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Trying laxatives

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Is it ever safe to take a laxative to flush your system of waste and water and make your belly less bloated? No way.

"You definitely would be losing essential nutrients, you'd be at the risk of becoming dehydrated, and you can become dependent [on laxatives]," Dubost says."Your body was not meant to be taking laxatives."

A better idea: Introduce more fiber and fluids like water into your system and you'll flush it naturally.

Next: Cutting portions