How To Eliminate Fluid Retention (5 Strategies)

Fluid retention, scientifically called edema, is when the body or some part of it swells because there is excess fluid that is trapped between the cells, and can occur by staying long in the same position, sedentary lifestyle, hormonal changes, due to a diet rich in salt and sodium, or as a result of some diseases.

Usually fluid retention is not serious, so drinking water, diuretic teas, lymphatic drainage and / or physical activity may be sufficient to eliminate it. However, some kidney, heart or liver diseases can cause edema, and in these situations the doctor may indicate the use of diuretic drugs to help eliminate excess fluid from the body. 

Fluid accumulation causes swelling, which can be easily noticed by an increase in abdominal and facial volume, however, it usually occurs mainly in the legs, ankles and feet. A technique to know if you have fluid retention is to press with your thumb for 30 seconds the region near the ankles and then observe if the region is marked. In addition to this, the mark of socks on the ankle or the mark of tight clothing on the waist, are also indicators that the person is retaining fluids.

Water retention can be eliminated in different ways, increasing fluid intake, exercising, through diet and with the use of medications, so it is recommended:

1. Take diuretic teas

To combat the accumulation of liquids in the body it is recommended to take teas with diuretic effects such as:

Horsetail;

Hibiscus/ hibiscus flower;

Cinnamon with ginger;

Green tea;

Ginkgo biloba;

Parsley;

Gotu kola;

Horse chestnut.

Any tea has a diuretic effect because basically the more water the person ingests, the more urine they will produce. This urine will be full of toxins and will cause excess fluids to be eliminated from the body. However, certain plants increase this diuretic effect of teas making fluid retention decrease more quickly.

See other examples of diuretic teas and how to prepare them.

2. The contraction of large muscle groups such as arms, legs and buttocks causes excess fluids to be eliminated through urine. For this reason, it is common to feel the urge to urinate after performing 1 hour of exercises in the gym.

Some exercises that may be indicated are fast walking, jogging, running, cycling and jumping rope, for example. Localized exercises are not as beneficial as these, but can be done after at least 20 minutes of aerobic activity.

3. Daily care

Important care to treat fluid retention are:

Drink water, about 2 liters per day, or tea such as horsetail tea;

Replace salt to prepare or season food with aromatic herbs such as parsley or oregano, for example;

Avoid foods such as canned, sausage, smoked or other foods that contain a lot of salt;

Avoid prolonged standing, sitting or cross-legged;

Eat foods rich in water such as radish, turnip, cauliflower, watermelon, strawberry, melon, pineapple, apple or carrot;

Increase the consumption of diuretic foods such as watermelon, cucumber or tomato. See what are diuretic foods;

Have lymphatic drainage, which is a specific massage to reduce excess fluid in the body;

Eat foods such as cooked beet greens, avocado, low-fat yogurt, orange juice or banana because they are foods rich in potassium, which helps decrease salt in the body;

Elevate the legs above the heart (a pillow can be placed under the knees) at the end of the day.

In addition to this, for those people who do not drink water or who want to lose weight, they can use a thermos with 1L water and add a few drops or a slice of lemon, drinking it during the day, this will help to increase urinary frequency, as well as favor the elimination of toxins. 

4. Perform a lymphatic drainage

Lymphatic drainage is an excellent strategy to eliminate excess fluids from the body, it can be done manually as if it were a lymphatic drainage.It can also be performed with its own electronic equipment to perform a mechanical lymphatic drainage, called pressotherapy.

These treatments can be performed in specialized aesthetic clinics with sessions that vary from 3 to 5 times per week, depending on the need of each person. Each session lasts about 45 to 60 minutes, where after this time the individual will feel the urge to urinate, indicating that the treatment had the expected effect. Lymphatic drainage is an excellent complement for cellulite treatment, being indicated after treatments such as radiofrequency and lipocavitation.

See how a manual lymphatic drainage can be performed.

5. Using diuretic drugs

To treat edema some diuretic drugs prescribed by the doctor can also be used, some of them are Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide or Aldactone, for example.

However, there are different types of diuretics with different compositions and purposes, being indicated by the doctor depending on what is the origin of fluid retention. Some are indicated for the heart and can only be used by people with heart problems, for example, for this reason they should not be used without medical guidance and indication.

See what are the diuretic drugs.

How to treat fluid retention in pregnancy

Swelling is normal during pregnancy due to the hormonal changes that occur during this stage, and can occur at any stage of pregnancy, however it usually occurs during the 2nd and at the end of the third trimester of gestation, which is when the woman feels more tired and has less willingness to walk or practice physical activity.

What to do: Wearing elastic stockings on the legs and feet is an excellent strategy, but should be put on before getting out of bed. The pregnant woman should also reduce the intake of salt and industrialized products rich in sodium, in addition to drinking plenty of water and teas approved by the obstetrician. In addition to this, one should walk for 30 minutes to 1 hour every day and exercise regularly to treat it.

See the best exercises for pregnant women.

Main causes

Conditions that can cause fluid retention are:

Diet high in salt and sodium;

Low intake of water or clear liquids such as teas;

Pregnancy;

Prolonged standing or sitting in the same position;

Heart problems;

Use of certain medications;

Lack of physical activity;

Kidney disease;

Liver cirrhosis;

Alterations in thyroid function.

Fluid retention occurs when blood reaches the legs but has difficulty returning to the heart, the result is a large outflow of fluid from the blood into the interstitial medium, which is the space between the cells, generating edema.