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Natural Diuretics
Fluid retention (due to hormones, sodium intake or sometimes heat and humidity) can be uncomfortable. To help minimize fluid retention, avoid high-sodium foods, make a point to get regular exercise, and drink plenty of water. If you are considering diuretics, use only the natural forms - over-the-counter or prescribed diuretic drugs are likely to be harder on the system than fluid retention, and should be avoided (unless prescribed by your physician). Some natural diuretics include:
* Regular black tea - switch out your coffee for this brew and see how it affects you.
* Celery, onion, eggplant, asparagus, and watermelon are said to have a diuretic effect.
* Corn silk tea is mild and nontoxic. You can get corn silk tea in health-food stores or make it yourself if you have access to fresh corn by steeping the silks in boiling water for ten minutes. Drink one cup, two to four times a day.
* Freeze-dried dandelion leaf is also nontoxic and safe. The dose for freeze-dried dandelion is one or two capsules two, to four times a day.
If you have a medical condition for which diuretics are prescribed, you would be much better off following your physician's recommendation than trying to treat yourself with alternative remedies. Prolonged use of any diuretic without medical supervision can lead to dehydration, which can cause kidney damage, and an imbalance in normal levels of electrolytes (e.g., sodium and potassium) which are vital to heart, kidney and liver function.
Fluid retention (due to hormones, sodium intake or sometimes heat and humidity) can be uncomfortable. To help minimize fluid retention, avoid high-sodium foods, make a point to get regular exercise, and drink plenty of water. If you are considering diuretics, use only the natural forms - over-the-counter or prescribed diuretic drugs are likely to be harder on the system than fluid retention, and should be avoided (unless prescribed by your physician). Some natural diuretics include:
* Regular black tea - switch out your coffee for this brew and see how it affects you.
* Celery, onion, eggplant, asparagus, and watermelon are said to have a diuretic effect.
* Corn silk tea is mild and nontoxic. You can get corn silk tea in health-food stores or make it yourself if you have access to fresh corn by steeping the silks in boiling water for ten minutes. Drink one cup, two to four times a day.
* Freeze-dried dandelion leaf is also nontoxic and safe. The dose for freeze-dried dandelion is one or two capsules two, to four times a day.
If you have a medical condition for which diuretics are prescribed, you would be much better off following your physician's recommendation than trying to treat yourself with alternative remedies. Prolonged use of any diuretic without medical supervision can lead to dehydration, which can cause kidney damage, and an imbalance in normal levels of electrolytes (e.g., sodium and potassium) which are vital to heart, kidney and liver function.
