There is a belief that diuretics can cause weight loss. Either by taking a water pill or using a natural diuretic. Although they can be great for getting rid of of excess salt they are not a permanent solution for losing weight.
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What do Natural Diuretics do?
Diuretics decrease the amount of water you retain in your body. They also purge the body of excess salt.
Some people even use diuretics as a weight loss aid – but any weight lost is far from permanent. Any weight lost will be gained back as soon as you drink again.
If you are thinking of using a water pill or a natural diuretic to help lose excess body weight then dedicated natural fat burner or appetite suppressants would be more advantageous.
Do diuretics cause weight loss? Not really. The effect of a diuretic will give the appearance of weight loss but any weight lost is just temporary – until you take on water again.
When you are using them you will know they are working because you will have to urinate more than normal.
Although there are also diuretic medications you can get via a doctor, a lot of diuretics are natural.
Bodybuilders sometimes use diuretics to make the skin covering their muscles look less puffy.
Reducing the amount of water present in tissue is a good way to improve muscle definition.
People who have different athletic or sporting pursuits often use diuretics for this reason as well.
Diuretics are also popular with people who suffer from water retention.
However, if you have swollen ankles or other signs of water retention it’s best to make a doctor’s consultation room your first port of call.
Water retention is often a symptom of certain medical conditions including cirrhosis, kidney disease, and congestive heart failure.
If you are retaining water due to a medical problem, all a diuretic will do is help you manage a symptom.
Your doctor will be able to help you remove or control the cause.
Do Diuretics Cause Weight Loss?
Not really. The effect of a diuretic will give the appearance of weight loss but any weight lost is just temporary – until you take on water again.
10 Natural Diuretics That Can Help You Get Rid of Water Retention
1. Dandelion
There are many ways you can take advantage of the natural diuretic capabilities of dandelion.
Some people add the leaves to a salad, others chop up the roots to brew as a tea.
It’s also possible to buy dandelion extracts in supplement form. These days, dandelion teabags are a popular option too.
People have been using dandelion to get rid of water retention for many hundreds of years.
The French name for the plant is pissenlit. The translation is “wet the bed.” That’s information you should bear in mind before considering consuming dandelion too late in the day.
2. Fennel
Fennel is another popular natural remedy for water retention. It’s a member of the carrot family. As with carrots, the bulbous section that grows under the soil is part that’s valued as a food.
Both the bulb and the seeds of the plant offer many health benefits. Among other things, fennel can reduce inflammation and also boast antibacterial effects.
Like dandelion, fennel has a longstanding reputation as a diuretic.
Many people drink fennel tea to drain excess water from their bodies. Such teas are hot-selling items in many health food stores.
3. Asparagus
Not one of the cheaper vegetables, especially when it’s out of season, asparagus remains a popular food.
Those green spears of goodness are highly nutritious.
Eating asparagus is an excellent way to get more folate and vitamins A, C, E, and K.
Asparagus also contains the amino acid asparagine which stimulates kidney function and helps you to pass more water.
4. Coffee
Coffee is a diuretic but only if you avoid the decaffeinated kind. As with energy, it’s the caffeine that gives coffee the ability to keep you on the go.
However, caffeine’s ability to reduce water retention is quite mild. It’s abilities as an energy-provider are much more pronounced.
The results of a clinical review of 16 studies support the use of caffeine as a diuretic but it also shows it offers greater value for women than it does for men.
In addition to this, the research reveals something surprising—exercise counteracts caffeine’s ability to influence the amount of water the body retains.
Green coffee beans can also help with getting rid of retention but it is best used as a thermic food – as it has fat burning capabilities.
There are several supplements – such as the women’s fat burner LeanBean that utilizes green coffee as one of the main ingredients.
5. Garlic
Garlic is loaded with a sulfur compound called allicin. The same is true of onions.
Allicin is the compound that gives both vegetables such a distinctive smell.
One of the things sulfur does in the body is support healthy kidney function and reduce the likelihood of water retention.
Allicin is pretty powerful stuff. It’s antiviral, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic. Research shows allicin is also an antibiotic that can be effective against multi-drug resistant bacteria. It is also has immunity boosting properties.
6. Grapes
Grapes are high in potassium. Each piece of fruit provides 2.4 grams. Some diuretics cause the body to lose potassium.
Grapes help to put it back but if you feel the need to pee after you have eaten them, it’s not just the fruit’s natural juiciness that’s to blame.
Potassium helps the kidneys to produce water. The fact that they are so high in potassium and contain very little sodium makes grapes very good for purging the body of toxins and excess water.
7. Hawthorn
Hawthorn is a relative of the rose family. It’s a shrub that’s known for its distinctive red berries.
The combination of nutrients the plant provides reduce water retention and cause a diuretic effect by increasing urinary excretion and flow.
Often seen as a heart-friendly berry, hawthorn is also used for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.
8. Horsetail
Gardening enthusiasts consider horsetail a weed that gets in the way of more desirable plants. It may not be pretty but it does have value in other areas.
Horsetail is a popular folk remedy for water retention. The natural chemicals it provides work with the kidneys and helps you to get rid of excess water and toxins.
When researchers compared the abilities of horsetail to those of hydrochlorothiazide (a popular diuretic) the herb proved to be equally strong.
The big difference was, hydrochlorothiazide caused significant reductions in electrolytes. Horsetail did not.
9. Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a flowering plant gardeners are happy to add to their borders and, like the “weed” horsetail, it provides compounds that reduce water retention and help you to pee.
Research shows hibiscus also shares horsetail’s ability to rid the body of water without causing it to lose potassium.
10. Parsley
Parsley is another good option for people who are looking for a natural way to tackle water retention.
People often take advantage of its kidney-stimulating capabilities by seeping the leaves in hot water and drinking it as a herbal tea.
Apart from being good for purging the body of excess water, drinking parsley tea may help prevent kidney stones as well.
Because it’s high in antioxidants and Vitamin C, parsley is also good for boosting immune function and preventing oxidative stress.
Do Diuretics Cause Weight Loss? – Summary
- Weight loss is not permanent – any weight reduction will be quickly regained once you rehydrate.
- Natural diuretics exist. Foods such as asparagus, garlic, grapes and parsley are great for getting rid of water retention.
- Coffee is also a natural diuretic.
- Water pills can also held rid excess water and salt – these are available from you doctor if he or she deems necessary.
