Dr. Neelu Kailash

Here are 7 ways to beat the bloat and eliminate excess fluid from your body

1. Avoid sugar

Most people think of salt in relation to fluid retention. It is true that excess salt in the diet can aggravate fluid retention, but sugar is more likely to cause the fluid retention in the first place. Sugar is a carbohydrate, and all carbohydrates, if consumed in excess can promote fluid retention. This is because sugar promotes your pancreas to release insulin. A consistently high blood level of insulin stimulates your kidneys to retain fluid and sodium. Consuming excess sodium in your diet can aggravate this. If you want to strip your body of excess fluid, base your diet on vegetables, salads, seafood, poultry, eggs and meat (ideally grass fed), along with healthy fats such as olive oil, avocados and coconut oil.

2. Avoid dairy products

Dairy products cause a lot of lymphatic congestion for many people. This is especially so if you have the lymphatic body type. People with this body type are prone to poor circulation and fluid retention, and dairy products aggravate this. It is the protein in dairy products (called casein) that is the culprit. L-body type figure control tablets are specifically formulated with herbs and nutrients that assist the function of the lymphatic system and the circulatory system, to clear excess fluid from the body.

3. Find out if you have any allergies, and then avoid those foods

Food allergies are an extremely common cause of fluid retention. This makes sense because if you ingest a food you are allergic to; your body will consider it toxic and aim to dilute it. Hence your body will hold on to a whole lot of extra fluid. The congestion in your lymphatic system caused by allergies can also make you feel fatigued, depressed and give you a foggy head. It can be difficult to determine food allergies and it’s best to get the help of a healthcare practitioner. However the most common foods to cause allergy or intolerance are wheat, gluten, dairy products, corn, soy, nuts, eggs and artificial additives such as food colors.

4. Assist your lymphatic system to clear toxins and remove excess fluid

You can achieve this by avoiding the foods already mentioned, and by increasing your vegetable intake. All vegetables help to improve lymphatic flow and waste elimination, but some are more effective than others. Fresh herbs such as parsley and cilantro, asparagus and celery are well known for their ability to help clear excess fluid from your body. Some herbs are particularly helpful also; they include uva ursi, juniper berry and buchu leaf. These ingredients are combined in fluid relief tablets and can provide relief from edema.

5. Have your thyroid checked

An underactive thyroid gland is a common cause of fluid retention. It can also cause dry skin, fatigue, low mood, scalp hair loss and weight gain. All extremely common symptoms. The most common cause of an underactive thyroid gland is hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This is an autoimmune disease and is actually the most common autoimmune disease in the world. Mild cases of hypothyroidism often go undiagnosed for some time. If you suffer with the symptoms i’ve mentioned, please see your doctor for a thyroid blood test. You can also learn much more in our book your thyroid problems solved and you can learn about autoimmune problems here. Thyroid health capsules are an ideal way to support your thyroid gland.

6. Strengthen your veins

You need good, strong veins in order to carry blood throughout your body. Veins and lymphatic vessels in the legs are particularly prone to weakness, and that can leave them unable to carry blood up towards the heart. The result is fluid pooling in the ankles and legs. Vitamin c and bioflavonoids are the most important nutrients to strengthen vessels walls. It is very difficult to obtain enough of these nutrients in fresh produce because a lot of fresh produce isn’t actually that fresh – unless you grow it yourself in a vegetable patch at home. If you suffer with fluid on your legs, a vitamin c with rosehips supplement may help.

7. Rule out a liver, kidney or heart problem

In rare instances, congestive heart failure, or portal hypertension can cause an excess of fluid to accumulate in the lower body. If you have significant fluid problems, please see your doctor. The earlier these conditions are diagnosed, usually the better the outcome.
If these suggestions do not help you, please consult your doctor for a thorough evaluation.

Pruritus Vulvae is the most common cause of vulvar soreness and abnormal discharge in adolescent girls. The growing years are a transition phase where most body parts are undergoing changes to reach the adult stage. While some changes would be obvious externally, there are a lot of internal changes, which would not be very apparent. And for growing girls, especially the changes that they see in their private parts are worrisome, sometimes unpleasant and uncomfortable. About 50% of them would not even discuss these with someone to avoid embarrassment.

Some amount of vaginal discharge is normal and contains bacteria, which are essential for a normal genital health. It also provides lubrication and keeps the area clean. However, the amount, color, and type of discharge can vary and is a good indication of any underlying abnormal condition. Most genital tract issues manifest with a change in the vaginal discharge along with irritation or soreness.

In adolescent girls, the most common problem is pruritus vulvae, which is itching of the vulva region. It is a variant of contact dermatitis caused by irritation. In the growing years, the vulva is thin and delicate with a neutral pH. This makes it easily irritable, unlike in mature women, who also have the protection of pubic hair, thick skin, and labial fat pads. This irritation leads to the condition called pruritus vulvae.

Causes of soreness:
These are primarily non-infectious and infectious (genital).

Noninfectious causes:

1. Poor hygiene leading to irritation, soreness and itching
2. Contamination with urine or feces
3. Mechanical irritation from itching, use of toilet paper, ill-fitting undergarments.
4. Chemical irritation from soaps, detergents, shampoo, chlorinated water, etc.
5. Foreign body such as toilet paper leading to vaginal discharge can cause vulval irritation
6. Skin diseases like atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, or psoriasis presents with vulvar symptoms too in the form of soreness and itching

Infectious causes:

1. Sexually transmitted infections like trichomoniasis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.
2. Viral infections like genital herpes and genital warts.
3. Fungal infections such as Candida such as and tinea are rarely the cause of pruritus vulvae in prepubertal females.
4. Worms like pinworms which move from the anus to the vagina, causing itching
5. Bacteria like Shigella, Yersinia and E. coli can also lead to non-sexually transmitted infections and subsequent symptoms like soreness and discharge.

Prevention/Management:

1. Awareness is the first step in prevention. The girl must be educated about the changes her body is going through and the reasons behind it.
2. Hygiene habits, especially after urination or passing feces, should be enforced.
3. Avoid undergarments that are tight fitting and can be irritating
4. Avoid soaps/chemicals when cleaning the genital area
5. Topical creams (emollients/hydrocortisone) are usually effective
6. Infections would need a course of antibiotics

When the girl is complaining of soreness and itching, it is best to visit a doctor to get a thorough examination and manage accordingly.