Diuretic foods: what they are and when to take them 🆙

, Naturopath Iridologist

There are people who have a hard time eliminate excess fluids or who have difficulty urinating and for different reasons have to resort to the use of diuretics which, however, taken for a long time or without medical supervision can create serious problems for the kidneys. To simplify our life, food comes to our rescue. Let's try to understand what these foods are and which ones are the most effective for draining liquids.

> Why it is important to promote diuresis

> Diuretics and contraindications

> Diuretic foods

Why it is important to promote diuresis

In the space of twenty-four hours the human organism is able to produce up to one thousand / two thousand ml of urine volume. Any variation in this is due to external factors (environment and lifestyle) or internal (renal failure for example).

More specifically we can say that in people whose urine production is halved (oliguria with reduction to about 500 ml of urine in about twenty-four hours) there is a real risk of suffering from kidney stones.

With the Polyuria instead the exact opposite happens; there is an increase in diuresis equal to a total volume of two liters and more always within the twenty-four hours. Diabetics can suffer from polyuria. The scarce almost absent emission of urine is called anuria and is a sign of impaired liver function.

La nocturia instead it is a typical ailment in men and in people suffering from heart failure. This disorder can cause many other discomforts as the emission of urine occurs almost at night thus disturbing sleep.

Therefore have one regular diuresis is a symptom of a state of well-being to be kept as long as possible. Among the many signals of the organism this is one of the most important to observe and keep under control carefully. The mechanism that allows urine to be produced, transformed and carried up to the bladder to be expelled is long and complex. Here we will consider aldosterone (a steroid hormone, cholesterol, essential in this process and produced by the adrenal gland). It intervenes in the balance of the production of diuresis by regulating the entry, reabsorption and expulsion of sodium and potassium.

The release of aldosterone therefore depends on the amount of plasma sodium contained in the plasma and the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system for the concentration instead of plasma potassium. This is why it has a fundamental role inrenal balance.

Diuretics and contraindications

Diuretics promote their action by eliminating excess fluids and of the salts from the organism with the increase of the diuresis stimulating the renal work. Sometimes the use of diuretic drugs is necessary when dealing with major diseases such as high blood pressure (hypertension) or heart disease.

Their intake must therefore be monitored and authorized by the doctor since improper and prolonged use can cause phenomena such as dehydration, sudden drops in blood pressure and not in line with standard values, lack of minerals and therefore excessive weakness or unjustified and heart problems (arrhythmias).

Also there are many types of diuretics (including herbal) that act on different fronts. According to the type of retention, it is therefore possible to resort to the most suitable remedy. In fact, retention can be renal, lymphatic, alimentary, circulatory or iatrogenic (from taking drugs) etc.

Also find out what they are and how to prepare diuretic herbal teas

Diuretic foods: what they are and when to take them

Diuretic foods

There are some foods in nature that have diuretic properties. This means they have natural draining properties in favor of a greater flow of urine.

Indeed, it is important to encourage the elimination of toxins if the body is unable to do it spontaneously by itself through diuresis, and be aware of the functioning of our body and attentive to the signals it sends us in order to do prevention and thus keep the whole "engine of our car" in good condition. Yes, just like a car we should have a service done and intervene where problems may arise before a simple malaise can turn into something more serious.

Speaking of diuresis we place our attention towards the kidneys. A decrease in diuresis therefore associated with retention problems, cellulite and swelling could be linked precisely to a malfunction of these organs with their characteristic "bean" shape but with multiple origins.

You can learn more about all the ailments and natural remedies for the kidneys

Diuretic foods: what they are and when to take them

Un excess protein in the diet daily and a poor intake of water and fluids in general are to be considered as some of the most common causes along with consumption of salt in doses exceeding the need and also at consumption of sugars. To remedy the problem in a simple and immediate way, you should reduce the consumption of these two foods that lead the body to retain liquids in an abnormal way. This is why in our "anti-retention therapy" we should resort to a correction of our diet, rather than synthetic (but also natural) diuretics.

There are in fact gods indispensable foods to promote that momentarily jammed mechanism that makes us swell like a balloon. Food is there more natural and harmless cure that we can find easily every day and at hand without having to put our wallet.

Il the bank it is a type of Japanese green tea with exquisitely diuretic properties but which absolutely does not affect the supply of minerals that could be lost as almost always happens with the drainage of liquids. Green tea is one of the best known and appreciated teas with many qualities (slimming, antioxidant and diuretic).
Lettuce is rich in beta-carotene and contains good amounts of minerals such as magnesium and potassium useful for good kidney function. Rich in iron and slightly laxative, it also acts gently on the intestine, regulating intestinal peristalsis without addictive phenomena.
Carrots are antioxidants and contain beta-carotene (vitamin A with phytoestrogenic activity). Not everyone knows this but these orange roots are able to act as well as on improvement of vision also on the production of breast milk. The high concentration of minerals makes it suitable for strengthening the immune system. It cleanses the blood, purifies the liver and has a diuretic action. It has a good moisturizing action on the skin and mucous membranes, soothing inflammation.
Broccoli as much loved as they are hated, they also have qualities that can make them sympathetic even to the most difficult. Which? The anticancer activity to begin with should be sufficient to encourage consumption at least three times a week. Broccoli is a mine of minerals and is great for those with asthma or ulcers. The antioxidant (anti-tumor) action of broccoli and the diuretic and protective action of the thyroid gland (but not for all the pathologies related to them) complete the list.
Fennel is the vegetable par excellence with marked diuretic and deflating properties. It is eaten raw in salads or steamed or still infused.
The asparagus they owe their diuretic action to the asparagine responsible for the typical strong and pungent odor coming from the urine after their ingestion. They are really excellent for counteracting water retention but are not always suitable for those who suffer from kidney diseases or kidney stones. In addition to its disinfectant properties, onion is a good diuretic, antigout and purifying.
Apple cider vinegar fights water retention. It is rich in iron and can be used to prevent cramps especially in sportsmen (swimmers). However, apple cider vinegar is an acid type food, therefore its use is therefore to be contained in the uses and in the quantities allowed in order not to create an acid / base imbalance in the body.
Watermelon and pineapple they are known for their diuretic virtues and are perhaps the most used for this purpose.