Water Retention

During the summer months some people gain kilos and hold more water, while others lose weight. I have found that there are a lot of diuretic-type drugs that can be used to help remove the water; however, there is not a lot of information available as to why the problem occurs in the first place and how it can be helped naturally.

When looking at the nature of this problem, the logical place to start would be the kidneys, as it is these that maintain the fluid balance in the body. Depending on the weather and climate, approximately two litres of water should be ingested daily. However, only half of the required bodily fluid is supplied by the water we drink - the remainder comes from the air we breathe and the food we eat. As our water intake varies constantly, it is the kidneys that adapt to stabilise the fluid levels.

It therefore stands to reason that an imbalance in the wonderful filtration function of the kidneys would cause an imbalance in the entire body's fluid levels, and there are a number of factors that can affect this.

By drinking too much water, the kidneys are put under extra strain to try and expel the additional fluid.

With every heartbeat the kidneys receive a quarter of the body's blood flow, so in the course of a day they filter our total blood volume approximately three hundred times. A weak heartbeat could therefore also put a strain on the kidney actions.

The adrenal gland is located just above the kidneys, and it is this that produces our stress hormone and the hormone that regulates the sodium/potassium levels of the cells in the body. When the adrenals are activated, due to the increased stress levels the balance of sodium/potassium in the cells can be disrupted, creating damage to the actual cellular structure.

When the digestive system has a weakness, there is a chance that the kidneys will be adversely affected as they try to cope with the overload of toxins, sugars and chemicals that the diet contains. Of course, a poor diet would also have a detrimental effect in this area. Overeating can also be an extra strain on the kidneys in that the digestive juices are created from other internal fluids, and so when extra food is consumed more digestive juices need to be produced to enable nutrient extraction and breakdown of the food.

The thyroid too, if this gland malfunctions, can cause the rest of the body to hold extra fluid, which is especially so if the patient gets overheated or nervous.

In cooler weather, we pass more water as we are holding more water, and the excess must be excreted. In the warmer weather, the excess water is released through sweating and evaporation. However, if there are already some damaged cells and water cannot be excreted through the skin in the normal fashion it remains within the tissue, blocking and causing a fluid build-up as the already broken cells add to the toxic wastes already being recycled. Eventually, the lymphatic glands become overloaded, the skin breaks out, and the immune system becomes weaker.

The most obvious start to healthy kidneys is a good diet, but I simply suggest that you watch your salt intake and ensure at least two pieces of fruit and two vegetables are being consumed daily.

There are many herbs that can also help to repair torn tissues and strengthen our kidneys. Naturally, if a therapist was consulted these could be blended into an individual formula, but to start with basics I would suggest: Dandelion (tea or coffee); Bladderwrack (kelp); Marshmallow (tea); Cornsilk; Juniper; Echinacea; Red Clover; Chamomile; Uva Ursi and Celery.

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