Find out the best naturally diuretic foods that may help you pee more frequently.
Water pills, or diuretics, help eliminate fluids from your body by making you pee more frequently.
Without diuretics, extra water can make your organs work overtime, create electrolyte imbalances and potentially become life-threatening.
Photographer: Johnny Autry, Food stylist: Charlotte Autry
How Do Diuretics Work?
Diuretics act on receptors in your kidneys to reduce sodium absorption, driving sodium to exit the body.
And where sodium goes, water goes along with it, leading to water losses, too.
The 6 Best Natural Diuretics
1.
Limiting your daily caffeine intake to no more than 400 milligrams is best for good health.
On average, teahas a lower caffeine contentthan coffee.
That said, it could take a lot of tea drinking to reap its diuretic effect.
Surprisingly, teas without caffeine may also help rid the body of fluid.
Watermelon is a well-known diuretic and is packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Its ruby red color is due to the presence of the antioxidant lycopene.
Every bite of watermelon is water-saturated, which may be what makes it an effective diuretic.
Coconut waterhas multiple health benefits, from fueling your body with energy to providing electrolytes to help prevent dehydration.
The possible diuretic effects may also be related to potassium content, similar to coconut water above.
Consider this deliciousGreen Juicerecipe to increase your intake of parsley.
Are Natural Diuretics Harmful?
Too much caffeine can pose a danger to your health.
But you’d have to drink an unfathomable amount of caffeine to reach these levels.
Ingesting around 1,200 milligrams of caffeine has been observed to have toxic effects such as seizures.
Sticking to no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine daily in pregnancy seems safe.
It may help to discuss your caffeine intake with your medical provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
Caffeine in coffees and teas is famous for its function as a diuretic.
The most diuretic-acting fruit is watermelon.
Natural diuretic drinks include caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and tea.
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American Heart Association.Get the scoop on sodium and salt.
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FoodData Central.Watermelon, raw.
