This may seem difficult to believe, but if you find a difference in your weight between morning and evening, chances are you may have water retention problem. Water or fluid retention or edema is an accumulation of water in the body organs which leads to the swelling in these organs. It happens due to imbalances in the mineral levels in the body. Soon water starts accumulating in the tissues and causes organs to swell up.

Some common symptoms of water retention are:

• pain and swelling in legs and heels,
• fluid accumulation in stomach, face, hands, arms and lungs,
• weight fluctuations
• fever, fatigue and hypothyroidism.

Some of the major reasons for water retention involves

• high salt intake,
• high sugar intake,
• hormonal imbalance,
• anaemia,
• allergies and sometimes
• heart diseases,
• kidney disorders,
• liver ailment and lymph gland ailments.

Here’s what you can do, according to Ayurveda, to reduce retention of water in body tissues.

1.Have potassium rich foods

Your body needs to have a good balance of potassium and sodium to maintain water level in the body. Potassium maintains the water content and reduces sodium concentration. It also reduces the fluid excess by causing frequent urination.

You can have potassium rich fruits like oranges, watermelons, pomegranate, apricots, berries and papaya.

2. Vitamin B6

This is one vitamin with amazing diuretic qualities. Women need it during menstrual cycle as water retention tends to rise during then. With more urination, the water retention can be taken care of.

Foods rich in vitamin B6 include bananas, walnuts, chickpeas, avocado and potatoes.

3. Have herb infused water

Have herb infused water to cure water retention. You can begin your morning with apple cider vinegar, or water infused with fennel , cinnamon or coriander seed. Apart from flushing out toxins from your body, they are rich sources of potassium and other minerals required to regulate water content in the body.
 

4. Stay hydrated

Ironically, when you are dehydrated often, your body responds by storing water in different parts of the body, a defense against a potential dry period. Staying sufficiently hydrated can reduce this effect, cause urination which removes the excess salts from the body, responsible for water retention. The wisdom about drinking 8 glasses of water each day still holds.
 

5. Abhyanga or oil massage

The ancient science of Ayurveda, advocates the use of the body oil massage or self Abhyanga to reduce water retention; remove toxins especially during the winters and boost body’s immunity. 

You can try self abhyanga with Shankara’s Calming Body Oil.

Self-Abhyanga is the practice of massaging yourself with the help of oil to balance doshas. An essential Ayurvedic practice, it can also help you move through harsh winters without stress and constipation, which tends to increase during winters. 

The three main benefits of Self Abhyanga are-

·       Nourishes your body and has anti-aging effects.

·       Stimulates internal organs and better circulation that improves waste removal and detoxification of the digestive system.

·       Better sleep quality.

6. Natural diuretics that should be in your diet

Natural diuretics generally help your body get rid of excess sodium and water. They stimulate kidneys to produce more urine and by way of that, release toxins and excess salts. Natural diuretics may include herbal tea, veggies like beetroot, pumpkin, garlic, asparagus and spinach.
 

7.  Have yogurt

Yogurt comes with the goodness of protein and potassium, just the nutrition you need for dealing with water retention. Loss of protein can be an important cause of higher water retention. So yogurt can help manage this imbalance by supplying enough protein for your body.
 
8. Have more fiber in to your diet

Fibrous foods can absorb the excess water in your body when they move through the digestive system. Foods like broccoli, berries, whole wheat grains, oatmeal, seeds like chia and flaxseeds, and beans are rich sources of fibre that can help you relieve symptoms of water retention.
 

The other ways to cure water retention include:

Stay physically active,

Have a balanced diet,

Avoid alcohol

Avoid beverages that dehydrate the body like caffeine or tea.

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