Health

30 Natural Diuretics that are Safe and Effective

11. Watermelon When it comes to watermelon people either think of it as a fruit which kids eat or they think about the countless videos that… Simi - September 16, 2018

11. Watermelon

When it comes to watermelon people either think of it as a fruit which kids eat or they think about the countless videos that circulate online on how you can get a whole bottle of alcohol into a watermelon. While both of these are correct, there are some other uses for watermelon which people should be aware of. Before launching into a discussion on the benefits of watermelon, it first has to be mentioned that it is a fruit that is rather high on the glycaemic index. This means that while it can be healthy, it should not be eaten too much.

In terms of its uses when it comes to water retention, the first reason why it can help is that the fruit is predominantly water, as its name suggests. While it might seem counterintuitive to consume water in an attempt to expel more water, this is one of the easiest ways to get rid of excess water. There are also other properties in watermelon that aid in water expulsion, making it the perfect fruit for those days where you are feeling bloated.

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12. Grapes

Once you pass the age of about 30, people tend to prefer their grapes only once they have been smashed and fermented in a barrel for a couple of years. While the red variety of this liquid may have been found to aid in circulation, it should not be consumed in excess. Yes, alcohol may be a diuretic in its own right, but as we all know how painful a hangover is, maybe we should stick to fresh grapes and not their fermented counterparts. With that out of the way, why don’t we move onto those fresh little bursts of flavor that can be bought in the store.

Not only do they make for a wonderfully nutritious and delicious snack which is far healthier than any sweet on the market, but they also aid in balancing the liquids in one’s body. This is both due to the natural properties that exist in the grapes as well as the fact that they too have a rather large water content. They do, however, have their own amount of naturally occurring sugars and as such should not be eaten by the pound. Instead, have a couple a day as a snack for optimal results.

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13. Berries

Earlier on in this list, there were a whole host of berries which were obscure and possibly completely unheard of. While the aforementioned berries are possibly more powerful than the more common fruits that are found at the grocery store, they are not always as accessible or tasty for that matter. With this in mind, what about the delicious strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries that make their way onto our dessert plates? Do they have any properties that could be helpful when it comes to fluid retention?

Luckily for all the berry fans out there, they do. Alongside this, berries are positively brimming with antioxidants which are essential when it comes to maintaining a healthy body and lifestyle. On the matter of fluid retention, they may not be the most effective item on this list, but they do have their place. Another added benefit is that if you opt for blueberries, which have a relatively lower sugar content, then you can consume a fair amount of them without feeling too guilty. If you are looking for a decidedly potent berry, then pick the cranberry. These have long been known for their diuretic effects and could make for the perfect medicinal snack.

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14. Celery

Over the last couple of decades, celery has gotten a bad reputation. This is certainly not because it is unhealthy. Rather, it is because they are associated with diets and as such people have the incorrect idea that they are bland or do not taste nice. If you have eaten fresh celery lately then you know that this is certainly not true. Celery is indeed a very tasty snack that manages to pack freshness and just a tiny bit of sharpness all in one bite.

If you are a fan of snacking on celery then not only are you eating food that is decidedly low on calories, but you are also eating one which could be aiding both your circulation and fluid balance. It is so effective in managing fluid retention that it has been used for ages as a natural agent against hypertension before people had access to medicine or other synthetic products. There is also the matter of the vitamins and electrolytes that are present in celery. These will ensure that while you may be expelling water, you are not ridding yourself of all those electrolytes which your body needs to function correctly.

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15. Bell peppers

If you have ever gone to the Mediterranean, then you would have noticed the sheer amount of peppers that go into their cooking. This goes for both the bell and fiery variety. Then there is the fact that people in the Mediterranean not only live to a ripe old age but in general, they are healthier than most other countries in the western world. Is this just a coincidence or are peppers so healthy that they can extend one’s life?

While peppers alone may not be able to add a couple of years onto one’s life, there is no denying that they surely do contribute to one’s longevity. The reason for this being that they are loaded with vitamins. Some of these like vitamin A work to improve a person’s night vision while others like vitamin B6 have direct diuretic effects. While these effects can be derived from any pepper in the pepper family, if you are looking to get the most out of your pepper then you are best off by picking the red variety. These are specifically good for bloating and fluid retention.

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16. Onions

Almost every person on this planet knows that when they cut onions, they are probably going to cry like a little baby. They will wind up standing there with a knife in their hand not knowing what is up and what is down. They will be in pain, and they will vow never to cut onions again. Now consider this, if onions are so good at ridding us of fluids via our tear ducts, then they could possibly help us get rid of water through a different route. Granted, onions making you cry and onions making you urinate more are due to completely different reason, but at the end of the day, the result is still the same.

Onions are so good at balancing the fluids in a person’s body that most patients who are suffering from hypertension or who have kidney problems are told that they must include more onions in their diets. The reason for this being that onions come inundated with vitamins and naturally occurring chemicals which all work together to ensure that if you have any extra water hanging around, it is surely not going to be a problem much longer. While these benefits can be derived from cooked onions, it is best to eat them raw if possible.

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17. Cucumber

In literally any movie ever made where women are having facials, there are always cucumbers involved somewhere. While cucumbers may be hydrating, they are completely useless if they are placed on one’s eyes. They may feel cool, but they are not doing anything for your skin in that regard, you’d be better off placing some used teabags on your eyes. This does not mean, however, that cucumbers are useless. They are very healthy if you chose to eat them and not let them lie inert on your skin.

The first thing that is worth mentioning here is that cucumbers have a very high water concentration. This means that if you include them in your snacking regime, you will effectively keep yourself thoroughly hydrated thus convincing your body that it does not need to hang on to any excess fluid. The other factor of interest here is the amount of electrolytes that are in cucumbers. When it comes to fluid balance in the body, electrolytes are just as important as water. Therefore ensuring that you have adequate amounts of both will put you well on your way to preventing bloating or dehydration.

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18. Ginger

Ginger is possibly one of the most important ingredients a person could have in their households. Forget salt or oil, ginger is the thing that should be on every grocery list. This may seem like a bit of an overreaction for those that do not cook a lot of Asian food, but ginger is more of a medicine than a spice anyway so it can do no harm to ensure that it is always on hand. If you can cook with it, then definitely do so at every possible convenience. If not, then it might be a good idea to learn because ginger is a miracle food.

Not only is it a powerful natural antibiotic but it is also stocked with vitamins and minerals, and it acts as a very powerful diuretic. This is the case because ginger works wonders for one’s circulation. This has already been clarified, but for the sake of fullness, when a person is the proud owner of a healthy circulatory system, they are also the proud owner of functioning kidneys that are getting the correct blood supply. This, therefore, results in an increase in urine output if that is in fact what is needed to maintain fluid balance.

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19. Asparagus

Have you ever smelled someone else’s urine after they have eaten asparagus, or possibly even smelled your own? If you have, then you would know that it is not pleasant at all. While this is one rather unpleasant result of asparagus consumption, it should not deter people completely. In fact, it should not deter people at all. When you consider how much impact asparagus has on the smell of urine, then one can only wonder just what other effects this vegetable has on a person’s urine.

Relatively foul smelling urine aside, asparagus is quite the wonder vegetable. It is not only a very healthy vegetable, but it is also low in calories, like most other vegetables, meaning that one can include it in their diets without worrying about their waistline. Getting back to the benefits of asparagus, there are so many vitamins and minerals that are present that all work to improve one’s overall health and digestive wellbeing, that it should not be left out of the dinner menu. There is also evidence to suggest that it could help reduce bloating making it a guilt-free and happy addition to that salmon dish.

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20. Pineapple

A lot of people have quite the love/hate relationship with pineapple. The reason for this being that it might be delicious on that first bite, it may even taste great after you have had 20 more bites, but once you hit that 30 bite mark you tongue and lips start to burn. If you eat enough pineapple, this burning sensation may not even go away until the next day. The reason for this being that pineapples have a very high acidity content. The acid which could start to irritate one’s skin if it is consumed in too high quantities.

This being said, the potential dangers that could result from overindulging should not deter people altogether. The fact of the matter is that pineapples are wonderfully good for one’s health. One particular benefit that is of interest here is the effect that pineapple has on the fluid that is held in one’s body. Pineapple could prove to be a very powerful diuretic if used correctly. It is such a reliable remedy in fact that people in African cultures have been using it for centuries. It does not matter whether it is fresh, dried or ground up in a powder, the result is that a little bit of pineapple a day will keep the excess water away.

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21. Reduce salt intake

What exactly is in those little white crystals that you are throwing on your food. We know that it is called salt, but what does that mean. To answer that, you need to head over and look at the periodic table. On there, you will kind two elements, namely sodium, and chloride. When these combines, we have salt. In the body, these elements split up again into their constituent parts.

One of which, sodium, bond to water and as such tries to maintain the amount of water that is inside and outside of your cells. If there is too much sodium in your body, then you could wind up holding too much water. This means that you should try to reduce the amount of salt that is making its way into your body if you are holding onto too much water.

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22. Increase the amount of magnesium that you consume

When people start throwing around terms like magnesium, those who have not spent time in a science class may be at a complete loss. While the term itself may sound complicated, all anyone needs to know in this regard is that magnesium is essential for the enzymatic functions in their body.

We need to make sure that we are getting enough magnesium and if that is done, then one will notice that their water balance will be improved. This element can be taken in the form of supplements, or it can be found naturally in the foods that you eat. These foods include things like nuts, dark chocolate, wholegrains foods, and many others.

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23. Get more vitamin B6 into your system

Broadly speaking, people associate the B vitamins. This is in part true, but these same people do not always know that there are a few different types of B vitamins and they are not necessarily aware of what they do. Vitamin B6, in particular, is a vitamin that is essential for the correct and healthy production of red blood cells.

It can be found in a variety of foods that include but is not limited to meat. Potatoes, bananas, and nuts are also an excellent source of vitamin B6. Increasing the intake of these foods will ensure correct red blood cell formation, but it will also help premenstrual women with water retention problems. This may even extend to others in the population that are not specifically suffering from PMS.

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24. Consume foods rich in potassium

This is another such element which is involved in a whole host of activities that go on in the human body. The first activity that is of interest is the conduction of electrical signals that are sent throughout the body. Potassium plays a direct role here and as such should always be included in a person’s diet. Then there is the interaction that exists between potassium and sodium.

When one increases their potassium intake, their body responds by decreasing the amount of sodium that is present. Now, because an increase in sodium means an increase in water retention, by eating more bananas, tomatoes, and avocados, a person can decrease the amount of water that is held by their body.

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25. Decrease the number of refined carbohydrates that you eat

The relationship between refined carbohydrates and water retention includes something that physiologists call a cascade. This cascade kicks off when a person has a meal that is rich in processed or refined carbohydrates. Once the body has broken these down, there is a spike in blood sugar levels and as such a spike in insulin levels. When insulin levels rise in the blood, the body responds by reabsorbing any sodium that might be present in the kidneys.

We already know that an increase in sodium means an increase in water retention which means that if you have a diet that is rich in refined carbohydrates, then you are probably going to suffer from water retention at some point or other. No one is saying that you must cut carbohydrates out altogether, but you should rather eat healthy carbs that include whole grains and such like.

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26. Exercise more

What happens when you spend some time at the gym? Sure, there are the sore muscles along with thoughts that you may very well be insane for putting your body through this, but most notably there is sweat involved. Any strenuous exercise will result in that familiar feeling of dampness on your skin. For those people who are holding onto too much water, this thin film of moisture outside of their body will be very welcome.

While exercises may only help water retention in the short-term, it is one of the most useful things you can do if too much water is your problem. Furthermore, when you exercise your body moves more water into your muscles which will help reduce the doughy-looking appearance which is all too familiar for those that cannot shed those extra liters.

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27. Get enough sleep

Did you know that you can go longer without food than you can without sleep? This may sound like one of those catchphrases that people use when they talk about health. But, this is one of those times when it is true. The benefits that one can derive from getting enough sleep are endless.

These people are less likely to suffer from mood swings. They will have a stronger immune system. They will think clearer, and they won’t have to worry about those unsightly black rings underneath their eyes. As we move down the list, you will find a rather odd benefit of getting enough sleep. This being correct water balance in the body. The reason for this being that a person’s kidneys start to function properly if they start getting enough sleep.

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28. Destress your life

What happens to your body when you get stressed out? This is not just referring to short-term stress. Instead, we are talking about prolonged periods of stress. Sure, your immune system starts to break down, your hair might start falling out, and you will slowly notice that your sleep pattern has gone to hell in a handbasket.

But, why does all of this happen? Is it just your mind ruining your life or is there something else going on? The culprit that you are looking for is cortisol. When you are under prolonged periods of stress, your body responds by increasing the amount of circulating cortisol. This hormone has many effects, one of those being an increase in bodily water retention.

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29. Balance your electrolytes

When people talk about fluid balance, what exactly do they mean? Are they merely carrying on about the amount of water that you are drinking or are they talking about the actual balance of fluids that exists both in and out of your cells? Unsurprisingly, they are talking about the latter. Fluid balance is not just about water intake. It is also about the consumption of electrolytes that work to maintain the balance of fluids in the body.

The balance between electrolytes and water is very delicate, and if not kept in check then a person will certainly suffer from either excessive water retention or dehydration. There is not, however, a one size fits all solution when it comes to water and electrolyte intake. Instead, it all depends on the individual. If you are drinking a lot of water, then you need to make sure that you are getting enough electrolytes. If you are not drinking enough water, then your electrolyte intake needs to match this if you are to avoid excessive water retention.

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30. Drink enough water

When the topic is how one can avoid retaining water, it might seem like a wild notion to ask them if they are drinking enough water. Surely if your body is holding too much water, then you should lay off drinking the same thing that is causing the problem? Not only is this thinking wrong, but it could be damaging to your health.

The reason for this is that your body is a lot smarter than you think it is and it is working day and night to stay alive. When it comes to water, if you are consistently not drinking enough water then your body will respond by holding onto the water that it has. It knows that it cannot survive without water, so it will be damned if it is going to let go of the precious fluid that comes trickling through the digestive tract.

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