Fluid retention (edema) means that excessive amount of fluid is gathered between the cells in the soft tissue of the body. The parts of the body that suffer most from this condition are feet, ankles, and legs but other parts can as well be affected.
This condition is considered a norm if it is evoked by PMS and hormone fluctuations, also by menstruation, state of pregnancy and menopause can as well be accompanied by fluid retention. But there are other cases when edema is evoked by a serious illness or serves as a symptom of it. This refers to kidney or liver disease, thyroid malfunction, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. If the first listed are not the reasons of your swellings there is a point to undergo a check up and find it out. It is not advised to start self-treatment without proper knowledge of the underlying causes.
When you learn the reasons it is likely that you will need diuretics to improve the condition. They can be medications but there is also a wide range of natural diuretics that are absolutely harmless and not fraught with side effects. Remember also that any kind of diuretic drains your body and the lack of necessary minerals and vitamins should be obligatory compensated. That is why various supplements are also prescribed for those with fluid retention. Bear in mind also that diuretics are no real help in weight loss. The lost kilograms will come back as soon as you stop taking a diuretic.
Provided you decided to take natural diuretics then the following information may be of use.
Some foods do retain water in the body and therefore try to measure their consumption or exclude them completely from your daily allowance. This refers to alcohol, proteins, sugar, salt, processed foods, and complex carbohydrates.
It is recommended to include in your allowance small amounts of the following foods as they serve as good natural diuretics: artichoke, asparagus, cranberry juice, green tea, watermelon, lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, bananas, cumber, and some others. They will be of particular help if your fluid retention is conditioned by hormonal fluctuation or minor trauma. Do not forget about such products as garlic, horseradish, onions and parsley. They are rich in useful elements and can make wonders.
You can as well try some herbal teas. Linden, stinging nettle, juniper, yarrow, dandelion, hawthorn, and others are very good in cleaning organism and are rich in vitamins and other stuff. The latter two are especially effective.
Whatever treatment you will prefer keep in mind that you should know your exact diagnosis before that and only according to it you should select medications.