How to Treat Fluid Retention Holistically

Fluid retention occurs when the body does not excrete water from the body properly. Water or fluid can seep out of blood vessels and accumulate in body tissues. It can accumulate in the abdomen, thighs, face, feet, hands knees and ankles. The severest form of fluid retention is known as oedema. Rapid changes in weight over a twenty four hour period is often a sign that fluid retention is a problem.

The most food allergies are wheat, cow’s dairy, pork, beef and eggs, and are linked to fluid retention. Food allergies can send body systems haywire and hinder blood vessels and kidneys from siphoning off excess fluid from the tissues. Food allergies are linked to leaky gut and compromised intestinal health. Gut health can become comprised due to a poor, low fiber/high sugar diet, use of anti-biotics, stress, HRT, the pill, and certain prescription drugs.

The kidneys are the most important organs which control fluid balance. Poor kidney function can cause fluid retention and can occur if you add too much salt to your food and don’t drink enough water, have many mercury fillings which can cause toxins to accumulate in the kidneys, eat too much sugar, protein or fat, and have deficiencies of vitamin B6 and magnesium and selenium.

Protein deficiency can cause fluid retention because protein provides albumin in the body. Albumin causes fluid in tissues to move into blood vessels. Not enough protein is just as bad as too much protein.

Vitamins and mineral deficiencies, especially deficiencies in vitamin B6, magnesium and selenium can be at the root of fluid retention problems.

Drugs can cause side Effects like this. Medically prescribed drugs have side effects which can include fluid retention. Common ones are: blood pressure lowering medication, diuretics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, HRT, the pill, antidepressants, insulin injections, anti-biotics, anti-fungal and anti-virals.

Internal toxicity can arise when liver detoxification is compromised, when there is a poor gut health, constipation, chemical and heavy metal exposure. The body tries to dilute the toxins in the body by retaining fluid.

Lymphatic congestion causes the body to hold onto water. The lymph system filters fluid out of the blood then allows it to flow back into the blood. Through lack of exercise or movement, lymph stasis can occur when fluid becomes stagnant and builds up in the lymph vessels.

Leaky Blood Vessels – if your capillaries become leaky, this allows fluid to build up in tissues. Blood vessels can become too leaky due to shock, infections, physical injury (e.g. bruising) and nutritional deficiencies can make your vessels too fragile.

What Can be Done to Balance the Body and Alleviate Fluid Retention Problems?

If you think you have food allergies – Cut out the following foods for at least 2 months:
1. Coffee,
2. sugar, honey syrup and foods containing added sugar,
3. salt and high salted or smoked foods,
4. sodium-rich drinks,
5. medicines and food additives
6. Excess saturated fat
7. White flour and white flour products
8. Alcohol
9. Artificial food additives
10. Potential allergens: wheat, dairy produce, eggs and yeast
11. Red meat, and non-organic white meat

After 2 months re-introduce possible allergic food week by week:

Test eggs, test yeast, test red meat, test dairy, test wheat. If you get a negative reaction, including headaches, sinus congestion, fatigue, or water retention, stop before the week is up; it is likely you have an intolerance to this food.

If you suspect you have poor Kidney function, avoid excessive salt and sugary foods. Drink around 2 liters of water per day. Avoid an excessively high protein diet. Avoid adding salt to food. Note some breakfast cereals contain more salt than a bag of crisps.

Ensure you eat some protein at every meal. This can include fish, shellfish, goats and sheep’s dairy, tempeh, nuts and seeds, and if not allergic.

Vitamin and mineral deficiency – eat fruit or vegetable at every meal. Take a good quality multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.

Drug Side Effects – discuss with your doctor how necessary your medications are. Work with your nutritional therapist to slowly wean you off drugs.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine and refined and processed foods to cut down on internal toxins.

Eat organic foods and vegetable juice daily. Herbal bowel and liver cleansing, colonics, sauna and infra red sauna help to cleanse and renew the body. Switch to eco-friendly home cleaning products and personal hygiene products. Heal leaky gut. Avoid metal fillings.

Alleviate lymphatic congestion by exercise. The best form of movement for lymph is mini trampoline, and deep massage can help, as can dry skin brushing. Regular exercise is important.

Leaky Blood Vessels can cause fluid problems. Eat fruit or vegetables at every meal, avoid processed and refined foods. Include spinach, celery, kale, cabbage, bananas, bilberries and blueberries in your diet.