Fluid retention problems are caused by a lot of things. In serious cases, swelling or edema can be brought about by failure of some organs such as the kidneys. However, the most common reason why people find themselves swollen or feeling bloated with water retention is due to their love for foods that are rich in sodium. It seems that eating too much sodium can really mess up your bodily functions, including your water elimination system. However, women are believed to be more prone to fluid retention primarily because of hormonal changes especially during their menstrual cycles or pre-menopause.
If you and your doctor think that your water retention blues are not brought about by serious illness or condition, then you can follow the pointers below on how you can eat your way to beating fluid retention woes.
Lower Your Sodium Consumption
The most logical way to prevent water retention is to watch sodium in your diet. It is suggested that people should make sure that their total sodium consumption a day is only around 1,000 milligrams, at least until your swollenness goes away. Since it is quite difficult to measure the amount of sodium you take each day, it would be best to just stay away from foods that you know are high in sodium. Examples of such items are processed foods, chips, and most canned goods. You may also want to increase your intake of raw foods, such as fruits and vegetables.
Ketchup, soy sauce and butter can also be sources of sodium. If you want to give your food some flavor, you may want to try other spices and lemon juice. Lastly, garnish your meals with parsley, since this herb is a great natural diuretic.
Drink Up
Another reason for your body's tendency to retain water is lack of fluid. People who are not fond of drinking water and other fluids usually have mild cases of dehydration. So what do you need to do to blast away bloated limbs? Try drinking up mineral water, herbal teas (particularly dandelion or nettle), and fresh fruit juices like cranberry and grapefruit.
Add More Natural Diuretics In Your Diet
Aside from parsley, other foods that can help promote safe elimination of excess water in your body are citrus fruits such as oranges, tangerines and grapefruits, and melons. Leafy greens, celery, peppers, watercress, onions, cucumber, carrots and tomatoes also have natural diuretic properties. These foods not only get rid of excess fluids in the body, they are also high in potassium, which helps neutralize sodium content.
Be Mindful Of What You Snack On
Nuts and popcorn can be healthy, but they may also be high in sodium. Thus, in order to reap the benefits of nuts and popcorn, you need to choose the low-sodium or no salt variety of these goods. Unsalted crackers, seeds and bananas are also good choices. So that you won't get tempted to buy unhealthy snacks from the canteen or in restaurants, you can try to bring your own snacks to nibble on without any guilt.
Try To Eat Oily Fish Twice A Week
Salmon, sardines, tuna and other types of oily fishes are rich in health giving nutrients that are good for women who are experiencing PMS and other hormonal woes. Besides, eating fish instead of red meat is also healthy for your heart.
Another way to help women deal with water retention and weight gain due to hormonal fluctuations is by taking natural supplements aimed at helping minimize fluid retention problems, just like Expelis.
Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine. www.thearticleinsiders.com. For more information about this product, you can point your browser to www.expelis.com/.
Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Nutrition Articles Via RSS!
