Posted in Category : Common Ailments | November 6, 2009

Water Retention Remedies:

Medically called Edema, water retention is a condition in which there is an accumulation of excessive water in the interstitial tissues of the body. Water retention generally occurs on account of the flaws and imbalances in the dietary regimen of an individual. There are several foods that cause or aggravate water retention. Some of the water retention foods that must be avoided so as to relieve the symptoms of water retention are as follows:

• Excessive consumption of salt or sodium is one of the major causes of edema in the body. As such, the consumption of foods with a higher content of sodium like legumes, meat, cheese, olives, spinach, oysters, buttermilk, Swiss chard, and chick peas must be restricted in one’s diet. Also, processed or canned foods are high in sodium content. So, these foods must also be avoided. It must be kept in mind that although some amount of sodium is required in your diet, its excessive consumption must be controlled.
• You may consume at least two bananas a day to avert water retention in your body. Bananas contain potassium which helps eliminate fluid retention.
• You must include a lot of cabbage in your diet so as to prevent water retention in body. Cabbage is a diuretic that helps you excrete the extra water and fluids, thereby protecting you from water retention.
• You may also consume cranberry juice to combat water retention on account of its diuretic property.
• You may consume yogurt to flush out excessive fluid content and prevent water retention in the body.
• You may consume parsley to avert water retention. You can add two teaspoons of parsley leaves in boiling water, steep it for ten minutes, and then consume three cups of this tea in a day.
• You may also consume tea containing alfa alfa leaves as this is a potent diuretic.
• You must eat a fiber rich diet as fiber helps in drawing toxins and moisture out of the tissues for excretion, thereby preventing water retention in the body.
• You may also consume onion juice to prevent water retention.
• You may eat two to three slices of garlic everyday in order prevent water retention.
• Excessive consumption of caffeine may also lead to edema. Though caffeine in lower levels leads to loss of excessive water from the body, its consumption in larger quantities may cause dehydration which in turn leads to edema.

Other than these remedies, you must also follow a regular exercise regimen which helps flush out the toxins and extra water from the body.

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