You feel heavy and uncomfortable in your own skin: water retention in the body can be stressful. Many people struggle with it, especially in summer. These 10 foods naturally dehydrate your body.
Water retention puts a strain on you, you feel swollen and your legs are heavy and leaden. Although you haven’t gained an ounce and you’re very careful about your diet, you feel unwell and your jeans are a little tighter than usual. The causes of water retention – or edema – are varied. But it doesn’t have to be an illness. Warm summer temperatures are often enough to promote water retention, especially in the legs. A high-carbohydrate diet or a diet too high in salt or sugar can also promote edema.
Water retention: what is behind it?
Slight swelling in your hands, feet, or face can occur when it’s hot or after standing or sitting for too long. Swollen feet or legs are more common in summer than in winter. Such slight swellings subside on their own. However, if the swelling does not go away on its own, it is advisable to see a doctor.
However, if your body breaks down the water retention after a short time, there is probably no illness behind it. Then it is advisable to pay attention to your diet.
Dehydrate your body: These foods will help you get rid of water retention
With the right diet, you can quickly get rid of water retention or even prevent edema directly. We have collected 10 foods for you that actively drain your body.
1. Cranberry – as a fruit or as a juice
Whether as a fruit in muesli or yoghurt or as (unsweetened) juice: cranberries are a real drainage miracle. The fruit helps the body to remove pollutants and you can cover part of your fluid requirements with the juice.
2. Asparagus – whether green or white
Asparagus is particularly popular in Germany – and it drains the water enormously. There is a large amount of aspartic acid in both green and white asparagus. And this acid stimulates kidney activity and thus ensures that the body excretes more water. The asparagus itself consists almost entirely of water and has hardly any calories, while at the same time the body is supplied with many vitamins and folic acid.
3. Water – simple and effective
It’s probably not the first time you’ve heard this, even if it sounds paradoxical: You have to drink a lot of water to dehydrate your body. When your body fears that it is dehydrated, it retains and stores all the water that is in the body. If you drink enough water, your body excretes the liquid and rids you of toxins.
4. Rice – Potassium flushes the body
Rice is high in potassium, which helps you get rid of excess fluid. If you opt for the whole grain variant, you also get a good amount of dietary fiber. So if carbohydrates, then definitely rice.
5. Banana – sweet, delicious and draining
Like rice, the banana also contains a lot of potassium and thus dehydrates the body. The fruit also tastes delicious and sweet.
6. Cucumber – helps to process proteins
Cucumbers are 95% water and also have a diuretic effect. The enzyme erepsin also ensures that the body can process proteins better. Especially in summer, the fresh cucumber is definitely a perfect snack.
7. Potatoes – but unpeeled
Potatoes are healthy, of course, but they only have a dehydrating effect if you cook and eat them with their skins on. The shell contains the key substances that free you from water retention.
8. Pears – fruity fresh and more draining than apples
While pears have more calories than apples, they also have a much higher dehydrating effect on your body. The fruit contains phosphorus, potassium and calcium.
9. Nettle tea – miracle cure for dehydration
Nettle tea is not for everyone when it comes to taste, but when it comes to drainage, it is a real miracle cure. Above all, it has a draining effect because it stimulates urine production and the cleaning of the kidneys. However, one should not consume too much of it, as it can raise blood pressure.
10. Celery – calcium and potassium content
Celery has a particularly high calcium and potassium content and hardly any calories. The plant regulates the fluid exchange in the body and thus reduces water retention. Be careful with kidney diseases: You should first consult your doctor.
