Top 10 Foods to Reduce Water Retention
Water retention, also known as edema, occurs when excess fluids build up inside your body. This makes your hands, feet, legs, and ankles swollen. In most cases, the reasons why it happens are not serious. However, in some cases, it can indicate kidney disease or heart failure.
There are many factors that can cause edema, including high or low blood pressure, excessive sitting or standing, high sodium intake, hormone imbalance, pregnancy, prescription medications, infection of blood vessels, etc.
Having excess fluid in your body can make you weight more than you really are. So, by getting rid of the excess fluid you’ll also get leaner.
Fortunately, by consuming foods with great diuretic properties and rich in potassium, you can effectively reduce water retention.
Top 10 Foods to Reduce Water Retention
- Dandelion
Many people experience edema as a result of a diet high in sodium and low in potassium. Hence, dandelion is an excellent source of potassium and is highly recommended for these people.
Sodium makes your body tissues retain water. Potassium, on the other hand, can stimulate the release of excess fluid. To obtain the diuretic properties of dandelion, you should use it in the form of a tea or concentrated dandelion supplements.
Brew a cup of dandelion tea and consume it every day. This will make you urinate more frequently, which in turn will eliminate the excess fluid from your body.
- Parsley
Parsley tea another remedy beneficial for treating water retention. An animal research proved that it has diuretic properties and can make you urinate more often.
Even though a further research needs to be done, many people believe that this her can be of significant help in the case of edema.
- Asparagus
For hundreds of years, this herb has been used for its natural diuretic properties. Due to the asparagine – amino acid in its content, asparagus can treat water retention related to menstrual cycle and rheumatism.
When consumed, asparagus is broken down into sulfur compounds. You may notice that your pee smells odd. These compounds cause frequent urination, thus cleansing your body of toxins.
- Caraway Seeds
Caraway seeds are usually used for treating digestive problems and edema. According to rat studies, these seeds can increase the amount of urine.
So, you can use them as a spice to your meals, or prepare them as tea. Make sure to have the tea along with the seeds.
- Horsetail
Horsetail can be easily found as a supplement and in the form of tea. A study showed that horsetail supplements can provide almost equal effects as commercial diuretics.
You should know that long use of these supplements can cause some adverse effects. Also, people with diabetes or kidney disease are not recommended to use them.
- Black and Green Tea
Black and green tea have potent diuretic properties. However, when consuming them, you should have it without milk or sugar because dairy or white sugar can only worsen edema.
Perhaps it sounds unavailable, but black and green tea can provide incredible results in the treatment of edema when not consumed every day.
Drinking them regularly can make you develop the tolerance for their diuretic properties. Hence, it is recommended to drink them occasionally!
- Cucumber
Due to its high water content, cucumber will make you urinate more frequently. Moreover, cucumbers are packed with sulfur and silicon which can improve your kidney function and eliminate excess uric acid from them.
Cucumbers are an excellent source of potassium which eliminates the excess water. When used topically, cucumbers can reduce edema symptoms like swelling. Place cool cucumber slices over your puffy eyes to reduce the swelling.
- Bamboo Shoots
Bamboo shoots are easily available and extremely versatile. They add a texture and flavor to your food. It is scientifically shown that they are rich in potassium, which means that they can reduce sodium levels and increase the production of urine.
- Celery
Celery has a fair amount of fiber and potassium and high-water content. Due to its unique sodium to potassium balance, celery is a beneficial natural diuretic and can effectively treat water retention.
- Bananas
Bananas are a great source of potassium, a mineral which can increase urine production and reduce sodium levels.
What is more, bananas are rich in vitamin B6 known for its ability to reduce edema related to premenstrual syndrome.
