Fluid Retention

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Fluid Retention

 

Fluid retention is a common problem, causing swelling of the feet and ankles

particularly. Puffiness of the hands and fingers or the eyelids can also occur.

In women, fluid retention premenstrually can cause breast tenderness and

abdominal bloating.

 

What causes it?

Mild fluid retention has a number of possible causes including:

 

• Hormonal imbalances such as an under active thyroid gland.

• Taking the oral contraceptive pill or potent hormone replacement

therapy

• Kidney problems

• Sluggish liver function.

• Liver disease.

• Heart disease and heart failure.

• Problems with the lymphatic system.

• Varicose veins, which cause fluid retention in the legs

• Food allergies and being overweight.

 

However, more significant fluid retention may indicate heart, liver or kidney

disease so it is important to be assessed by your doctor.

 

Lymphoedema is swelling caused by blockage of the lymphatic vessels such that

fluid accumulates in the tissues. The commonest causes of chronic lymphoedema in

the Western world are cancers or subsequent surgery or radiotherapy. An example

is mastectomy with lymph node clearance for breast cancer, following which

lymphoedema or swelling of the arm on the affected side may occur.

 

Treatment & General Recommendations

 

• Fluid retention is made worse by poor diet, lack of exercise and taking

artificial sweeteners.

 

• It is best to avoid diuretic drugs if possible as in the long term they may

actually increase fluid retention, and on stopping a diuretic the fluid

retention will initially get worse.

 

• Losing weight if you are overweight will often resolve the problem.

Physiotherapy with special binding techniques can improve lymphoedema.

 

• Treatment of the underlying cause of fluid retention is certainly the first

step.

 

• If you are taking oral synthetic HRT or the wrong type of contraceptive pill

this can also play a part in the retention of fluid. The Lymphatic type does

better on the natural hormonal creams rather than the troches.

 

• Massages incorporating lymphatic drainage can be helpful - see a qualified

practioner

 

Diet

 

Follow The Liver Cleansing Diet Principles in chapter 5 of the book " The Liver

Cleansing Diet " or follow " Can't Lose Weight? You Could Have Syndrome X " The

basic plan is outlined on p 244 of this book. An alternative is to follow the

eating plan for the " Lymphatic Body Type " from " The Body Shaping Diet " book.

 

• Include often - foods which have a diuretic effect

 

including celery, cucumber, apples, artichokes, rock melon, watermelon,

parsley, fresh dandelion greens, watercress, fennel, papaya, pineapple, garlic

and dill.

 

• Converse to what you may think you should also drink plenty of water, say 6 to

8 glasses daily.

 

• Lean fresh red meats and fish can be eaten if desired as they are good sources

of magnesium which reduces fluid retention.

 

• Consider the possibility of food allergies; an elimination diet avoiding dairy

products, wheat and other grains which are the most common culprits may be

worthwhile.

 

• If you are taking a potassium losing diuretic, consume potassium-rich foods

like organic wholegrains, nuts, sunflower seeds, fruits and vegetables including

bananas, apricots, citrus fruits, parsley, spinach, broccoli and carrots.

 

• Hot spicy foods are good for lymphatics - chilli, tumeric, curries, fresh

garlic and ginger etc

 

• Buckwheat contains valuable rutin to strengthen the veins and lymphatic

vessels.

 

FOODS TO AVOID

 

• ALL DAIRY PRODUCTS - this is VITAL

• Preserved meals (eg, ham, bacon, sausage, pizza, meats, corned beef, smoked

meats).

• Processed Foods

• Potato Chips

• Salted nuts

• Fizzy carbonated Drinks

• Aspartame

• Foods containing refined sugars, pasteurized honey and glucose.

 

Dairy foods are poison for the lymphatic type and should be avoided always.

 

These include milk, cheese, cream, butter, yogurt, ice-cream, chocolate.

 

Also due to foreign proteins in cows milk it is also very bad for autoimmune

conditions and poor immune system function.

 

Both the Liver Cleansing Diet and Syndrome X eating plans are dairy free.

 

Try some different brands and varieties of non-gmo soy as they vary greatly. The

fresh organic soy products in the dairy cabinet are much lighter and not as

strong in taste as the long life products.

www.edenfoods.com

 

There are also rice milks and oat milks to try.

Drinking lots of water and fresh juices is also very important especially in

preventing further cellulite.

 

http://www.weightcontroldoctor.com/healthtopics/a-z/fluidretention.asp

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjoguest

DietaryTipsForHBP

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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