17DIY Home Remedies For Water Retention
Water retention is a medical condition that describes swelling that’s caused by the accumulation of excess fluid in body tissues. Symptoms of water retention include swelling of body parts such as ankles, feet and hands, weight fluctuations and a feeling of aching or stiffness. Home remedies for water retention can be used to cure most cases of water retention.
Causes of Water and Fluid Retention
Water retention may occur due to various factors some of which include excessive intake of salt, reaction of the body to humid weather, hormonal changes during pregnancy, menstrual cycle, menopause and side effects of using oral contraceptive pills among women. Most women who have fluid retention experience the feeling of being heavier and notice a change in the way their clothes fit. Water retention may also be caused by medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, nutritional deficiencies and liver or heart disorders.
Water retention that’s caused by general causes (and not any medical condition) can be easily treated with home remedies. However, it’s best to consult your doctor so that he or she can determine the cause of fluid retention in your body before you opt for home remedies. In some of the cases, medical intervention is absolutely necessary.
Here are top home remedies for water retention.
Drink More Water
Interestingly, being well-hydrated can actually reduce water retention.
Your body is always trying to achieve a healthy balance, so if you are constantly dehydrated your body tends to retain more water in an attempt to prevent water levels from becoming too low.
Achieving an optimal daily water intake can also be important for liver and kidney health, which may reduce water retention in the long-term.
The benefits of drinking more water don't stop there. Other research shows that it's also important for health, fat loss, brain function and more.
As always, achieving a balance is optimal. If you drink excessive amounts of fluid you may actually increase your water weight.
Simply drink when you're thirsty and stop when you feel well-hydrated. You should also drink slightly more in hot environments or when exercising.
You can also monitor your urine color to assess hydration. It should be light yellow or fairly clear, which is a good indicator that you are well-hydrated.
Normally, fluid in the body is drained out through the lymphatic system and waste products are removed from the body tissues. When the body tissues aren’t able to get rid of the excess fluid in the body, water retention occurs.
Avoid sugar
Most people think of salt in relation to fluid retention. It is true that excess salt in the diet can aggravate fluid retention, but sugar is more likely to cause the fluid retention in the first place. Sugar is a carbohydrate, and all carbohydrates, if consumed in excess can promote fluid retention. This is because sugar promotes your pancreas to release insulin. A consistently high blood level of insulin stimulates your kidneys to retain fluid and sodium. Consuming excess sodium in your diet can aggravate this. If you want to strip your body of excess fluid, base your diet on vegetables, salads, seafood, poultry, eggs and meat (ideally grass fed), along with healthy fats such as olive oil, avocados and coconut oil.
Avoid dairy products
Dairy products cause a lot of lymphatic congestion for many people. This is especially so if you have the lymphatic body type. People with this body type are prone to poor circulation and fluid retention, and dairy products aggravate this. It is the protein in dairy products (called casein) that is the culprit. L-Body Type Figure Control tablets are specifically formulated with herbs and nutrients that assist the function of the lymphatic system and the circulatory system, to clear excess fluid from the body.
Eat Less Salt
Salt is made of sodium and chloride.
Sodium binds to water in the body and helps maintain the balance of fluids both inside and outside of cells.
If you often eat meals that are high in salt, such as many processed foods, your body may retain water. These foods are actually the biggest dietary source of sodium.
The most common advice for reducing water retention is to decrease sodium intake. However, the evidence behind this is mixed.
Several studies have found that increased sodium intake leads to increased retention of fluid inside the body.
On the other hand, one study of healthy men found that increased sodium intake did not cause body fluid retention, so this may depend on the individual.
Increase Your Magnesium Intake
Magnesium is a very important mineral.
In fact, it is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions that keep the body functioning.
Moreover, increasing your magnesium intake may help reduce water retention.
One study found that 200 mg of magnesium per day reduced water retention in women with premenstrual symptoms (PMS).
Other studies of women with PMS have reported similar results.
Good sources of magnesium include nuts, whole grains, dark chocolate and leafy, green vegetables. It is also available as a supplement.
Exercise on a Regular Basis
Exercise may be one of the best ways to reduce water weight in the short-term. Any form of it increases sweat, which means you will lose water.
The average fluid loss during 1 hour of exercise is anywhere between 16–64 oz (0.5–2 liters) per hour, depending on factors such as heat and clothing.
During exercise, your body also shifts a lot of water into your muscles.
This can help reduce water outside of the cell and decrease the "soft" look people report from excessive water retention.
However, you still need to drink plenty of water during your training session.
Another good option to increase sweat and water loss is the sauna, which you could add in after your gym session.
Sleep More
Research on sleep highlights that it's just as important as diet and exercise.
Sleep may also affect the sympathetic renal nerves in the kidneys, which regulate sodium and water balance.
One study found that when you sleep, your body acts like a plumbing system and flushes "toxins" out of the brain.
Adequate sleep may also help your body control hydration levels and minimize water retention.
Aim to get a healthy amount of sleep per night, which for most individuals will be around 7–9 hours.
Stress Less
Long-term stress can increase the hormone cortisol, which directly influences fluid retention and water weight.
This may occur because stress and cortisol increase a hormone that controls water balance in the body, known as the antidiuretic hormone or ADH.
ADH works by sending signals to the kidneys, telling them how much water to pump back into the body.
If you control your stress levels, you will maintain a normal level of ADH and cortisol, which is important for fluid balance and long-term health and disease risk.
Parsley
Parsley has excellent diuretic properties.
• Prepare parsley tea by putting two teaspoons of dried parsley leaves in a cup of boiling water. Let it steep for 10 minutes. Drink it up to three times a day.
• You can also drink a mixture of fresh parsley juice and lemon juice.
Epsom Salt
An Epsom salt bath can help you get rid of water retention and a bloated tummy through reverse osmosis. It draws out excess fluids and toxins from your body. The relaxing bath also soothes sore muscles and calms the nerves.
• Mix two cups of Epsom salt in warm bathwater.
• Soak in it for about 15 minutes.
• Repeat up to three times a week.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice helps flush out excess fluid and toxins from your body.
• Mix two tablespoons of lemon juice in a cup of warm water. You can also sweeten it with honey.
• Drink the solution.
• Continue taking this remedy once daily for a few days or until you see improvement.
Fennel Seeds
Studies have shown that fennel acts as a diuretic and helps increase sodium and water output from the kidneys. It also prevents the buildup of toxins in the body, aids digestion and relieves gas.
• Put one teaspoon of fennel seeds in a cup of hot water.
• Cover and let it steep for 10 minutes, then strain it.
• Drink this tea three times a day until you see improvement.
Nettle
Being a natural diuretic, nettle works well to prevent and reduce water retention.
• Boil a cup of water mixed with one teaspoon of powdered nettle root.
• Let it steep for about 10 minutes.
• Drink this tea three times a day until you see improvement.
Cranberry Juice
Cranberry juice is another popular home remedy to cure fluid retention because of its diuretic properties.
It is also rich in minerals like magnesium, potassium, and calcium that help maintain proper fluid balance.
So, drink a cup of unsweetened cranberry juice daily for relief. You can also take cranberry pills.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can be useful in reducing water retention. It stimulates the lymphatic system and encourages fluid drainage.
• Put 20 drops each of geranium, cypress and juniper essential oils in a warm bath.
• Soak in it for at least 10 minutes.
• Do this three times a week.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar relieves water retention by replenishing potassium in the body to help reduce sodium levels.
• Add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water. Drink it twice daily. You can increase the dosage of apple cider vinegar up to two tablespoons per glass.
• If you have fluid retention in your legs, you can soak your feet in a warm foot bath made of equal parts of apple cider and warm water for about 10 minutes. It will also reduce foot odor.
Onion
Onions have diuretic and blood cleansing benefits. It will also prevent the formation of kidney stones.
1. Boil a few raw onions in four cups of water.
2. Add salt to taste and then strain the solution.
3. Drink two or three cups of it a day for a few days.
In addition to these remedies, you can try eating more diuretic foods such as cabbage, cucumbers, watercress, celery, bananas, pineapple, and watermelon.
Sources:
54health.com
liverdoctor.com
healthline.com
top10homeremedies.com
Other links:
Drinking Water: One of the Best Ways to Preserve and improve Health
Water is the Most Vital Nutrient for the Body
Drink Water on Empty Stomach
