• Caffeine and fruits with high water content are great choices for diuretic foods that will help reduce edema
• Diuretic herbs like parsley and horseradish can provide numerous health benefits, too
• Oats, cranberries, and tomatoes act as diuretic foods while also providing other healthy compounds the body needs

Diuretic foods are a great choice if you suffer from fluid retention or if you want to shed water weight faster in efforts to cut down on the pounds. Just make sure that you still consume plenty of fluids while partaking in diuretic herbs, foods, and beverages. Otherwise, you could end up dehydrated. Here are some of the best choices in a countdown order, some are well known, some may come a complete surprise for you.

10. Green Tea

The presence of green tea on the list of top diuretic foods should not be a surprise since the beverage seems to be useful for so many health purposes. In this case, however, it’s most likely the high level of caffeine it contains that provides the diuretic properties. Coffee and any caffeinated beverages will have similar effects.

9. Watermelon

Watermelon, as well as other melons with a high concentration of water, is a great choice because they provide a good source of nutrients and fluids that will cause the diuretic effects but that will also help you stay well hydrated.

8. Tomatoes

Tomatoes are known to contain many healthy compounds, including Vitamin C, but their high water content also spurs the kidneys into releasing higher levels of fluids and washing away the bad stuff from our bodies at a faster rate.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

Not only is apple cider vinegar a tasty salad dressing but it is well-known as one of the best diuretic foods available. Additionally, this vinegar can help stabilize your potassium levels which can become imbalanced if you use too many diuretics.

6. Asparagus

If you ever needed a good reason to increase your intake of asparagus, here’s one. This vegetable contains an important alkaloid compound known to boost the performance of the kidneys which means you’ll be flushing out more toxins and wastes from your body, as well as dropping a lot of that extra water weight.

5. Artichokes

Since ancient Roman times, artichokes have been known for their diuretic properties. Today, they are known to be a huge help for kidney problems and for helping you release excess fluid from your body. They also contain a lot of vitamins and nutrients the body needs for good health.

4. Parsley

Once assumed to be just a decoration on a platter of steak, parsley is now known to be one of the best diuretic herbs available. You can purchase the dried herb version and sprinkle a little on almost anything you eat. It’s particularly great on potatoes and other vegetable dishes.

3. Cranberries

Already recognized as one of the preventatives against bladder and urinary infections, cranberries are also effective as diuretics. It helps fight against edema and is definitely one of the best foods or juices women should have in their diet at all times.

2. Oats

Oats are already a great fighter against high cholesterol but they are also effective in combating fluid retention. That’s because they contain silica, a natural compound known to work as a diuretic in the body. It’s just another reason to eat more whole oats and oatmeal.

1. Horseradish

As far as diuretic herbs go, horseradish is probably one of the most surprising. This bitter-tasting herb (or spicy-tasting if you go with the Japanese version) contains more Vitamin C than most citrus fruits. Plus, it can help fight your cold and your inflammation thanks to some of its compounds. Add a little to your favorite sandwich or mix some wasabi (made from Japanese horseradish) in your soy sauce to make a tasty dip for sushi, vegetables, or even French fries.

• Reducing foods that are going to be broken down in the large intestine is a good way to stop bloating and excess gas.
• Dairy products can be a source of bloating problems in millions of people.
• Eating a high fiber or high protein diet can also help bring about bloating relief.

One of the most common digestive complaints suffered by people is bloating constipation. The combination of those two very uncomfortable problems can dramatically decrease your quality of life and can continue to return regularly if you don’t make changes to get rid of bloating and constipation once and for all. Below are the top five diet choices if you want bloating relief for good.

1. Low Gas-Producing Foods

Although surprisingly not the main reason people feel bloated, excessive gas build-up in the intestines can cause its own type of discomfort, as well as embarrassment. By recognizing some of the foods that are more likely to trigger gas production, you can reduce your intake of them and lower the amount of gas created in your large intestine as the food is being broken down by bacteria. Some of the foods to avoid or to minimize include artificial sweeteners, beans, artichokes, cabbage, cheese, and potatoes.

2. High Fiber

Bloating can occur because too much undigested food is building up in your intestines. That can be caused by a lack of fiber. Fiber helps keep your bowels moving so you’ll be able to easily and comfortably eliminate waste so it doesn’t have a chance to build up in your body. This also helps relief constipation. Foods high in fiber include most fruits and vegetables, as well as foods made from whole wheat products. Be sure to gradually increase your fiber levels or you might end up in greater need of bloating relief while your body adjusts.

3. Low Fat

High fat foods, such as butter or fried potatoes, do not get broken down as quickly as low fat foods in most cases. If you want bloating relief, you want to have as much of your meal digested before reaching the large intestine as possible. When you’re eating a diet high in fat, it takes longer to digest so more of it is going to end up being broken down in the large intestine where it will create higher levels of gas.

4. High Protein

While some serious health risks are involved in eating a high protein diet, there are some key benefits. Protein is usually digested much earlier in the process. That’s because enzymes in the body begin breaking it down almost immediately. Protein is hard for the body to break down so it requires more work and so that work has to start faster. In most cases your protein is digested before it reaches the large intestine. However, if you’re eating a type of protein that is high in fat, such as ground beer, you might be undermining this benefit.

5. Lactose Free

Many people don’t even realize that the cause of their digestive problems is connected to something larger than undigested foods. Millions of Americans are lactose intolerant which means their bodies have difficult processing enzymes preset in milk and some dairy products. When they eat ice cream, for example, they may become nauseous and bloated. They may also suffer from diarrhea and abdominal cramping. If this is the cause of your problem, then following a lactose free diet could be the answer to your bloating relief.

• Our body needs water to function properly and efficiently, but many times too much water is retained, and this becomes problematic.
• Eating a balanced diet that includes these foods everyday will help you prevent bloating and water retention.

Diuretic foods, those that can help you eliminate excess fluid in bodily tissues, can be a big help to anyone who is trying to lose weight or stop retaining water. Our body needs water to function properly and efficiently, but many times too much water is retained, and this becomes problematic. Excess water held in your body causes all of your organs to work harder, makes you feel and look bloated, contributes to weight gain, and can even have harmful side effects. There are prescription diuretics that can be taken to eliminate excess water, but these drugs may cause health problems, because they may eliminate too much water along with needed nutrients, especially electrolytes. They should only be used if prescribed by your doctor for serious medical conditions that make them necessary. Instead, eating a diet that is rich in foods which are natural diuretics can prevent bloating and water weight gain without any risks.

There are many foods which act as diuretics and help keep the water balance in your body at the optimum level. Eating a balanced diet that includes these foods everyday will help you prevent bloating and water retention. Watermelon is one fruit that can do this, even though this fruit is packed with water, as well as fiber. Watermelon increases the urge to urinate, which eliminates excess water and wastes from your body and prevents the fluid levels to become unbalanced. Using apple cider vinegar on foods, or taking a tablespoon full a few times a day diluted in a little water can also prevent water retention. This vinegar also helps you to keep your potassium (a major electrolyte) levels even as well. Cranberry juice is another great food if you are retaining water, and this juice not only increases urination but also helps to flush bacteria out of the kidneys to ensure good urinary tract health. Artichoke and dried nettle are both plants that offer diuretic benefits as well, and should be included in a healthy diet.

Cabbage helps your body break down fat deposits and flush them out of your body along with any extra water. Beets also have this effect, and they will target excess fats both in the liver and bloodstream. There are many other diuretic foods as well, and the odds are that some of these foods are already in your diet. This group includes brussels sprouts, cucumber, lettuce, asparagus, carrots, horseradish, green tea, fennel, dandelion greens and leaves, tomatoes, parsley, celery and celery seed, watercress, and oats. All of these foods can help you eliminate bloating and water retention without the risks and side effects of drugs or chemicals. These foods also provide countless other nutrients

There are other foods that work as strong diuretics, but these should be used sparingly to avoid dehydration and other harmful effects. These include coffee, tea, soft drinks and foods that contain caffeine, as well as foods that contain extremely high amounts of animal proteins. This group of foods can have some negative effects is over consumed, so they should be ingested at moderate levels, unlike the diuretic foods in the first group which can be eaten liberally. Foods containing caffeine should not be consumed too frequently, because caffeine has a component which can actually cause water retention if too much is consumed, because the body becomes dehydrated so the urinary system gets the message to conserve water.

Using healthy foods that act as natural diuretics will help allow you to avoid water retention and bloat on a more regular basis. Another benefit is that most of your calories will come from fruits, vegetables, and herbal foods so weight loss may occur simply because of the change in eating habits. These foods are high in nutrients that act as natural diuretics as well as in fiber. In other words, elimination of both waste from the urinary tract and the bowels is improved. Simply changing the way you eat can help your overall health and help you to feel better each day.