Four Natural Treatments for Fluid Retention
Elevating your feet for a few minutes at the end of each day, staying hydrated, reducing your salt intake and, in short, leading a healthy lifestyle, are some of the best ways to promote well-being, and avoid problems such as fluid retention.
Edema (better known as fluid retention) is a really common health complaint that can have a variety of different causes, from a sodium-rich diet, to a sedentary lifestyle. It should never be ignored, as it could indicate cardiovascular or renal issues.
Once a doctor has determined the cause, it’s important to take steps to improve your daily habits, and start to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Below we’ll tell you more!
The causes of fluid retention
Fluid retention isn’t a disease as such, but a symptom. As we mentioned before, it can occur for various reasons. For example, due to a sedentary lifestyle, a low intake of water and other liquids, a diet rich in salt, etc.
First of all, fluid retention is caused by a regulatory imbalance that controls the passage of substances throughout the body.It occurs when your body ultimately becomes unable to remove excess fluids through your excretory system .
It can also be influenced by factors like:
- Obesity
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle
- Kidney disorders
- Liver problems
- Stomach conditions
- Hormonal changes: premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy, menopause, etc.
How can you recognize fluid retention?
To find out if you really have fluid retention, consider whether or not you have the following signs:
- General tiredness or fatigue
- Heaviness (especially in the legs)
- Abdominal inflammation and discomfort.
- Gradual swelling in the lower extremities
- Inflammation in other parts of the body (this is more unusual, but it can occur)
Natural treatments for fluid retention
In this next section, we’ll show you some natural remedies you can use to help combat fluid retention. As you’ll soon see, the majority are very simple and natural solutions.
1. Drink more water
Hydration is important for your body, even when you’re suffering from fluid retention. Although it might seem contradictory, you need to drink even more water if you have fluid retention. If not, substances will be stored in your body for even longer.
If you don’t drink more water, your body will automatically store additional fluids. In this way it can provide for any unexpected events.
2. Green tea
Foods and drinks with diuretic properties are believed to be great alternatives for people who suffer from fluid retention. Green tea is one of the most popular options.
Green tea is a drink rich in antioxidants that can be beneficial to your health in several ways. We recommend consuming it in moderation, always 40-45 minutes after a main meal so it doesn’t interfere with the absorption of nutrients.
3. Eat pineapple
Pineapple is a delicious and juicy fruit, making it a favorite around the globe, especially during hot weather.
People don’t just eat pineapple for its great taste, however. Some also consume this fruit because it contains a large amount of water, which in turn gives it a diuretic effect.
4. Parsley tea
As a complementary remedy, you could also drink parsley tea. This will help keep your body hydrated and stimulate urination, helping to expel retained fluid. To make it, you’ll need:
Ingredients
- 1 c. of water
- 1 tbsp. of parsley
Preparation
- Firstly, bring the water to a boil
- Add the tablespoon of parsley, cover, and allow it to steep for a few minutes
- Drink at a lukewarm temperature in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon as part of a balanced diet
Note: If you don’t want to drink tea, you could also drink smoothies or fruit juices that have a high water content, such as melon and watermelon, for example.
See also: The 4 Most Diuretic Infusions
Other alternatives
To combat fluid retention, we would also recommend doing physical activity on a daily basis. As a minimum, you should try to exercise for 30 minutes straight (the equivalent of around 10000 steps).
You could also do dance therapy, hiking, jogging, swimming or any other sport you enjoy. The important thing is to stay active, and leave your sedentary lifestyle behind.
Read more: The Perfect Anti-Cellulite Diet Plan
Stay active and hydrated
As you can see, the natural remedies for fluid retention that we’ve discussed can be a good complement, but never a single solution to the problem.
Both to avoid and treat fluid retention it’s important to maintain healthy lifestyle habits, and follow the instructions given by your doctor. If you have any doubts, it’s always best to discuss them with a professional. This way, you’ll always stay on top of your health.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Tuller, M., Dani, O., & Dudley, L. M. (1999). Adsorption and capillary condensation in porous media: Liquid retention and interfacial configurations in angular pores. Water Resources Research. https://doi.org/10.1029/1999WR900098
- van Den Dool, H., & Dec. Kratz, P. (1963). A generalization of the retention index system including linear temperature programmed gas—liquid partition chromatography. Journal of Chromatography A. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9673(01)80947-X
- Yoon, Y., Westerhoff, P., Snyder, S. A., Wert, E. C., & Yoon, J. (2007). Removal of endocrine disrupting compounds and pharmaceuticals by nanofiltration and ultrafiltration membranes. Desalination. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2005.12.033
