Suffer From an Edema? These are the Causes and Treatments
It is no secret that lack of exercise and
poor nutrition can cause many physical problems and affect people's
lifestyle. One such issue is an edema. An edema, which is actually an
accumulation of fluids in various tissues in the body, is caused not
only from unhealthy lifestyle but also by natural hormonal processes
occurring during menopause and during pregnancy, and even when people
are confined to their beds for a long time.
Although this condition isn’t life-threatening, it can indicate defects
in the body such as heart or kidney disease, so it is important not to
ignore it. Depending on its cause, an edema can be alleviated by the
following 6 simple and effective methods.
1. Excessive consumption of sodium
Today's industrial foods are full of salts to emphasize their taste, and
since many consume them on a regular basis, they may develop an edema.
Also adding salt to various foods made at home or when eating out causes
excess fluid to accumulate in the cells that are supposed to dilute the
excess sodium, so it is important to moderate salt intake to avoid an
edema and other physical problems. Surprisingly, there are special salts
that can solve this problem by causing the body to drain excess fluids.
Drinking a glass of water with Himalayan or Celtic sea salt dissolved
in it will help to relieve the edema easily and efficiently.
2. Vitamin B6 deficiency
Vitamin B6 is responsible for maintaining fluid balance in the body, and
when it is deficient, the body begins to accumulate water and swell as a
result. In a study of middle-aged women, researchers found that women
with an edema at that age experienced significant relief after consuming
vitamin B6. Some foods that are rich in this essential vitamin can
improve the condition of the edema such as chicken, tuna, turkey,
sunflower seeds, dried fruits, pistachio nuts, unpeeled potatoes, lean
beef, and bananas.
3. Lack of potassium
Potassium is responsible for the proper functioning of the organs,
tissues, and cells in the body, as well as for the fluid balance. When
you consume too much salt and an insufficient amount of water, it causes
potassium depletion from the cells, which results in the accumulation
of fluids in the various organs. Apart from this problem, lack of
potassium can cause other symptoms such as weight gain and cramps and
muscle spasms. It is important not to consume too much salt, and to
consume a sufficient amount of potassium, which is found in most fruits,
especially in different types of melons. The amount of potassium needed
for the body can also be supplemented by eating vegetables containing
this essential mineral.
4. Dehydration
It may seem a little strange that dehydration of fluids leads to their
accumulation, but behind this fact is a reasonably logical biological
reason; when the body feels that it isn’t getting enough fluids, it does
everything in its power to keep whatever fluids it has in it, which
causes an edema. The solution, of course, is to drink enough water every
day, especially during hot summer days. It is also recommended to
reduce the consumption of soft drinks and caffeine, which causes
dehydration of the body and thus the storing fluids.
5. Magnesium deficiency
When an edema is formed, one of the biggest suspects is a deficiency in
magnesium which has a hand in almost every process in the body. When
this mineral is deficient, the body becomes unbalanced and one of the
expressions is excessive storage of fluids. In this case, too, the
solution is relatively simple and includes eating magnesium-rich foods,
including dark chocolate, dark green vegetables, avocados, nuts, peas,
spinach, yogurt and dried fruits.
6. Binge eating of processed foods
Industrial and processed foods contain large amounts of salts and sugars
designed to enrich their taste, but they also cause water retention in
the body. Apart from these ingredients, industrial food also contains
artificial additives that can damage the kidneys and liver which aren’t
able to filter them properly. For these reasons, it is important to
avoid excessive consumption of industrial foods and to try to consume
the following medicinal herbs, which can be found in health food stores,
and act as diuretics that help to drain the body from excess fluids:
Dandelion
Horsetail
Hibiscus
Nettle
Fennel
Parsley