7 BEST NATURAL DIURETICS YOU CAN ADD TO YOUR DIET [INCLUDING NIGELLA SATIVA]

WRITTEN BY ZOE SMITH, BS PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL WRITER
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Water retention occurs when one of the body's mechanisms for maintaining water levels is impaired or disrupted. It can be fatal and lead to serious complications. 
 
When extra fluid accumulates in the body, you feel “puffed up” and heavy. You can notice swellings of the hands, ankles, legs, feet, skin color changes, joint pains, pitting in your skin, and weight gain. If left untreated, water retention can lead to respiratory distress and affect the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.
 
Extra fluid in the body could be mild, resulting from sitting for long periods, long flights, or hormonal change during your menstrual cycle or pregnancy. However, they could also be due to underlying health conditions such as renal impairment and cardiac failure. These conditions require that you seek immediate medical attention.
 
To resolve water retention in the body, diuretic medications are often prescribed by physicians. There are however, natural diuretics that can be taken as well.

 What are Diuretics?
Diuretics are substances that increase the amount of water and salt you excrete in the form of urine from the body.
 
When made available as medications, they are also referred to as water pills. They are prescribed to treat conditions including high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, liver failure, edema, and kidney diseases such as kidney stones. They help get rid of excess water by increasing urination.

These prescribed medications could be thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics, and potassium-sparing diuretics.
 
Thiazides such as chlorothiazide relax blood vessels, thus help lower blood pressure while removing excess body fluid. They are used in cases of chronic heart failure.
 
Loop diuretics are more effective in patients with high blood pressure, pulmonary edema, renal disease, and cardiac failure. An example is a furosemide.
 
Potassium-sparing diuretics, for example, amiloride, prevent potential potassium loss.
 
There are, however, some herbs, spices, and drinks that act as natural diuretics. These can be added to your diet, especially when you have mild situations of water retention.

7 NATURAL DIURETICS

These are foods (herbs and spices) and drinks that can help increase the amount of urine you produce and remove extra fluid in the body.
 
Nigella Sativa
Nigella sativa is a medicinal plant from the family Ranunculaceae. It is native to Southern Europe, Southwest Asia, and North Africa. It is a natural diuretic whose diuretic potential almost equals that of a prescription diuretic. It is also known as black cumin, black seed, kalonji, and haba al barakah.
 
Nigella sativa used as a spice, flavor, and food preservative is also promoted for its pharmacological potentials. One of these potentials includes its diuretic effects.
 
Studies on hypertensive rats have revealed that Nigella sativa extract (black cumin oil) has the therapeutic effect of increasing urine production and lowering blood pressure.
 
In a clinical trial on humans, it was said to also lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BPs) without any adverse effects in healthy respondents.

THE BLACK CUMIN OIL (NIGELLA SATIVA) I USE IS THIS ONE.  

 Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant that occurs naturally in certain leaves, seeds, and fruits of over 60 plant species. These include coffee beans, tea leaves, and buds, cacao beans, yerba mate leaf, dola nuts, and guarana seeds.
 
 It is majorly found in coffee, tea, soda, and energy drinks. It is known to help weight loss, improve alertness and cognitive function when taken in moderate amounts.
 
Consuming caffeine, especially at high doses of 250-300mg, has been proven to have a diuretic effect. 
 
Taking caffeine in small amounts is unlikely to bring about an increase in urine production. Also, consuming caffeine in large amounts over time or regularly may result in you developing tolerance to its diuretic properties.

Hawthorn
Hawthorn plant is a relative of the rose family is a plant. It is scientifically known as Crataegus and native to Europe, North America, Asia, and North Africa.
 
Promoted for its pharmacological benefits as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, its leaves, flowers, and berries can be processed into medicine.
 
It has been said to effectively treat both hypertension (high blood pressure) and low blood pressure. It has also been used to treat congestive heart failure.
 
These have been linked to its diuretic effects. Hawthorn nutrients have been proven to increase urinary excretion and flow.

WHAT I RECOMMEND IS DR. CHRISTOPHER'S HAWTHORNE BERRY SYRUP

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Dandelion
Dandelion is a wild plant with yellow flowers. Its extract, also known as Taraxacum officinale or “lion’s tooth,” is taken as an herbal supplement and for its diuretic properties, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antibacterial, etc.
It has been effectively used to treat health conditions like cancer, liver disease, high blood pressure, obesity, skin disorders, and digestive disorders.
The dandelion plant's diuretic effects have been linked with its high potassium content, as this increases the excretion of sodium and water by the kidneys.
A study in humans revealed an increase in the amount of urine produced after hours of taking a dandelion supplement.

WHAT I PREFER IS TO USE CUT AND SIFTED DANDELION ROOT.  MAKE A TEA WITH A 1/4 CUP IN 1 LITER OF WATER.  BRING TO BOIL, REDUCE THE HEAT AND SIMMER FOR 15 MINUTES.  DRAIN AND DRINK.  NO SWEETENER NECESSARY. I PREFER TO ADD IN 1/4 CUP OF HIBISCUS WITH THIS ALSO.
 
Parsley
Parsley is a popular herb in cooking in America, Europe, and the Middle East. Parsley has also been in use as a natural diuretic in folk medicine. To serve this purpose, it was brewed as a tea and taken several times in a time.
 
It has been suggested to be helpful for people who have problems tolerating prescription diuretics.
According to a study, parsley was found to help increase urine production in rats. Many years after, another study supported the findings, confirming parsley as a diuretic, causing a significant increase in urine volume.
 
Hibiscus
Hibiscus plants are widely known for their large, colorful flowers. They originated in North Africa and Southeast Asia but can be seen in several tropical and subtropical countries worldwide. 
 
Their leaves and flowers have medicinal uses and can be made into a herbal tea known as “roselle” or “sour tea.”
 
In several countries in Africa, it has been used to treat heart disease. It is used to treat high blood pressure in Iran.
 
Scientific evidence confirmed that hibiscus's liquid extracts had diuretic effects, able to resolve mild fluid retention in the body. Hibiscus has also been shown to increase kidney filtration.

AS I SAID ABOVE.  MIX THE HIBISCUS AND DANDELION TOGETHER.
 
Ginger
Ginger is one I use also.  I mince garlic (1 inch) and add in 1/2 teaspoon of black cumin oil.  Eat this immediately.  It is a natural anti-inflammatory and natural relaxer also.    Works Immediately..

While a very detoxing drink and a natural diuretic, it does have some side effects with more than 60 medicines.  You must check on side effects if you are taking any pharmaceutical drugs.

Conclusion
Natural diuretics are generally considered safe.
 
Severe and chronic edema or water retention should be reported to your physician. If you are already on a prescribed diuretic, consult with your physician before increasing your intake of a natural diuretic.
 
Other healthy and natural ways to resolve fluid retention include exercise, hydration, eating potassium-rich foods, increasing magnesium intake, and consuming less salt.

It is not advisable to take natural diuretics as weight loss medications. Instead, have a healthy weight loss program, including a healthy diet, exercise, and other necessary lifestyle modifications.

There are fluid retention cases that could stem from underlying health conditions, which natural diuretics may not be able to treat effectively. Such cases will require a physician to prescribe water pills.

THE #1 EXPERT FOR SWELLING, AND LYMPHEDEMA
REMEMBER STRESS INCREASES SWELLING
PLANT BASED DIETS ARE BEST - AVOID GLUTEN, SUGARS, SALT, PROCESSED FLOURS, ALCOHOL AND FOODS WITH HORMONES, PESTICIDES, HERBICIDES AND INSECTICIDES.