Water pills are diuretics that cause the kidneys to get rid of excess sodium. When this happens, the body is also flushed of excess water. Water pills are used to treat heart failure, liver and kidney disease, and hypertension as they reduce blood pressure. They also help relieve bloating, especially for premenstrual women. There are some natural alternatives to water pills that you can find in your garden or at the local grocery store.
Tea
Teas have a diuretic effect on the body. Consuming 2 to 4 cups of tea can take the place of a water pill by causing you to urinate more often. Choose all-natural unsweetened tea for overall health benefits, adding honey if desired. Good choices for herbal teas to drink to reduce fluid retention are green, lemon, ginger, mint, spearmint and wintergreen.
Salads
There are several herbs that can act as a diuretic and can enhance a salad. Try tossing some parsley, dandelion leaves, mint, chicory or fennel into your salad. Drink lots of water with your salad. It seems counterintuitive that drinking water will aid in water retention. Still, when you drink water, it flushes out the body systems, including excess water.
Supplement Your Diet
Pink grapefruit and lemon are citrus fruits that relieve bloating. These fruits cause the cells to let go of excess water. Plus, they are extremely low in sodium. Try incorporating these fruits into your diet.
Supplement your diet with calcium. Do this by drinking low-fat milk or snacking on cottage cheese. You can also take a calcium pill. Calcium not only reduces water retention but has numerous other health benefits, such as strengthening bones and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Stay Away From Salt
Yes, we all need salt to survive. Too much can be extremely detrimental to the body. One of the major causes of fluid retention and the need for water pills is excess sodium. Avoid overly processed foods, which often contain salt; read labels to make sure you are not consuming too much, and use only a sprinkle in your cooking. Sea salt has less sodium than table salt, however, keep in mind it is not iodized.
Tags: excess water, excess sodium, fluid retention, health benefits, into your, relieve bloating, Water pills