The Dangers of Using Weight Loss
Pills and Laxatives

While there are many weight loss pills, laxatives and supplements on the market today, one popular type takes the form of tea.  Stores everywhere sell slimming tea, dieter's tea and others but all of them are actually the same.  They may appear to be effective, but it's what's not seen that may actually harm you.

One of the effects of drinking dieter's tea is the frequent bowel movements.  This gives people the feeling of body cleansing.  However, while these people may in fact get some toxins out of their body, this isn't exactly the only thing that slimming tea does to the body.

Slimming tea contains herbs such as aloe, senna, rhubarb root, cascara, buckthorn and castor oil - which are all natural laxatives.  Being derived from plants, these products have been used since ancient times because of their potency in treating constipation and inducing bowel movements.  If taken in moderation they do what they're supposed to do but the trouble begins when things get out of control and people either take too much of them and/or for too long.

Cascara, castor oil and senna are substances commonly recognized as laxatives and are easily obtained over the counter today.  It's important to know, they're also regulated as drugs.

Scientific studies show that diarrhea, induced by laxatives, does not absorb significant amounts of calories taken in by the body.  The reason for this is that laxatives do not act on the small intestines where most of the calories are absorbed.  Instead, they work on the large intestines.  If taken in large amounts and for prolonged periods, they can eventually affect the amount of fat absorbed by the body but to the detriment of the body's normal healthy functions.

It's interesting to note that abuse of laxatives is very common among those who suffer from bulimia and anorexia nervosa.  While this 'laxative abuse' may lead to greasy, watery diarrhea and loss of weight, it may also cause permanent damage to the gastrointestinal tract and the weakening and softening of the bones - a condition known as osteomalacia.

Drinkers of slimming teas may actually patronize the product because they're less expensive and taste better than other laxatives sold on the market.  Also, the thought that something as simple as drinking tea can make them thin without exerting any real effort or making any sacrifices is a powerful enticement to good to refuse for many.  Other people, such as those with eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa, drink dieter's tea because they work fast and give them the fix they need to feed their condition.

Women may even be more susceptible to the effects of slimming teas.  Although not a common problem, their overuse may interfere with the woman's menstrual cycle and fertility.  This problem is more likely to occur if drinking the tea causes very rapid weight loss.  In this instance the desired effect occurs (ie weight is lost quickly) but there's a price to pay - damage (which is sometimes permanent) to the body in all sorts of ways.

It's also not safe for pregnant women to be taking laxatives of any kind.  Wise and responsible herbalists discourage the use of senna and other herbal products with laxative properties for pregnant women and women trying to conceive.

One should always be wary about the possible side effects as the labeling of slimming teas in the market today can be absolutely misleading.

For instance, they commonly refer to the laxative qualities as having 'natural bowel cleansing properties' and do not specifically use the word 'laxative'.  Some even use the term 'low-calorie' on their labeling.  Most of these products in fact, essentially contain no calories; unless of course they're sweetened - and, if this is the case, then there goes the diet due to the sugar required to do the sweetening.  In addition, you'll be hard pressed to find any that offer any nutrients whatsoever.

As mentioned earlier, adverse effects of misusing laxatives in the form of slimming tea generally occur when taken in more than the recommended doses or for longer than the recommended time periods.

Some of the negative effects include nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, rectal bleeding, electrolyte disorder and dehydration as well as injury and worse, death.  It was also reported that the excessive use of stimulant laxatives can cause severe constipation and pain for long periods due to the colon losing its function.

Some cases have even reported ongoing problems that continued for more than a decade.  The end result of such long term problems is usually major surgery to remove the colon altogether.

The main lesson here is: moderation is the key - but many people simply cannot help themselves once they 'get on the treadmill' only to find themselves in a downward spiral.  The sad part is no-one expects to have any problems by taking 'just a few'.