One of the headaches, especially for many women, is the accumulation of fluids in the body. Also known as dropsy, fluid retention is not a disease, although it is associated with several common symptoms such as swelling, especially in the legs and abdomen. It can occur during periods such as pregnancy, menopause, or menstruation. However, in other cases, this condition is due to problems in certain parts of the body or bad habits today. Although it is not considered a severe problem, it can be a sign of a disease that affects an organ of the body, so we must go to the doctor. If you are tired of feeling bloated and want to end this problem, or if you’re going to anticipate it, in this FastlyHealarticle, we give you some tips to prevent fluid retention.
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Why do I feel bloated? If you read this article, you have probably wondered why you always feel bloated and what you could do to end this problem. The first thing you should know is that fluid retention in our body results from the accumulation of fluids in the tissues. This takes place when our body cannot eliminate it while maintaining a balance of fluids. In this way, the liquid is deposited in areas of the body such as the hands, feet, legs, or abdomen, and, consequently, we feel bloated.
But what is the actual cause of fluid retention? This problem can be mainly due to two reasons:
- Problems in any part of the body. We may suffer from a disease that affects the circulatory system or that we have some inflammatory condition.
- Bad habits . Some factors in our day to day can influence fluid retention: stress, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, etc.
In this article, we explain the causes of fluid retention in more depth.
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Do you exercise regularly? Exercise is essential for our health, since with it, we exercise the muscles, joints, and bones and stimulate blood circulation, in addition to having a positive impact on our mental health – it improves our mood by producing enforcement -. It is not necessary to go to the gym every day or do long hours of sports, but rather to keep the body active by walking regularly or taking a bike ride from time to time. You can try walking to work or just going for a walk to exercise your body and facilitate movement by stimulating the elimination of fluids.
A sedentary lifestyle is an increasingly present habit, and although we are more aware of its adverse effects, its effects continue to wreak havoc in today’s society.
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Stay away from the salt. Food is undoubtedly another aspect to consider when it comes to our health. An inadequate diet can lead to multiple problems that affect our well-being. When we talk about fluid retention, certain habits in our daily diet can affect our body to accumulate fluids, and we can feel bloated. Salt is responsible for this problem and an enemy to combat, so the best advice to prevent and end fluid retention is to reduce salt intake. This change in our diet should not be a problem since we can substitute salt for spices that add flavor to the dishes and combat excess liquids. But the problem with salt does not only lie in its direct use in the kitchen, but other products such as sausages, preserves, or shaded soups tend to have high salt levels. Therefore, it is likely that we are consuming a very high amount of salt without being aware of it.
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Lots of water . But isn’t excess fluid the problem? Not strictly, when the amount of fluid in the body is low, it performs a mechanism to retain fluid to maintain balance in the body. Therefore, staying hydrated will facilitate the elimination of liquids. The best option is to drink about eight glasses of water a day and not exceed 4 liters. The body can eliminate fluid quickly when we drink a lot of water, so it is better to drink more water than less since this will eliminate the amount it does not need. Therefore, this is another tip to prevent fluid retention.
In the same way, relating this point to the previous one, we can combine food and water to stay hydrated. Many foods have a high amount of water, so they will help us with the function of eliminating liquids or preventing their retention. The most recommended foods to avoid or combat fluid retention are fruits and vegetables since they have water. In addition, low sodium carbohydrates such as rice, oats, soybeans, potatoes, and animal protein from meat and fish facilitate the production of a substance necessary by the liver to eliminate fluids.
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Take advantage of the diuretic effects of plants. We are lucky to have several medicinal plants with diuretic properties, which in addition to helping to prevent fluid retention and eliminate excess fluid, also purify the body of toxins. Many of these herbs can be purchased by any herbalist or even in supermarkets, and we can see what all their benefits are to use them on other occasions. We can prepare two cups a day of any of these infusions:
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Change some habits . Some habits in our day to day can facilitate the accumulation of fluid in some parts of the body, so we must try to change them. Some of these can be:
- Tight clothing . If we are prone to swelling in some parts of the body due to fluid retention, it is essential to avoid tight dress so as not to hinder blood circulation.
- Avoid sitting for a long time. Lack of movement facilitates fluid retention, especially in the legs, so it is advisable to try to walk or stretch your legs frequently. We are likely to be forced to sit for hours, for example, at work, but we can get up every so often to drink water, go to the bathroom, or take a short break.
- It is advisable to finish the showers with cold water to stimulate blood flow and reactivate circulation.
- Use creams with a vascular effect by massaging the area upward, from the ankles to the arms.
- Putting your legs up can be an excellent option to relieve symptoms of heaviness in that area.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Tips to prevent fluid retention, we recommend that you enter our Blood, heart and circulation category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.