Are diuretics harmful for weight loss?

How do diuretic tablets work?

Salty and sweet foods contribute to fluid retention in the human body and its accumulation in the cells of the body.
Along with excess water, edema appears, and weight increases, so the removal of fluid leads to a decrease in body weight. For this purpose, diuretic diet pills are used, since excess water is poorly excreted naturally. Diuretics are often prescribed for obesity to reduce body weight; they also help with anemia, help cleanse the kidneys, liver and intestines, removing some of the waste and toxins along with the liquid. Any diuretic medications have their contraindications, so before starting use you should consult a doctor.

Which diuretics are safe?

There is an opinion that medicinal herbs are harmless, because unlike “chemical” drugs they are natural, natural remedies. Of course this is not true. Among the herbs there are strong poisons that can easily kill a person, despite their naturalness.

Diuretic herbs and herbal teas have the same side effects as pharmaceutical drugs. Especially if you use them for a long time. They, just like tablets, remove not only fluid, but also potassium and calcium from the body. By using diuretic teas for weight loss on a regular basis, you can feel their side effects no less than from pills.

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In this case, weight loss will occur not due to getting rid of fat reserves, but due to water, which may not be superfluous at all, but vitally necessary for the body. Therefore, it is better not to experiment with diuretics for weight loss.

If you have a diagnosed chronic disease that causes swelling, then from time to time it may be useful to take a course of diuretic herbs, such as lingonberry leaf, corn silk. But you can't do this on an ongoing basis. Moreover, it is not recommended to do this for the purpose of losing weight. After all, as we have already found out, fat does not burn from diuretics.

If we talk about truly safe diuretics, then only food products can be classified in this category. Some vegetables, berries, fruits and herbs have a mild diuretic effect:

• Watermelons and melons;
• Cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins;
• Tomatoes;
• Strawberries, wild strawberries, lingonberries, cranberries;
• Grapes, apricots;
• Parsley, celery, dill.

These products will not help in the treatment of edema, but will do a good job of removing excess fluid if, for example, you are “flooded” after eating too salty food. They can also be excellent aids in losing weight without any harm to health.

Most of these foods are low in calories (except for grapes, which contain too much sugar). By replacing potatoes, rice, pasta, as well as baked goods and confectionery with them, you can significantly reduce the calorie content of your daily diet, which will help you safely and effectively lose excess fat.

Losing excess weight will go faster if you include physical activity - brisk walking, skiing and cycling, swimming, fitness classes. Such weight loss will only bring benefits; it will improve the health of the body, in contrast to false and dangerous weight loss on diuretics.

Harm of diuretics

Taking diuretics for weight loss at home without consulting a doctor is prohibited - uncontrolled use of tablets can lead to health problems. List of possible side effects:

• dehydration of the body;
• headache;
• vomiting, nausea;
• decreased blood pressure;
• blurred vision;
• leaching of useful minerals from the body;
• convulsions;
• heart rhythm disturbance.

Diuretics: types and principle of action

Diuretics are known as diuretics. They are substances that promote the active excretion of urine from the body. Through this process, the fluid level in the tissues and serous cavities decreases. The principle is a specific effect on the functioning of the kidneys. The reabsorption of sodium ions in the renal tubules slows down, as a result of which the reabsorption of water decreases.

Depending on the strength and duration of the effect, three groups of diuretics are distinguished. The diversity is explained by physicochemical properties and localization of action. Types of diuretics:

• loop;
• potassium-sparing;
• osmotic.

Loop diuretics are recognized as the most effective. Potassium-sparing agents are considered to be medium in strength and duration of action. Gentle - osmotic.

In addition, the classification by origin is known. There are pharmaceutical drugs that can be purchased at pharmacies. They are chemical compounds that stimulate the urinary system and intensively remove fluid from the body.

Natural diuretics are represented by herbs, fruits, and vegetables. They are characterized by less intense stimulation of the urinary system. The advantage is the minimal number of side effects during use.

When taking diuretics, you should be aware that this is an emergency, temporary aid. After stopping the intake, the water will gradually return, and with it the lost kilograms. In order to thoroughly lose weight, you should consume fewer calories than your body needs to function properly.

Diuretics for weight loss

A diuretic for weight loss is allowed to be taken only according to the instructions; changing the dosage on your own is strictly prohibited. Diuretic tablets should be taken correctly, in combination with vitamin preparations that will replenish the washed out vitamins and microelements. People with kidney disease and hormonal imbalances should use such drugs with caution.

Which diuretic pills are best for weight loss? Only a good doctor can answer this question, and he will determine the dosage. All diuretics are divided into the following groups:

1. Lungs – retain the maximum amount of potassium in the body.
2. Thiazide drugs have a restrained effect.
3. Loop - cleanse, filter the kidneys, remove salts.
4. Herbal infusions.

Herbal diuretics have much fewer side effects, you do not need a prescription to purchase them, and you can prepare a diuretic with them at home. Most herbal teas improve the functioning of the kidneys and liver, and normalize metabolic processes, but they may also have contraindications; you should consult a doctor before taking them.

Furosemide

These diuretic tablets have a strong effect. Within a couple of hours after taking the medicine, the outflow of water from the body increases, swelling from the legs and face goes away, but the fat layer remains in place. As a result, within 24 hours, through the removal of fluid, weight loss of 2-3 kilograms occurs. You should not abuse diuretics - a lack of potassium and magnesium, which are washed out along with water, interferes with the normal functioning of the heart.

Furosemide is recommended to be taken depending on weight - from 1 to 3 tablets per day, with an interval of 3-4 hours. If you choose the drug in liquid form, then administer it slowly over 1-2 minutes; the daily dosage in this case is from 2 to 4 milliliters. In the absence of side effects, the diuretic Furosemide can be taken for 3-5 days, but be sure to maintain water balance. The average cost of the medicine is 22-34 rubles for 50 pieces, 27 rubles for 10 ampoules.

Indapamide

A diuretic for weight loss, like Indapamide, is considered harmless, has a gentle effect on the body, preserving potassium. It can be taken safely for long periods of time (up to 2 months) for diseases of the cardiovascular system accompanied by chronic heart failure. The only possible side effect is hypoglycemia, the first signs of which are tachycardia, nausea, and sweating. If you discover one of them, you should stop taking the pills immediately. The daily dosage of the drug is about 2.5 mg, the average price of Indapamide is 88 rubles for 30 pieces.

Veroshpiron

Veroshpiron contains spironolactone, which affects adrenal function and accelerates the diuretic effect. The dosage of tablets is prescribed by the doctor depending on the disease, but the daily dose should not exceed 400 mg; you can drink them before and after meals 1 to 4 times a day. The price of a diuretic is about 90 rubles for tablets and 200-250 rubles for capsules. Possible side effects:

• muscle spasms;
• nausea;
• decreased concentration;
• hyperkalemia;
• gastritis;
• disorders of the menstrual cycle in women and potency in men.

Asparkam

These diuretic tablets for weight loss contain potassium and magnesium compounds, which makes them less harmful to health compared to other diuretics. The medicine helps improve blood circulation, normalizes metabolic processes, resulting in weight loss. You need to drink Asparkam 1 tablet three times a day, they are inexpensive - about 50 rubles for 50 pieces. Indications for use of the drug are:

• deficiency of K and Mg;
• ischemia;
• myocardial infarction;
• heart failure in the chronic stage.

Hydrochlorothiazide

These diuretic tablets for weight loss are thiazide diuretics, the effect after their use occurs within 2-3 hours. The dosage is determined by the doctor, depending on the disease. If you want to get rid of edema, then take 1 medicine in the morning with plenty of water. Indications for the use of Hydrochlorothiazide are:

• diabetes insipidus;
• prevention of calcium stone formations;
• dysfunction and other kidney pathologies;
• heart failure with the presence of edema.

Contraindications and side effects

All diuretic drugs have contraindications, in the presence of which the use of medications should be discontinued:

• pathologies of the cardiovascular system (only with potent drugs);
• liver and kidney diseases;
• diabetes;
• allergy;
• gout;
• pancreatitis;
• BPH;
• lupus erythematosus;
• hormonal disorders;
• thyroid diseases;
• urolithiasis and cholelithiasis;
• pregnancy, lactation.

The drugs suppress the functioning of the immune system, so while taking them a person is susceptible to colds. Men may have problems with potency.

Side effects of diuretics are as follows:

• fainting states;
• drowsiness;
• apathy;
• swelling;
• temperature increase;
• rashes;
• decreased blood pressure;
• constipation;
• lack of coordination.

Reviews

Most people who have tried this method on themselves confirm that it helps to get rid of excess weight, but the effect lasts only a few days, after which the kilograms return again. The only exception is if a person simultaneously begins to adhere to a diet and monitor the foods he consumes. Women also claim that diuretics very often cause side effects, especially with regular use.

Diuretics in bodybuilding

Diuretics are widely used by bodybuilding athletes. The most commonly used are loop diuretics, which have an immediate effect. Such medications should be used with extreme caution, since under conditions of increased physical activity they provoke severe dehydration of the body.

In bodybuilding, diuretics are used before competitions to reduce the volume of fluid in the subcutaneous tissue - this helps make the weightlifter’s body more prominent. There is also special sports nutrition, which already contains substances with a diuretic effect. It should not be used for a long time.

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What to replace when losing weight

To combat excess body weight, diuretic drugs can be replaced with safer medicinal drinks and foods. A diet for edema involves avoiding salt, smoked foods, and marinades. The basis of the diet should be: - strawberries; - pears; - grapes; - juniper berries; - coconut; - beets; - spinach; - pumpkin; - zucchini.

The vegetables and fruits listed above have a mild effect, eliminate swelling, and do not harm the body.