5 Ways To Get Rid Of Accumulated Fluid In Your Body
Did you know that there are many ways to get rid of accumulated fluid in our bodies?
Our bodies are complex organisms that consist of several interconnection systems that need proper treatment and good maintenance to continue working in harmony. If we do not take care of our body, of course, we will be more likely to run into problems.
This is what happens in case of fluid retention, which is a very common and unpleasant disorder.
Fluid retention can end up affecting the patient for long periods of time – and as it is also often an indicator of other disorders, it is important to seek professional medical attention as soon as possible.
What is fluid retention?
As the name suggests, fluid retention – also known as edema – is what happens when fluid occurs in different parts of the body.
In general, it is caused by poor drainage of fluid from tissues in our bodies.
The legs and abdomen are the areas of the body most often affected by this complaint.
When everything in our bodies works as it should, the lymphatic system takes responsibility for draining fluid from our tissues, making sure it does not accumulate. However, if the lymphatic system struggles for various reasons, it will not be able to cope with the amount of fluid present in the tissue.
What causes accumulated fluid?
There are several possible causes associated with the appearance of edema. The most commonly reported are as follows:
- Liver disease
- Renal insufficiency
- Hypertension
- Heart problems
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
These problems usually have several specific symptoms that come with them – but the feeling of heaviness and pain in the limbs as well as inflammation are also common general symptoms.
Get rid of accumulated fluid
There are a few habits you can adopt that have been shown to be very effective in dealing with this problem. We take a look at a few of the most relevant.
If you find yourself with the symptoms of fluid retention, do not suffer in silence – start applying this advice right away to remedy the problem!
1. Eat plenty of diuretic foods
Diuretic foods help get rid of excess water that builds up in the body. Therefore, they are a great ally in the fight against fluid retention, not to mention other toxic elements.
Diuretic foods are also common features of diets designed to help us lose weight in a healthy and controlled way.
To kick-start your diuretic food intake, simply increase your consumption of ingredients such as:
- Tomatoes
- Asparagus
- Pineapples
- Artichokes
2. Adopt a healthy diet
But it’s not just about consuming diuretics. In fact, effective treatment of fluid retention means completely changing our perception of food and what it is used for.
Developing and following a balanced diet is, of course, essential for the entire well-being of the body. Ideally, our diets should be based on consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish and some types of whole grains.
And it’s not just about what we eat, but also how we eat it. Nutritionists recommend that we divide our food intake into 6 servings evenly distributed throughout the day. By following this pattern we will be able to eat in a more relaxed way and will not be plagued by hunger or the general desire to eat without control.
3. Avoid sodium rich foods
Another great piece of advice on eating habits that will help you eliminate or reduce fluid retention is to avoid sodium-rich foods in your diet.
When we talk about sodium-rich components, the most obvious thing almost says: salt. Unfortunately, salt is often used to an extreme degree to flavor food when it is cooked, as well as to be present in high concentrations in ready-made processed foods.
Therefore, it can sometimes be a struggle to avoid excessive sodium consumption, no matter how much we want it.
If this is the case for you, why not try different ways to add flavor to your dishes, such as experimenting with new spices.
And if that’s not possible, it’s still worthwhile to at least try to reduce your salt intake, for your body’s overall health, and to relieve the symptoms of fluid retention.
4. Drink water
This may seem a little counter-intuitive at first. We try to get rid of excess fluid that is built up in our bodies – but actually drinking water actually helps with that process.
Drinking plenty of water stimulates the urinary system and kidneys. It also helps remove toxins and other harmful elements from our bodies.
Make sure you drink at least five to six glasses of water during the day.
Exercise can help against accumulated fluid
You probably already know that physical exercise contributes to the overall well-being of the body. And in the case of fluid retention, it not only helps to increase muscle tone and combat our still sedentary lifestyle, but is also responsible for expelling all kinds of harmful elements through sweat.
- The best forms of exercise to focus on in this regard are those based on aerobic physical exercise. This promotes intense sweating, which relieves the fluids retained in the tissues gradually.
Why not consider getting involved in a sporting activity? The vast majority of such sports – whether it be tennis, football or zumba – involve high-intensity aerobic exercise.
Among the most effective are cycling, swimming and athletics. These can also help us lose weight healthy and a little faster.