Top 10 Foods to Reduce Water Retention

Water retention is an accumulation of excess fluid in the body, making your hands, feet, legs, and ankles swollen. This uncomfortable condition is also known as edema. The reasons why it happens are not usually serious, but there are severe cases when it can indicate heart failure or kidney disease.

The most common causes of edema are high or low blood pressure, sitting or standing for too long, hormone imbalance, high sodium intake, prescription medications, pregnancy, 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.

Luckily, you can reduce water retention by consuming potassium-rich foods with great diuretic properties.

Here are the best foods for reducing water retention.

1. Dandelion

A lot of people suffer from edema due to a diet low in potassium and high in sodium. So, the potassium-rich dandelion is an excellent choice for these people. Sodium makes your body tissues retain water, but, potassium stimulates the release of excess fluid.

The best way to use the diuretic properties of dandelion is in form of tea, as well as concentrated dandelion supplements. Brew a cup of dandelion tea and drink it every day to urinate more often, thus eliminating the excess fluid from your body.

2. Parsley

Parsley tea is another great natural remedy for water retention. According to animal research, parsley has excellent diuretic properties which makes you urinate more often.

Even though more studies are needed to prove its diuretic potential in people, a lot of people praise this herb for its ability to reduce edema.

3. Asparagus

This herb is one of the most popular natural diuretics used for hundreds of years. Asparagus helps treat water retention related to rheumatism and menstrual cycle thanks to the asparagine – amino acid in its content.

Once consumed, asparagus is broken down into sulfur compounds which makes your pee smell odd. These compounds cause frequent urination and help cleanse your body of toxins.

4. Caraway Seeds

The most common medicinal uses of caraway are treating digestive problems and edema. Rat studies showed that caraway increases the amount of urine. However, the quantity of caraway for reducing edema in humans is not known due to lack of human studies.

Still, you can start using them as a spice to different meals, as well as prepare them as tea. Just don’t forget to have the tea along with the seeds.

5. Horsetail

This herb is a great natural diuretic available as a supplement and in the form of tea. According to one research, the effect of horsetail supplements are almost equal as those of commercial diuretics.

However, long use of these supplements can cause certain side effects. Also, avoid them if you have diabetes or kidney disease.

6. Black and Green Tea

Black and green tea offer excellent diuretic properties. But, when consuming the tea, make sure you have it without sugar or milk. This is because white sugar and dairy can worsen edema. An interesting fact about black and green tea is that they are most effective for treating edema when not consumed every day.

In contrast, drinking them on a regular basis might make you develop tolerance for their diuretic properties. Therefore, drink them occasionally, on days when you feel extra swollen.

7. Cucumber

This vegetable has high water content, so eating it will make you urinate more often. What’s more, cucumbers contain silicon and sulfur which can improve your kidney function and eliminate excess uric acid from them.

Moreover, they are rich in potassium which helps your body flush out excess water. Cucumbers can reduce symptoms of edema like swelling even when used topically. For example, you can place cool cucumber slices over your puffy eyes to reduce the swelling.

8. Bamboo Shoots

Bamboo shoots are inexpensive and versatile ingredient that add a flavor and texture to your food. According to one research, they are high in potassium, so they help reduce sodium levels and increase the production of urine.

9. Celery

Celery has a high-water content and a fair amount of fiber and potassium. In fact, its unique sodium to potassium balance makes celery an effective natural diuretic, excellent for treating water retention.

10. Bananas

Bananas are rich in potassium –a mineral which increases urine production and reduces sodium levels. Moreover, they contain high levels of vitamin B6 which reduces edema related to premenstrual syndrome.