DEALING WITH FLUID RETENTION

Fluid retention or oedema is the abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin. The two types of water retention are:

• when water is retained in the cells thus causing swelling and a spongy feeling
• when the blood capillaries are not working efficiently

The usual symptoms are swelling of the hands, ankles, feet, face and/or abdomen, headaches, PMS and leg ulcers.

Water makes up about 70% of the adult human body. Some water lies outside the cells and is called extracellular fluid and a large part is within the cell called intracellular fluid. The body maintains a state of homeostasis (the maintenance of a constant internal environment in the body) at all times, part of which is the regulation of body fluids. A balance is maintained between fluid intake and fluid output. The fluid we take in includes:

• 1000ml of liquid daily
• 1200ml of liquid comes from the food we eat
• 1500ml from saliva
• 2200ml is produced from plasma to assist the digestive system absorb nutrients
• 1500ml comes from gastric juice
• 800ml comes from bile
• 1400ml comes from pancreatic juice
• 1500ml comes from intestinal juice
• and our body cells produce metabolic water of 400ml per day

The fluid we output daily includes:

• 150ml in faeces
• 450ml in sweat
• 1500ml in urine
• 500ml from the lungs
• 150,000ml from kidney filtration (148,000ml is reabsorbed)

Except in growth, convalescence or pregnancy, an increase or decrease intake leads to an increase or decrease of output to maintain the balance. However, fluid retention, especially with women, is connected with the endocrine system, in that ADH secreted from the adrenal glands, gives chemical messages to the kidneys to either hold to or release urine. Water is a waste product from cell respiration and from the diet and is excreted in urine. Excretion is carried out by the kidneys, which are also concerned with maintaining the constant composition of the body fluids.

Water and certain foods are natural diuretics. Recommended foods for losing fluid include: apples, avocadoes, bananas, beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, oily fish (salmon, herring, mackerel, pilchards), lentils, liver, nuts and seeds, tomatoes, dandelion, lovage, nettles, parsley, tarragon, cucumber, onion, dock root, watercress and yoghurt. Juicing is also excellent for water retention. Coumarin, a bioflavonoid-like compound found in herbs has been proven to be good for oedema. Alfalfa sprouts are a rich source of coumarin. Bilberries and blueberries are rich in flavonoids and are good for fluid retention. Herbal teas such as fennel, comfrey, nettle, chamomile and peppermint are rich in flavonoids and coumarin.

Articles Main Page Laurel's Main Site Laurel's Store