Our body is more than 50 percent water. Therefore, water is pivotal for maintaining our bodily functions and it also participates in the breakdown of nutrients and the removal of waste. When the body cannot expel surplus water, it is known as edema or water retention.
Though it can be treated and it is usually acute, it can sometimes be a sign of a medical problem. Therefore, in case you are struggling with retention characterized by bloating for more than a week, it is pivotal to consult your doctor to rule out potential causes.
When the underlying cause is not some other medical problem, there are beneficial ways to alleviate edema. Continue reading the article to learn about easy and powerful methods to relieve water retention in the comfort of your own home.
What Is Fluid Retention?
Edema is when there is excessive presence of water in the body’s tissues. As a result, the body swells, particularly in the extremities. Very often, edema can be a result of a high blood pressure in the veins which puts additional pressure on the capillaries.
What Are the Symptoms of Edema?
The first and most obvious sign of edema is swollen extremities. Another symptom is an inability to shed surplus weight. You have swollen ankles and battle with unexplained weight gain in a short amount of time.
Your belly will feel swollen and if you were to apply a slight pressure onto the area, there will be a visible indentation on the skin. However, to be 100 percent sure, you need a medical exam.
4 Natural Ways to Fight Off Edema
1.Consume bananas
In order for the water balance in the body to be restored, the potassium to sodium ratio needs to be balanced. Sodium is known to keep the water in the cells while potassium removes it. So, elevate your potassium intake and lower that of sodium. This can be achieved with foods abundant in potassium such as bananas. Avoid refined salt and processed foods full of salt too.
2. Elevate your vitamin B6 levels
Consume foods that will supply your body with vitamin B6, including fish, pistachio, turkey, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and tuna.
3. Try an elimination diet
Swelling in the body may also be a sign of food intolerances. In order to check if some foods are responsible for your water retention, keep a food diary and try an elimination diet. Begin by excluding the most problematic foods like dairy and milk and gluten. Follow this diet for two to four weeks for best results. If the bloating and swelling decreases during the elimination period, begin introducing the problematic foods one by one. Note down any changes.
4. Combine foods in the right way
Avoid drinking water or other liquid with your meals. And, do not eat a fruit right after you have eaten a meal. This will put additional stress on the digestion and it may be difficult to fight off the mixture of starch, protein, sugar, and fat. When eating meat, combine it with veggies rather than with rice or potatoes.
Sources: