrients. You must not take any vitamins or meds within 2 hours of taxing a laxative to make sure that your medication or vitamins do not go to waste.

The actual purpose of taking a laxative is to stimulate the large bowel to empty, which occurs only after the food and it's calories for energy have been absorbed through the small intestines. A person taking laxatives to control weight is only going to cause their body to lose fluid, which can potentionally be followed by periods of water retention and an appearance of bloating The reason people suffering from eating disorders seem to lose weight while taking laxatives is because in most cases they are increasingly watching calorie intake and restricting food consumption, inducing vomiting, and/or compulsively exercising.

I don't think I could take one of these. It would mean I would have to run to the bathroom all the time. It's fine if I'm just staying at home but what if I'm working, in a meeting, in a mall or driving? =D