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What are Some Natural Diuretics?

Jessica Hobby
Jessica Hobby

For those people who want to avoid taking prescribed diuretics from their doctor, there are numerous natural diuretics. These are available to help promote urination in those suffering from conditions that are causing them to retain water. They can be found in the form of dietary supplements, drinks or food. It is important that all diuretics are used with care and caution, as they can lead to potassium deficiency or dehydration if abused.

Those people who prefer to use herbal remedies in the form of capsules or extracts should look for natural diuretics that are contained in a dietary supplement. Many available supplements have only one ingredient; however, some contain multiple ingredients that function as a natural diuretic. Dandelion, ginger, juniper, nettle, fennel and linden are all herbs that can be purchased in supplement form.

Cranberry juice often serves as an effective natural diuretic.
Cranberry juice often serves as an effective natural diuretic.

Although dietary capsules and extracts are convenient, many people prefer to make natural diuretics part of their diet. Incorporating natural diuretics into snacks and meals gives greater variety to how one can obtain a diuretic. Depending on whether someone is concerned about increasing urine output and flushing toxins from their body will determine which foods they include in their diet. The most common foods that work as diuretics are watermelon, cucumbers, watercress, artichokes, beets, oats and tomatoes. Other foods that help promote waste in general are asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots and lettuce.

Many of the herbs that can be purchased in supplement form may also be eaten in the diet. Ginger and fennel are the most readily available herbs for cooking. Dandelion greens may also supply a natural diuretic when eaten in salad form.

Watermelon is a natural diuretic.
Watermelon is a natural diuretic.

In addition to supplements, herbs and foods, natural diuretics may be enjoyed in beverages as well. Green tea is the most common because the Chinese have been using it for centuries. Cranberry juice and apple cider vinegar are two other liquids that act as a natural diuretic. Because most people don’t enjoy drinking vinegar, a great way to utilize apple cider vinegar is in salad dressing.

Cucumbers contain a lot of water and work as a natural diuretic.
Cucumbers contain a lot of water and work as a natural diuretic.

It is important to remember that the human body retains water for many very serious reasons. The causes of water retention can include, but are not limited to, high blood pressure, heart-disease, pregnancy and obesity. Natural diuretics have a modest diuretic effect in comparison to prescribed treatments, and should never self diagnose water-retention and take a natural diuretic. Natural diuretics should only be used in conjunction with conventional medicine after a doctor has been consulted.

Discussion Comments

anon324187

I recently went on a 6 hour road trip. My left foot and angle swelled up. Is this water retention or something else?

OeKc05

I was glad to hear that coffee is a natural diuretic. I drink two to three cups a day, and I suppose I'm flushing the bad stuff out of my body.

However, it shouldn't be considered one of the natural diuretics for high blood pressure. The caffeine can actually temporarily raise your blood pressure, which could be dangerous for someone with already high pressure.

JackWhack

Cranberry juice is a great natural diuretic, and it also can prevent urinary tract infections. It is so acidic that it keeps the bacteria from being able to cling to your urinary tract.

If you drink cranberry juice after you've noticed symptoms of a mild urinary tract infection, you might be able to get rid of it without having to take antibiotics. It helps to supplement the juice with cranberry extract, which is a natural diuretic in pill form.

If you also drink plenty of water during this time, you can help the cranberry juice do its job even better. Anything that flushes out the bacteria is helpful.

orangey03

I suppose watermelon is such a good natural diuretic because it is mostly water. However, you shouldn't add salt to it.

Salt makes you retain water, so if you salt your watermelon, it is no longer a good natural diuretic for water retention. My dad cannot eat watermelon without salt, because he grew up eating it this way. However, I love the sweet taste, so I have no issue leaving off the salt.

There have been times when I've been retaining water, and eating a big serving of watermelon really helped me out. It's an enjoyable way to get relief.

wavy58

@jimk12 – I think the effects of asparagus, as well as those of most foods that are natural diuretics, go away once they are fully digested and have exited your system. Surely the diuretic effect should be gone within 24 hours, if not sooner.

anon261911

Natural diuretics are very important. We need to get rid of toxins in our bodies.

jimk12

I understand that asparagus is an excellent diuretic. Unfortunately, I over indulged last evening and have been paying the price by peeing once every hour for the last 12 hours. Out of curiosity, how long does this last? It becomes a bit of an inconvenience after a while!

But it works.

Glasshouse

The article listed quite a few natural diuretics; many I never knew were diuretics. I would like to add one more diuretic to the list…water.

If you are suffering from edema and you are looking to lose weight, water is the most important diuretic. Water flushes all of your systems, and is the main fluid used to carry toxins out of the body. Many people who suffer from edema have a diet rich in processed foods (as parmnparsley stated) and do not drink enough water.

Good hydration and exercise will cause the toxins in your body to move from the tissue to the blood where the circulatory system can expel them. B vitamins (especially Niacin) will also help flush toxins because they open the capillaries deep within body tissue. This is why you get a flushed feeling when taking Niacin.

parmnparsley

Often times the need for diuretics is relate to other underlying causes. Diets high in processed foods can cause water retention. This is because processed foods contain large amounts of salt and sugar, while often having little protein.

Lowering amounts of these foods as well as using the suggestions given by the author and Concordski are often better than increasing diuretics alone. A balanced diet can actually solve many ailments, water retention being one of them.

concordski

I greatly prefer using diet to assist with urination rather than turning to supplements. Even if a supplement or prescribed medicine works, there is always the chance that there are side effects.

In many cases that I have seen, the side effects are worse than the problem that was trying to be solved. Increasing intake of green tea, cabbage, beets and tomatoes have all sorts of side benefits too.

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    • Cranberry juice often serves as an effective natural diuretic.
      Cranberry juice often serves as an effective natural diuretic.
    • Watermelon is a natural diuretic.
      By: Krzysiek z Poczty
      Watermelon is a natural diuretic.
    • Cucumbers contain a lot of water and work as a natural diuretic.
      By: Natalya Korolevskaya
      Cucumbers contain a lot of water and work as a natural diuretic.
    • The Chinese have used green tea as a natural diuretic for centuries.
      By: NataliTerr
      The Chinese have used green tea as a natural diuretic for centuries.
    • Apple cider vinegar acts as a natural diuretic.
      By: Comugnero Silvana
      Apple cider vinegar acts as a natural diuretic.
    • Cabbage is considered a natural diuretic.
      By: Anticiclo
      Cabbage is considered a natural diuretic.
    • Oats are natural diuretics.
      By: Okea
      Oats are natural diuretics.