Vegetables like cucumber, asparagus and Brussels sprouts as well as fruits such as watermelon act as natural diuretics and help to treat PMS.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a term used to describe a set of medical conditions that precede the onset of monthly menstrual cycle. In other words, these health issues signal the approach of menstrual period. Although PMS symptoms is not a case of serious of medical emergency, they can be definitely bothersome. Bloating and fluid retention (edema) is a common complaint among PMS sufferers. To alleviate edema that triggers water weight gain, use of natural diuretics is often recommended.
Natural Diuretics
In order to deal with fluid retention and bloating associated with PMS, taking natural diuretics is a safe way to get relief from these symptoms. Diuretics are substances or fluids that eliminate excess water by stimulating the body to excrete more urine. Thus, the urinary flow rate (the amount of urine passed out of the body in a given time) increases as a response to diuretics, which helps to improve edema. Experts also say that use of natural diuretics given below is the best way to get rid of accumulated water.
Green Tea
For removing excess fluid from the body, one can always rely on green tea. The diuretic activity of green tea will ensure that you pee frequently. Just drink 2 – 3 cups daily and expect substantial relief from PMS symptoms. Moreover, it is jam-packed with antioxidants and hence drinking it is truly beneficial for health.
Fruits
Off the total watermelon content, 70% is water. Its high water content helps to stimulate excretion of urine, thereby decreasing water retention. Also, watermelon is considered to be an excellent source of potassium. This ensures that potassium levels do not deplete with elimination of fluids. Yet another way to combat edema linked with PMS syndrome is to take cranberries. They can also benefit to increase urine production, in turn helping to reduce water weight.
Vegetables
There are quite a few vegetables that display diuretic properties and so their inclusion in the diet can definitely be helpful in relieving PMS symptoms. Vegetables like asparagus and Brussels sprouts prompt the kidneys to remove more fluid from the blood. The kidneys are basically involved in the filtration of blood in the form of urine. Both these vegetables increase the filtering ability of the kidneys, so as to increase the urinary flow rate.
One can also add vegetables like artichokes, carrots, lettuce and cucumber to the diet because these vegetables also increases urine outflow from the kidneys. Tomatoes also behave diuretic properties, thanks to their high concentration of water. A medium-sized tomato contains approximately 90% of water. So, their intake helps to stimulate kidneys to flush off more fluid. It also increases metabolic rate, which helps to lose weight.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Taking apple cider vinegar also provides diuretic effect and therefore, can be a great addition to your diet when it comes to reducing PMS symptoms. Apple cider vinegar available in the market does not have a pleasing taste. So, taking apple cider vinegar tablets after consulting a doctor might help to reduce fluid retention. There is always a fear of significant potassium loss with diuretics. However, this is not the case with apple cider vinegar as it is a good source of potassium.
Herbs
One can take the help of herbal diuretics to combat PMS effectively. Herbs like parsley and garlic can be very helpful in increasing urine output. So, add these herbs to your everyday recipes and you would surely experience improvement in your PMS symptoms.
Oats
Oats are rich in silica, which is well-known for its diuretic activity. Therefore, oats can definitely contribute to treat water retention. Drinking oats tea is a proven remedy to improve PMS. Simply sprinkle oats to the salad or add them to yogurt in order to manage PMS.
When experiencing PMS symptoms, cut down salt intake as it stimulates water retention. So, salty food stuffs like fries and soy sauce need to be eliminated from the diet, otherwise natural diuretics would be less effective in reducing PMS.
