Your kidneys are the most important organ for controlling your fluid balance. If you had no kidneys, all the fluid you drink would accumulate in your blood and around your body's cells, and all the waste products normally excreted by your kidneys would stay inside you and poison you. You would become very ill and soon die.
Kidney stress over many years can reduce the kidneys' ability to siphon excess fluid out of your body - leading to water retention. Some major causes of kidney stress include eating too much salt, sugar, protein or fat, and deficiencies of vitamin B6 and the minerals magnesium and selenium. Mercury (as found in tooth fillings) and other toxic substances can also harm your kidneys.
Your kidneys exert careful control over sodium
Two-thirds of your body's fluid has to reside inside your cells, and one-third outside. If this balance is disrupted, your cells could burst by absorbing too much water. Alternatively they would collapse if they do not get enough water. Levels of sodium and other minerals control this water balance. Water is attracted to minerals, so if the mineral concentrations inside and outside your cells are correct, the proportions of water should also be correct - which means no water retention!
Minerals attract water by means of tiny electrical charges formed when they dissolve in water. These electrical charges also decide whether the minerals end up inside or outside your cells. When minerals are dissolved in water they separate into positively charged sodium particles (ions) and negatively charged chloride particles. This water can then conduct electricity. Nerve cells are especially dependent on electrical charges to carry messages to your brain, spinal cord and muscles. Those minerals which play an important role due to their ability to carry electrical charges are known as electrolytes.
Prevent water retention with the right diet
We have all heard about the foods we should or should not eat to help prevent clogged arteries which could lead to a heart attack, but rarely do we hear any dietary advice for the benefit of our kidneys. Yet a lot of research has been done into the effects of various foods on the health of our kidneys. Since your kidneys play such a vital role in helping to prevent water retention, you could benefit from paying attention to these research findings if you think you may be suffering from this problem.
Cut down on sugar, salt and fat
Not only can sugar encourage the kidneys to retain sodium (which could make you retain fluid) but it also has a directly damaging effect on your kidneys and could in time lead to enlarged kidneys and kidney stones. Salt is found in salty foods such as bacon and smoked items. Fat is hidden in cakes, pastries, dips, desserts, ice cream, chocolate and deep-fried foods. Sugar is also found in many of these foods, as well as in candies, sweetened drinks and breakfast cereals.
Click here for more water retention information and where to get the waterfall diet book.
Kidney stress over many years can reduce the kidneys' ability to siphon excess fluid out of your body - leading to water retention. Some major causes of kidney stress include eating too much salt, sugar, protein or fat, and deficiencies of vitamin B6 and the minerals magnesium and selenium. Mercury (as found in tooth fillings) and other toxic substances can also harm your kidneys.
Your kidneys exert careful control over sodium
Two-thirds of your body's fluid has to reside inside your cells, and one-third outside. If this balance is disrupted, your cells could burst by absorbing too much water. Alternatively they would collapse if they do not get enough water. Levels of sodium and other minerals control this water balance. Water is attracted to minerals, so if the mineral concentrations inside and outside your cells are correct, the proportions of water should also be correct - which means no water retention!
Minerals attract water by means of tiny electrical charges formed when they dissolve in water. These electrical charges also decide whether the minerals end up inside or outside your cells. When minerals are dissolved in water they separate into positively charged sodium particles (ions) and negatively charged chloride particles. This water can then conduct electricity. Nerve cells are especially dependent on electrical charges to carry messages to your brain, spinal cord and muscles. Those minerals which play an important role due to their ability to carry electrical charges are known as electrolytes.
Prevent water retention with the right diet
We have all heard about the foods we should or should not eat to help prevent clogged arteries which could lead to a heart attack, but rarely do we hear any dietary advice for the benefit of our kidneys. Yet a lot of research has been done into the effects of various foods on the health of our kidneys. Since your kidneys play such a vital role in helping to prevent water retention, you could benefit from paying attention to these research findings if you think you may be suffering from this problem.
Cut down on sugar, salt and fat
Not only can sugar encourage the kidneys to retain sodium (which could make you retain fluid) but it also has a directly damaging effect on your kidneys and could in time lead to enlarged kidneys and kidney stones. Salt is found in salty foods such as bacon and smoked items. Fat is hidden in cakes, pastries, dips, desserts, ice cream, chocolate and deep-fried foods. Sugar is also found in many of these foods, as well as in candies, sweetened drinks and breakfast cereals.
Click here for more water retention information and where to get the waterfall diet book.