Water retention is a common problem, and instead of taking drugs, you can try home remedies for relief. The herb parsley is a rich source of antioxidants and a good source of vitamins C and A. Parsley is also a good source of folic acid and an excellent natural diuretic used in soups, salads, juice and as a tea. Parsley has a fresh, unique taste that may take some time to become accustomed to.
Parsley for Water Retention Relief
Brewing parsley tea is the best way to use parsley to aid in reducing water retention. Take two teaspoons of fresh parsley leaves, put them into one cup of hot water and let steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain and enjoy 3 times per day. Health foods stores also carry prepacked parsley tea packets.
Eat a fresh tabouli salad made with 2 to 3 cups of parsley leaves, 1 cup of bulgar wheat, 1/4 cup of green onions, a few mint leaves, 1/2 of cup of lemon juice and a dash of olive juice. Eating fresh parsley can significantly reduce water retention.
Use a juicer to make a healthy parsley drink. If you have a juicer, add a few springs to your favorite juice recipe or create a simple juice with 2 apples, 6 carrots, 1/2 cucumber, 1 rib of celery and 4 springs of parsley. The juicer will squeeze the important oils and nutrients out of the parsley, helping with water retention. Drink 2 to 3 times per day until your water retention symptoms disappear.
Drink parsley with cold water and lemon. Put a few springs of parsley into your water with a lemon wedge. This is not as strong as parsley tea, but in order to get relief from water retention you should increase your water intake, and adding a bit of parsley to your drinking water can help.