Senna tea for weight loss. Is it safe?
Senna tea is a home remedy popularly used by people who want to lose weight quickly. However, this plant has no proven influence on the weight loss process and should therefore not be used for this purpose, especially if there is no supervision from a nutritionist, doctor or naturopath.
To lose weight, the most important thing is to follow a balanced diet guided by a nutritionist, as well as regular exercise. The use of supplements can also occur, but should always be guided by a health professional specialized in the area of weight loss, who recommends supplements with proven effect and in the correct dosage.
Why is senna known to lose weight?
Although it has no proven effect on weight loss, the use of this tea has become popular due to reports that it causes rapid weight loss in less than 24 hours. And in fact, there are people who can lose weight after using it, but this does not happen through the process of losing weight, but through emptying the intestines. This is because senna is a plant with a very strong laxative action, which allows people who suffer from constipation to eliminate feces that have accumulated in the intestine. Thus, when the person eliminates these stools, they become lighter, appearing to have lost weight.
Furthermore, it is also not uncommon to hear that the nutritionist prescribed the use of senna tea for weight loss, but this is usually done for a short period, up to 2 weeks, to cleanse the intestines and eliminate toxins, in order to prepare. the body to the new eating plan, and the results end up coming from changes in the diet and not from the use of the laxative.
How does senna work in the intestine?
Senna tea has a strong laxative effect because the plant is very rich in sennosides type A and B, substances that have the ability to stimulate the myenteric plexus, which is responsible for increasing intestinal contraction, expelling feces.
In addition, senna also has a good amount of mucilage, which ends up absorbing water from the body, making the stool softer and easier to eliminate.
Is it safe to use laxatives to lose weight?
Laxatives can be part of the weight loss process, but they should be used for short periods and under the supervision of a health professional, serving only to cleanse the body of toxins and prepare it for the weight loss process.
Therefore, laxatives should not be used as the main cause of weight loss, since their excessive or chronic use can cause several health problems such as:
- Loss of the ability to defecate : this happens because the nerves in the region lose their sensitivity, becoming dependent on the use of a laxative to cause bowel movements;
- Dehydration : laxatives make the intestines work very quickly, which reduces the time the body has to reabsorb water, which ends up being eliminated in excess with feces;
- Loss of important minerals : Along with water, the body can also eliminate excess minerals, especially sodium and potassium, which are important for muscle and heart function, for example;
- Bleeding stool : It is caused by excessive irritation of the intestine from the use of laxatives;
Several of these consequences can affect the functioning of internal organs, which can, in the long run, lead to serious and life-threatening heart disease.
Therefore, laxatives of any kind should not be used for weight loss, especially when there is no supervision from a health professional.
Watch a video from our nutritionist explaining why laxatives are not a good option for weight loss.
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