Water retention - Nature Cures®

Eating the correct foods to gain a natural diuretic and water balancing affect in the body will benefit the whole system as they also contain many other essential nutrients and no side effects that prescribed diuretics can cause. The body will retain water for a number of reasons and realising which one is causing it is important to remedy it.

Causes of water retention

Being overweight
Burns including sunburn
Capillary damage
Eating too much salt
Heart disorders
Inactivity
Kidney disorders
Lymphatic system disorders
Pregnancy
Reaction to very hot weather
Standing up or sitting for long periods of time
Taking medications, such as some blood pressure medicines, contraceptive pills, hormone therapy, antidepressants or steroids.

Natural remedies for water retention

Alfalfa seed sprouts – once a day – highly nutritional, assists in weight loss, purifies and thins the blood see how to grow and use alfalfa.
Apple cider vinegar cleanses the liver, kidneys and bladder and prevent infections of this area. Take one tablespoon per day.
Artichokes (globe) are a natural diuretic.
Asparagus contains asparigine – a chemical alkaloid that boosts kidney performance improving waste removal from the body
Banana one a day to balances sodium and potassium in the blood – tablet diuretics reduce potassium levels
Beetroot nourishes kidneys, lowers blood pressure, a natural diuretic, reduces floating body fats and fatty deposits.
Berries possess powerful antioxidants which cleanse the blood.
Black currants are a diuretic with a high potassium level.
Black pepper corns grind onto everything, transports the nutrients to different parts of body, reduces congestion in the lungs.
Blueberries nourish the kidneys and stop bacteria from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract.
Brussel sprouts help in stimulating the kidneys and pancreas and results in better cleansing of cells.
Carrots provide nourishment for the kidneys and bladder and reduce inflammation of the urethra.
Celery nourishes the kidneys and reduces blood pressure.
Chives are valuable as a blood cleanser and exercise a very strong diuretic action.
Coconut has diuretic properties
Cranberries nourish the kidneys and stop bacteria from attaching to the walls of the urinary tract.
Cucumbers are rich in sulphur and silicon that stimulate the kidneys into better removal of uric acid and excess fluids.
Fig is oxidant, laxative, diuretic, digestible and a blood cleanser.
Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil improves blood flow.
Garlic is a natural diuretic food that aids breakage of fat
Ginger lowers blood pressure and purifies and thins the blood.
Green tea Three cups a day, natural diuretic, aids in weight loss.
Horseradish speeds up the metabolism and helps to protect against high blood pressure.
Lemon is a natural diuretic which can also regulate blood pressure and dissolve certain types of kidney stones.
Mango is detoxifying and diuretic
Melon is alkalising, mineralising, oxidant and diuretic and helps control heart rate and blood pressure offering protection against stroke and coronary heart diseases.
Oats contain silica – a natural diuretic.
Onions (raw) speed up the metabolism.
Papaya is diuretic and laxative.
Peaches are diuretic, depurative and detoxifying.
Pumpkin as diuretic properties that does not irritate the kidneys.
Pumpkin seeds good for bladder and urinary problems, increases good cholesterol, nourishes the eyes.
Radish (raw) especially daikon speeds up the metabolism, increases removal of waste and protects against high blood pressure and heart disease.
Rye bread, crackers, flour and flakes aids digestion, high fibre, reduces water and highly nutritional.
Strawberries are a traditional diuretic, thin the blood, improve blood flow – does not cause intestinal bleeding like aspirin.
Tea four cups a day acts as a natural diuretic.
Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C that aid the metabolism and release of water from the kidney to flush out waste.
Turmeric ½ teaspoon in warm water or sauces or on meals everyday – lowers blood pressure and purifies and thins the blood.
Watercress is a natural diuretic.
Watermelon seeds help the body eliminate excess water.

Naturally diuretic herbs

Bissy nut
Blue vervain
Corn silk
Dandelion four cups a day with one teaspoon of honey – pour hot but not boiling water from the kettle on a teaspoon of the leaves in a cup and drink – a natural diuretic. It stimulates the removal of waste/toxins via the bile and the urine and spares the potassium that is otherwise lost with conventional diuretics.
Drumstick
Fennel
Hawthorn berries
Horsetail
Hydrangea strengthens the urinary tract and help regulate its function.
Juniper berries
Parsley nourishes the kidneys, bladder and urethra and purifies the blood.
Psyllium husks help to expel water and waste, stops constipation, aids digestion of nutrients.
Saffron
Sarsaparilla
Stinging nettles
Uva Ursi strengthens the urinary system and eliminates excess fluids.

Drink plenty of filtered or bottled mineral water (to avoid the chlorine, fluoride and other chemicals added to tap water and provide more natural minerals to the diet). It is especially important to drink one glass of water just before going to sleep.

Diuretic drug dangers

Drugs prescribed to treat water retention such as anti-hypertensives, thiazide-type diuretics deplete magnesium, sodium, potassium and zinc. Loop diuretics deplete potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc and vitamins B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine) and C (ascorbic acid). Furosemide causes vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency in 98 percent of patients with congestive heart failure and increases excretion of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine).

If taking any of these diuretic medications a selection of foods rich in each of these nutrients must be consumed daily. For the natural highest sources see:

Some medications can cause water or fluid retention (oedema) such as:

Beta-blockers (used to treat abnormal heart rhythms and prevent tachycardia)
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) – medications with analgesic (pain reducing), antipyretic (fever reducing) effects. In high doses they are actually effective in reducing inflammation. Examples include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen.
Oestrogen-containing drugs, such as the combined oral contraceptive pill, or HRT (hormone replacement therapy).

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