Natural Remedies to Reduce Water Retention

Water retention, also called edema in medical terms, is a condition that occurs due to leakage of water from the bloodstream to the body cells and tissues. As a part of the body metabolic processes, water and other fluids from the body tissues are circulated and removed by the lymphatic system. If proper drainage of the fluids is interfered, then the tissues retain water, resulting in water retention problem.

Water retention is most commonly observed in the hands, legs and feet. Based on the manifested symptoms, body water retention is of two types, namely, localized and generalized. In the former case, retention of water is observed in particular parts of the body (e.g. pulmonary edema); whereas, in generalized type, swelling is manifested all over the body. There are effective remedies which one can follow at home and manage the discomfort symptoms. Let's take a look at the various tips on how to reduce water retention.

Proper diagnosis is necessary at the earliest for a correct treatment option. If the cause is related to some severe underlying physical problems, then rectifying the condition will help in reducing the symptoms of water retention in the body. Depending upon the causes, the physician may recommend certain medications for combating body swelling and associated symptoms. In addition to therapeutic intervention, one should incorporate healthy tips for long-term management of the condition.

Reducing Salt Intake
Excessive intake of salt in the daily diet is a major cause of water retention in the body. It is observed that consumption of salty food items exacerbates the problem of water retention. Hence, minimizing salt intake is an effective remedy to reduce water retention by the body tissues. One should limit consumption of food products that contain excess salts, such as processed meat, potato chips and other salted snacks.

Diet Plan
An individual with water retention condition should avoid foods that exacerbate swelling of the tissues. Likewise, one should abstain from drinks that can cause dehydration like caffeinated beverages, tea, coffee, and alcohol. On the contrary, foods rich in vitamin A and vitamin C should be included in the diet plan. The diet for reducing water retention should also contain natural diuretic foods like cranberry juice, tomato and cabbage.

Increase Mineral Intake
Lack of trace minerals (like potassium and calcium) often aggravates water retention symptoms. Taking this into consideration, another effective water retention remedy is increasing the intake of food items that contain high amounts of these minerals, such as bananas and raisins. Very often, the physician recommends mineral supplementation for women with water retention symptoms, which are related to menstrual cycle.

Proper Stress Management
Stress, in any form, is the main cause for retaining body toxins and wastes. In the same way, body water retention is usually worsened when one goes through prolonged stress. Hence, proper stress management is an effective approach to get rid of body toxins and combat the symptoms.

Regular Physical Activities
Performing regular exercise for at least 30 minutes helps in detoxifying the body, which in turn helps to reduce water retention problem. In case of certain severe underlying conditions, one should consult a qualified physician regarding the type of exercises that can be performed for alleviating water retention.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle will surely help in preventing the onset of the symptoms of water retention. For example, an individual with symptoms that occur due to liver disorders should abstain from alcoholic beverages in order to address swelling symptoms. And one of the most reliable ways to deal with body swelling is drinking water. Believe it or not, drinking ample amounts of water helps in reducing water retention. Very rarely, this problem occurs in a well-hydrated body.