Many people resort to taking over the counter water pills in a bid to lose weight fast. But are these pills effective? And most importantly, are they safe? This article will provide you all the information about OTC water pills.
Water pills are a kind of diuretic which is used to treat certain medical conditions, like high blood pressure, kidney diseases and diabetes. These pills aid in the removal of excess water or fluid from the body. However water pills are sometimes used as a temporary weight loss aid. Although water pills helps in losing weight, this method of weight loss is not without its disadvantages. Indiscriminate and prolonged use of water pills for weight loss will lead to many health complications. The result of any weight loss achieved through the use of water pills is temporary and cannot be sustained. There are many different brands of water pills that are available in the market and some of them are sold without prescription. These are known as over the counter water pills.
What are Over the Counter Water Pills
OTC water pills helps to eliminate your body of water retention that causes bloating and weight gain. They flush out the excess water from your system and makes you more energetic. In addition to flushing out excess water from the body, water pills also acts as appetite suppressant thereby making you feel perpetually full on an empty stomach. Is there an over the counter water pill that will help you to lose excess weight without sapping you of all joy and energy? The answer is yes and the two most popular brands are Diurex and Aqua-Ban. Make sure that you consult your doctor before you take these pills. If you do not exceed the normal dosages, water pills are relatively safe. But if you use them for a prolonged duration, you might suffer from many health complications. As you know, they are essentially a kind of diuretic that acts on the kidneys by making them expel water and salts. Our body requires water for its normal bodily functions, so too much water loss through these pills can lead to electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, dizziness, muscle fatigue and exhaustion.
Now for the most important question. Is water pills as a means for losing weight a fact or just a popular myth? These pills claim that you lose water weight by consuming them on a regular basis. As the human body is composed of more than 60% water, the water pills make you lose water weight and not actual body fat. This is why any weight that you lose through these pills is just temporary and as soon as you stop taking these pills you are going to regain your weight. If this pills are not supplemented with a nutritious and low calorie diet along with a proper exercise regimen, you are sure to gain back all the weight you have lost.
Ingredients in Water Pills
St. John’s Wort: An ingredient in water pills is St. John’s wort which I am sure everybody knows of as an effective herb that is used in anti depressant medications. There are no studies that proves definitely that St. John’s wort is useful for weight loss. This herb can interact with other medications like blood thinners and heart medications, so you should consult a doctor before you take water pills containing St. John’s wort.
5-hydroxytryptophan: Another ingredient found in OTC water pills is 5-hydroxytryptophan. It is an extract of a plant seed that is native to West Africa. It has recently come under the scanner of FDA because of its potential negative effect on the liver in large doses.
Cascara: This is also an ingredient that is found in water pills. It has been approved by the FDA and is a very strong laxative. Chitosan is a starch that is found in the bones of crabs, shrimp and other shellfish and is used in water pills. It binds with the fatty acids and then removes the fat from your body as it cannot be absorbed. Chitosan side effects include skin rash, constipation, upset stomach, gas, etc.
Before you use any of the OTC water pills for weight loss, you should exhaust all other avenues of losing weight. The water pills should be suitable for your body and should not cause any short term or long term side effects. You need to remember that these OTC water pills do not burn your excess body weight, but only helps you to flush away water. So for long term healthy weight loss, you should stick to a proper diet with a good exercise regimen.
