12 foods that dehydrate the body

Water retention occurs for various reasons. It is unpleasant and sometimes very painful. However, you can get rid of most water retention with your diet . This article presents 12 foods that drain the body.

Why should you drain your body?

Water retention not only looks unattractive, as it causes the body to swell in the affected areas and increases weight. It also has a detrimental effect on your health. Often the swollen parts of the body also hurt.

People with an inactive lifestyle are particularly at risk of water retention. Anyone who sits or stands a lot at work and does little sport increases the risk. Other causes of water retention are hormonal imbalance and the wrong diet. Eating too salty food is particularly stressful for the body.

However, dehydration is not suitable for everyone. Anyone who is struggling with water retention due to health problems – such as liver cirrhosis or renal insufficiency – should never try to get rid of water retention on their own. Pregnant women should also ask their doctor for advice beforehand.

However, nothing stands in the way of healthy people. You can not only get rid of excess weight, but also flush out toxins with the following 12 foods that drain the body. As a result, you will feel much more energised.

Can you get rid of water retention through your diet?

Regardless of why water retention occurs, there is one thing that all sufferers agree on: it’s annoying! However, there is also good news, as most water retention can be eliminated with the right diet.

A dehydrating diet is not only worthwhile because you get rid of the extra pounds. It also helps to relieve the strain on the heart and circulation. But how do dehydrating foods actually work?

It may sound paradoxical, but the body needs enough fluid to dehydrate. This is because it stores the available water in the tissue as a kind of emergency supply when there is a shortage of fluids. However, if the body has sufficient fluid, it does not activate this process and excretes excess water. Foods with a high water content are therefore considered to be particularly dehydrating.

However, the nutrients they contain also play their part. Potassium in particular is a mineral that is said to have dehydrating properties.

These 12 foods dehydrate the body

The following 12 foods that dehydrate the body are particularly suitable on days when you feel bloated. However, in the case of chronic water retention that has persisted for a long time, medical advice should always be sought first. There are also medications and illnesses that favour the formation of water retention. In this case, they cannot simply be eliminated by changing your diet.

However, in all other cases where water retention is acute and a certain discomfort sets in, the 12 foods can effectively drain the body. In general, it is worth integrating these foods into your diet to prevent water retention.

1. Nettles

What is considered an unpopular weed in many places provides some important ingredients that can help with drainage. Nettles are said to be able to dissolve water retention.

They are best infused and drunk as a tea. This type of tea is generally well tolerated. It is recommended to drink nettle tea two to three times a day.

However, stinging nettle can also be consumed in other ways. Once the stinging hairs have been flattened – for example with a rolling pin – stinging nettle makes a good addition to wild herb salads or soups. In the past, it was even considered a substitute for spinach, as the flavour is very similar.

Nettles contain many silicic and amino acids as well as potassium. This not only helps with drainage, but also with burning fat, as it stimulates the metabolism.

2. Ginger

Ginger is one of the 12 foods that drain the body. It is a real all-rounder when it comes to health. It is not only used to strengthen the immune system.

Ginger can be prepared as a tea or used in cooking. Ginger shots are also ideal. Many people also prepare ginger water for this purpose. Ayurvedic nutritional teachings in particular attribute healing powers to the tuber. There it is recommended to drink a large glass of warm ginger water or ginger tea every morning. This should be followed by another 1-2 litres throughout the day.

3. Cucumber

Anyone who has ever been on a diet knows that cucumber is considered a slimming vegetable. It is also said to have a dehydrating effect. Cucumbers consist of 96% water and also provide many electrolytes. These include

• Potassium

• Calcium

• Magnesium

These substances are able to regulate the fluid balance in the body.

4. Watermelons

Watermelons also contain a lot of water. This means that they are not only refreshing, but also dehydrating. They therefore also support the body with water retention.

Watermelons are known to contain a lot of beta-carotene. This is said to support the body’s health. It is also low in sodium, which is said to drain and cleanse the kidneys.

5. Carrots

Carrots are considered a diuretic and are therefore also one of the 12 most important foods for draining the body. They also provide a lot of healthy ingredients.

Vitamin A is good for the eyes. They also contain potassium and iron. These trace elements are said to help keep you fit and energised.

6. Asparagus

Asparagus contains aspartic acid. This protein building block is said to promote kidney function and help to excrete excess fluid. The vegetable also provides a lot of nutrients that are considered to be beneficial to health.

These include potassium, calcium and phosphorus. It also contains vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C and vitamin E as well as folic acid.

7. Lemon

Lemons also contain a lot of potassium, which favours the electrolyte balance. It has a diuretic and draining effect, which helps to remove toxins from the body. Lemons are therefore ideal for strengthening the function of the nerves, muscles and heart.

Citrus fruits also contain the antioxidant vitamin C. Eating lemons is therefore also good for the immune system. A suitable combination is, for example, with ginger in a dehydrating tea or water.

8. Potatoes

Many people demonise potatoes because they contain a lot of carbohydrates. Most people are therefore surprised to learn that they are also one of the 12 foods that have a diuretic effect. First and foremost, potatoes fill you up. However, they have fewer calories than bananas, which can be helpful when trying to lose weight. But where does their draining effect come from?

Again, it’s the potassium they contain. Potatoes can do even more: potato starch is able to bind excess stomach acid and therefore provides relief from heartburn.

9. Rice

Rice also provides a lot of carbohydrates, but it also promotes the dehydration of the body. There is also a weight loss tip: simply have a rice day. On such a day, you eat mainly unsalted rice and the pounds should fall off.

Of course, you don’t have to go on a radical rice diet to reap the benefits. Rice can also be effective when integrated into a balanced diet.

Rice provides a lot of potassium so that excess water and uric acid can be flushed out of the body. The great advantage of rice is that it not only has a short-term effect, but can also help with dehydration in the long term .

10. Tomatoes

The red vegetable should not be underestimated! Tomatoes consist of at least 90% water and, with 17 kilocalories per 100 grams, are also perfect for any diet. The vegetables should be integrated into your diet, especially when fresh. They can dissolve water retention and also provide a lot of vitamin C. They also contain potassium, phytochemicals, lycopene and fibre.

Tomatoes are therefore one of the 12 foods that can dehydrate the body.

11. Pineapple

This draining food is a real treat: pineapple is not only tasty and sweet, but also has many positive properties. The fruit can be eaten on its own or drunk in the form of pineapple water.

Pineapple helps with drainage and is even said to be able to combat cellulite. The fruit is also considered healthy for blood circulation and digestion. Many people also don’t realise that pineapple can help to absorb proteins better.

12. Grapes

Grapes are not considered to be low in calories, so you wouldn’t initially assume that they could help you lose weight. However, they do contain a lot of potassium, iodine and manganese, which makes them a diuretic food. The berries also stimulate fat burning.

Blue grapes in particular are considered healthy. They contain a lot of antioxidants – more than green grapes. Their mineral content is also not to be sneezed at: This has a positive effect on muscles and nerves.

Conclusion

As water retention is above all unpleasant and leads to weight gain, many people want to get rid of it. It is often accompanied by pain. The 12 foods mentioned above that drain the body can be easily integrated into the diet. This makes it possible, among other things, to prevent water retention.