Laxatives like Metamucil, what are the benefits it gives your body?

[Cicero]

Other than releasing your bowel movements or whatever xD what are the benefits? Is it true is makes you not bloated and makes you lighter? Does it help with sports?

[boonsim]

Using laxatives in sports is generally considered "making weight" and is frowned upon or even banned in certain situations. Otherwise, how could that help with sports? Losing weight by purging is very unhealthy.

[Cicero]

Using laxatives in sports is generally considered "making weight" and is frowned upon or even banned in certain situations. Otherwise, how could that help with sports? Losing weight by purging is very unhealthy.

I don't get it...

[Josiah7]

Its not really helpful, sure it can make you loose alot of fluids, which will dehydrate you, and create a electrolyte imbalance. This will severely hinder the performance of a athlete. Not to mention a loss of energy. Loosing body weight that quick and often is very dangerous and laxatives can cause things such as;

-Abdominal Pain
-Ulcers
-Pancreatitis
-Hemorrhoids
-Intestinal Tract Bleed and Injuries

It is more harmful than beneficial. Their use is banned in many sports, and for good reasons.

[Dimitri]

Its not really helpful, sure it can make you loose alot of fluids, which will dehydrate you, and create a electrolyte imbalance. This will severely hinder the performance of a athlete. Not to mention a loss of energy. Loosing body weight that quick and often is very dangerous and laxatives can cause things such as;

-Abdominal Pain
-Ulcers
-Pancreatitis
-Hemorrhoids
-Intestinal Tract Bleed and Injuries

It is more harmful than beneficial. Their use is banned in many sports, and for good reasons.
All of this and not to mention constant deification will result in you losing some of the good bacteria in your bowls and you just might need that XD

[Hermes]

I was wondering how this was relevant to spot but reading the comments above has been interesting.

Yes, the contents of you bowel must weigh something and you will be slightly lighter after defacating than you were when your bowel is full but the difference would not be much. By the same token you will be slightly lighter after a pee than when your bladder is full.

On the other hand I would be surprised in the difference in weight was worth risking dehydration for. If you are dehydrated won't that compromise the performance of your muscles to a certain extent?

Laxatives have their place - for treating acute constipation. If you often get constipated though a better diet is probably a better solution.