Pooping your way to weight loss

You’ve probably read about soaking in water mixed with epsom salts doing wonders for your skin in beauty magazines and articles, and on the internet. But just like there are two sides to coin, taking epsom salts orally without consulting a doctor for other touted benefits like cleansing of the intestines and weight loss has its own share of risks involved. Read on to know more...

What is it?

Epsom salts are generally recommended for external use by mixing it in bathing water and soaking the body, once in a while like, once in 15 days or so. But there’s more to these salts than serving for beauty purposes. “Epsom salt contains magnesium and sulfate which are essential nutrients for the body. Epsom salts has a hygroscopic property by which it retains water. So when consumed orally it can help relieve constipation by softening the stools,” says Dr Jay Kotecha, Gastroenterologist, SRV Hospital, adding that magnesium helps maintain the activity of multiple enzymes in the body, thereby reducing inflammation and maintaining tissue and nerve function. Sulfates help in absorption of nutrients and flushing of toxins from the body.

Uses

Epsom salt is recommended for adding to bathing water occasionally because of its absorption through the skin. Dr Jayashree Todkar, Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeon, Hiranandani Hospital, says that it does have many good effects provided the doctor evaluates the body function of person scientifically. It can improve the nervous, muscular, cardiac and intestinal function and can act to improve the metabolic diseases, if taken under scientific supervision.

Availability

One can buy it from a chemist shop. It is a naturally occurring compound  sold under the name of Magnesium Sulphate. It’s not expensive. It can be purchased  without a doctor’s prescription. As for its alternative, any magnesium sulphate powder is an alternative, informs Dr Behram Pardiwala, Consultant Internal Medicine, Wockhardt Hospitals.

Cleanses the intestines?

Dr Pardiwala agrees that when taken orally, epsom salts helps in cleansing of digestive system nicely. Magnesium helps absorb, helps in cooling nerves and relaxing muscles. It is also good for diabetes, it makes insulin more effective. However, other experts disagree. “Generally, epsom salts are taken orally for management of constipation. For constipation, epsom salt is mixed with a glass of water and consumed gradually over few hours. It is not recommended to be taken on a routine basis. But consumption internally, should be only after consultation with your physician,” warns Dr Kotecha, who personally disagrees with taking epsom salts orally for the cleansing of intestines. 

Dr Todkar says, “Cleansing the of intestine is not about giving it a wash, it is not a mechanical cleansing. The intestines are an extremely absorptive surface, so you shouldn’t take it just like that. You need to keep into consideration that it is a chemical.”

Does it help lose weight?

Now for the question that’s plaguing most people’s minds — Does taking epsom salts actually induce weight loss due to its laxative effect?  Dr Kotecha agrees that to some extent it can lead to weight loss by attributing it a 10 per cent weightage. “These days, laxatives are being abused a lot. Being a laxative and detoxifying agent, it does help lose weight but only with help of other weight losing modalities like exercise and diet. However, it should never be solely relied upon. When one takes it in larger quantities, due to its laxative effect, the body gets deprived of nutrients. That’s not the right way to lose weight. You can’t forcefully remove nutrients from your body by damaging the intestinal walls. Some dieticians ask their patients to take one to two teaspoons of epsom salts and go on a fruit-based diet, but I don’t approve of this method to induce weight loss. If one desires a laxative effect, there are other better commercially available options like polyethylene glycolelectrolyte solution or PEG solution, which comes in a powdered form,” he says.

Side-effects

A lot has been spoken and written about the goodness of epsom salts for the skin but what about its lesser-known side-effects? Dr Todkar cautions that magnesium sulphate when consumed orally can lead to diarrhoea and cleansing of intestine but, it is contraindicated in a person having intestinal dysfunction, kidney problems and heart problems and also it can lead to severe dehydration. Dizziness, electrolytes disturbances and irregular cardiac activity are the side-effects. Therefore, a doctor should decide who needs it, how to take it, and its dosage.