Q: Gina, I have a question on how to decrease fluid retention, I know sodium has a lot to do with retaining fluid, But what other ways can help to prevent this retention? E.g.: supplements or just nutrition,
How come when my monthly arrives my legs look so soft and carry fluid. How can I help this?
A: Great questions. The best ways to decrease water retention are to watch the intake of added sodium in your diet and increase water intake to flush out excess sodium. Read labels, you would be surprised what things are loaded with sodium. Some foods to watch out for:
-Some lean proteins are injected and loaded with sodium, believe it or not!
-Seafood
-processed and or packaged food
-some protein powders are loaded with sodium
Be sure to drink plenty of water to flush out sodium! You can also eat/drink the following, which have all diuretic properties.
*Green tea
* Cranberry juice
*Apple cider vinegar —-natural diuretic properties and in addition maintains the potassium levels.
*Dandelion is often used as a natural diuretic.
*Dandelion leaf tea –LOVE Dandyblend Tea 🙂
*Fennel has diuretic properties so use this for seasoning food.
Remember, Sodium has high affinity for water and can hold 50 times its weight in water within the body’s tissues. Potassium, on the other hand, helps to normalize the body’s degree of water retention. To increase your potassium intake, concentrate on eating fresh fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
Here are a few other food suggestions to help with water retention…
* Cucumber – this is a good source of sulphur and silicon, stimulating the kidneys.
* Watercress – this popular salad has diuretic properties.
* Asparagus – contains asparigine, a natural chemical that helps promote removal of waste material from the body.
Whether it is that time of month or you are experiencing water retention, I suggest you intake some of the above foods/drinks to help excrete excess water and be sure your water intake is high! A few other suggestions that I utilize are to take an Epsom Salt Bath or Sit in a Sauna to help shed that unwanted water.
Everyone carries their water in different places, depending on their body type and genetics. Holding water in your lower body is very common and the best way to counteract this is to try some of the above remedies.
Hope that helps and great questions!
~G