Do Water Pills Work for Weight Loss?

Water pills, usually referred to as diuretics, help rid the body of salt and water. They do this by making your kidneys put more sodium into your urine; this sodium then takes water with it from your blood.

Diuretics can be found in a prescription or as over-the-counter herbal remedies. There are many varieties of herbal diuretics, however most are derived from caffeine. Herbal diuretics are typically not toxic, but they have been known to interact with some medications like lithium, lanoxin or conventional diuretics.

Prescription or herbal diuretics do not provide enough water loss to be considered an effective weight loss tool. While they may rid the body of a few pounds of water, that weight loss is temporary. If you choose to use water pills, you'll regain weight when you start hydrating again or stop using the pills. More importantly, long-term weight loss requires the reduction of fat, not water.

While water pills may not be the key to shedding pounds permanently, others may use water pills for medical reasons. Water pills decrease the amount of fluid flowing through your blood vessels, which reduces the pressure on the walls of your arteries. This makes them a viable treatment for people with high blood pressure. Water pills can also be used to treat heart problems, kidney disorders, diabetes and tissue swelling.

According to the Mayo Clinic, water pills are generally safe. However, they do have some side effects including increased urination, fluctuations of potassium in the blood, low sodium in the blood, increased cholesterol and joint disorders.

If you're thinking about choosing water pills to aid in weight loss, check out our more effective weight loss weapons.