What are some natural diuretics?


Diuretics are a group of chemicals that increase the rate at which the body excretes water and salts through urination. Diuretics have great medicinal use in the treatment of kidney disorders, liver cirrhosis, high blood pressure, edema, urinary tract infections and cardiac ailments. Diuretics induce the kidneys to expel increased amount of sodium into urine, as a result of which the concentration of salts in the bloodstream increases. In order to balance this increased salt concentration, the body secretes more water into the urine, as a result of which the excessive fluid retained by tissues is excreted. This not only expels excess salts from the body but also relieves some of the pressure inside the blood vessels caused by fluid retention. Diuretics are available as prescription drugs as well as present in natural form in several food items. You should, of course, consult your doctor before you begin consuming diuretic medicines or foodstuff rich in these chemicals.

If you have a mild fluid retention problem, including a few natural sources of diuretics in your diet could be useful. Green leafy vegetables like parsley, celery and asparagus, and juicy fruits like cranberries and melons are recommended. Drinking a solution of two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed with a glass of water every morning and a cup of coffee every evening also helps. In addition, you may also flavor your food with moderate amounts of herbs like mint, fennel, sage, saffron and chicory in order to achieve the desired diuretic results. In addition, you may make herbal teas by boiling the dried roots of dandelion, marshmallows or nettles in a kettle of water for 5 minutes and then straining the liquid extract into a cup. Drink two or three cups of this herbal tea every day. This helps detoxify the body naturally and balances the concentration of salts and water in the body. A very effective and safe diuretic agent is cucumber. Eat a fresh cucumber or drink a glass of cucumber juice every morning in order to nourish your body with minerals like silicon and sulfur. These will help expel harmful deposits of uric acid from the kidneys.  While you are on a diuretic-rich diet, you should restrict the intake of salt and carbohydrates. In general, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, either raw or streamed. Also, make sure that you drink plenty of water in order to prevent dehydration due to excessive urination.

answered by G M


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