Avoid Diuretic Drinks and Foods (Caffeine, Alcohol, Tea)

How much do you know about diuretics? Diuretics encourage your body to excrete urine. The more you consume beverages that are considered diuretics, the more urine you pass. Perhaps the diuretics you are aware of are those that are purchased from your local pharmacy. Physicians often prescribe pharmacological diuretics to help regulate the blood pressure through excretion of urine in hypertensive individuals, and people who retain fluids. However, there are individuals that should not take diuretics, and should also avoid food and drinks that contain dieresis-inducing substances.

Before you learn what food and drinks are diuretics, you should know what conditions or illnesses are contraindicated with diuretics.

Anuria

Individuals who have Anuria (the kidneys fail to produce urine) should not take diuretics. When an individual cannot pass urine, the volume of water inside the body increases as you consume food and drinks. Even if you don't drink anything the entire day, the body still produces urine because of intracellular processes. This refers to the processes and exchanges that happen in the body. As you inhale and exhale, substances and nutrients are exchanged between the cells of your body. As such, waste products like water are excreted as urine or sweat.

Dehydration

When you're dehydrated, the body's reserve of water is used up. As such, the body does not have enough water to use for cellular exchange. If you take in diuretics, or food and drinks that are considered diuretics, you will aggravate the dehydrated condition. Dehydration can become very serious. It's much more difficult for your body to go without liquids, than it is for your body to go without food.

Diarrhea

When you have diarrhea, you have continuous bowel movements, even if you don't eat or drink. This is usually a symptom of an underlying condition that requires medical intervention. A person who passes watery bowels three times within 24 hours is said to be experiencing diarrhea. You can measure the frequency of diarrhea in infants by counting the times you must do a serious diaper change. When you have diarrhea, the water and electrolyte balance of your body is affected. You will tend to get thirsty and should drink more water. However, you will also aggravate the effects of the diarrhea if you take diuretic substances.

Gout

Gout is a severe type of arthritis, but there are differences between gout and rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. The pain is severe and usually involves inflammation of your big toe. Gout is caused by the increase of uric acid in your blood. Uric acid is generally harmless and is produced by the body as part of the waste products of cellular exchanges. However, in excess it tends to form calcium crystals. (These can be compared to grains of salt, only microscopic). These calcium crystals travel along with your blood and pass through arteries and veins. Your body naturally excretes uric acid, but if it's not effectively excreted through your urine or feces, it is reabsorbed and circulates again in your body. One problem with gout is that the crystals may wound the passageways they travel along. For instance, when uric acid crystals go through your kidneys, they may get stuck in there and form into a kidney stone. That's why pharmacological diuretics are used with caution in individuals with kidney diseases. When you ingest too many diuretics, there is an excess of water that passes out more easily from the body as urine. When this happens, the circulating uric acid in your blood gets more concentrated, predisposing you to developing a kidney disease through a collection of the crystals in the kidney ducts.

The following food and drinks have diuretic qualities - as reported in the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. Although they have other healthy attributes, care should be taken if you fit the profile of someone who should not be consuming diuretics.

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   Parsley

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   This vegetable is an antioxidant. Individuals who would like to prevent cancer of the lungs and other areas of the body may grow fond of eating this herb. However, it is also a diuretic and should not be taken in large amounts by individuals with the conditions mentioned above.

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2. 2
   Black Tea

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   This type of tea is oxidized longer than Oolong and green teas. It is distinctly stronger than the other teas.

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3. 3
   Siberian Ginseng

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   Like its Asian counterpart, Siberian ginseng is great for stimulating an individual's immune system. It helps to combat the common cold and flu and the herpes virus, and to promote mental alertness.

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4. 4
   Horsetail

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   Horsetail can be eaten raw or cooked. However, this perennial plant should not be eaten for an extended period of time, as it can become toxic in the body. These plants are used as raw materials for manufacturing scouring pads and item for polishing wood. Because of their green coloring, they are also used as dyes. Ancient Romans used this plant as a thickening powder and made a mixture of tea from it as well.

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5. 5
   Saw Palmetto

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   Historically, the fruit of this plant is used for treating various conditions in the urinary and reproductive systems. The ripe fruit of Saw Palmetto is used as a medicine to treat an enlarged prostate. There is still no evidence that it is an effective treatment for pelvic pain and upper respiratory conditions.

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6. 6
   Dandelion

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   Traditionally, this flower has been known to treat bile and liver illnesses, and used as a diuretic. In the Middle-Ages, it was called, "Piss-A-Beds", for it's effectiveness in treating children for bed-wetting.

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7. 7
   Corn Silk

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   When farmers harvest their corn, they also get to harvest the corn silk. Corn Silk is eaten or brewed as tea, used for for treating hypertension, bladder infection, prostate infection, diabetes and high cholesterol.

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8. 8
   Green Tea

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   The extract of Green Tea helps to promote weight loss by stimulating fat oxidation through thermo genesis or production of heat.

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9. 9
   Stinging Nettle

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   This flowering perennial plant has long been used as herbal medicine. It is used as a remedy for arthritis. When food is scarce, this can be cooked and eaten like spinach. In Ireland, it's common to make a delicious soup from the tender young leaves. Nettle is also very high in Vitamin K.

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10. 10
    Artichoke

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    The edible part of the artichoke is the flower bud. It's harvested before it flowers, and can be cooked and eaten. It has antioxidant properties and is also used for manufacturing wine in Italy.

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11. 11
    Juniper Berries

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    It is not surprising to learn that the juniper berries are a natural diuretic. This berry is used to making gin and sodas, and is used as a spice in Scandinavian and European cuisine.

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12. 12
    Cucumber

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    This vegetable is a great addition to salads. The dried seeds of the cucumber are also useful in treating children infested with tapeworms. Cucumber juice can help soothe heartburn or an upset stomach. When drank daily, cucumber juice can help manage arthritis and gout, as well as control eczema.

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13. 13
    Coffee

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    One of the most popular beverages, coffee decreases the risk of dying from heart disease, respiratory disease, stroke, injuries and accidents. This is according to a study published by the National Institutes of Health. Coffee contains more than 1,000 compounds that affect one's health.

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14. 14
    Alcohol

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    This beverage is a known diuretic. Alcohol decreases the production of the hormone vasopressin, which in turn stimulates your kidneys to reabsorb water. This mechanism makes you excrete urine more when drinking alcohol. In fact, for every 1 ml of alcohol beverage you drink, you increase your urinary excretion by 10 ml.

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15. 15
    Caffeinated Soft Drinks

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    Drinking soda or soft drinks leads to dehydration. You'll urinate more because some sodas are caffeinated and have diuretic properties. Soda also contains sodium, making you thirstier.

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Many of the foods and drinks mentioned above are those that many people consume, at least every so often. Moderation is the key in preventing health problems, along with consultation with the proper health professional in case of illness.

• Dry mouth.
• Tired or listless. Children are less active than they normally are.
• Thirst.
• Decreased urination.
• With infants - no wet diapers for three hours or more.
• Trouble producing tears.
• Dry skin.
• Headache. The headache is similar to a hangover, as the main cause of a hangover is dehydration.
• Constipation
• Lightheaded or dizzy.

• US National Library of Medicine
• National Institutes of Health
• The Journal of Physiology

What are some good flavorful hot drinks that are not diuretic?

Have marginal blood sugar level and urinate frequently during nights. Like to drink a hot tea in the evenings, but know it is diuretic. Article just tells me what are diuretics. I am looking for something that is not diuretic.

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