Water retention not only makes you feel uncomfortable, it can also make you look less attractive. At its worst, water retention can cause an overall bloated appearance including facial puffiness and bags under the eyes. However, there are several simple, natural ways to reduce water retention so you look and feel better. To improve facial puffiness due to water retention, you need to take care of your overall health, especially the process that helps cleanse your body: the kidney filtration system.

 

According to one of the health evaluation methods created in ancient Asia—the art of diagnosing the condition of your health by studying the face—the region below the eye corresponds to the kidneys, the organs that filter toxins from your bloodstream. Therefore, this ancient approach to health attributes eye bags to stagnation or sluggishness in the kidneys. To address water retention problems, you need to help the kidneys cleanse your body by changing your diet and drinking plenty of fluids such as juice or herbal teas and pure water.

Dietary changes

Causes of water retention are numerous, and poor diet can be a major contributor. To help release excess fluids from your body and enhance your overall health, reduce or cut out fatty foods, especially meats, simple refined sugars, and table salt. Replace these with vegetables, fresh fruits, and herbal seasonings.

Another dietary way to get rid of unwanted fluids from your body is to change your intake of liquids. Eliminate or cut down on coffee, carbonated drinks, and alcohol, and cut out diet soda because it’s high in sodium. Replace these beverages with pure water. In addition to adding or eliminating certain foods and liquids from your diet, you could include herbs, juices, and teas to help you get rid of excess fluids.

Cleansing herbs

Parsley has long been added to herbal medicines for its ability to help cure many ills including kidney dysfunction. Combine parsley with foods such as salads or try a parsley salad (stems removed) all by itself. It’s delicious with a vinaigrette or lemon dressing.

Horseradish, believed to be one of the more potent herbal diuretics, is another food used to eliminate excess water from the kidneys. A traditional preparation consists of one ounce of fresh chopped horseradish root, one-half ounce of bruised mustard seed, and one pint of boiling water. Let the horseradish and mustard seed soak in the water in a covered dish for four hours, strain, and take three tablespoons three times a day. You can also grate fresh horseradish into your favorite sauces.

Healthy juices

Try celery and lemon juice to cleanse impurities from the bloodstream. Peach juice promotes urination, which helps eliminate stored waste, whereas pear juice cleanses the bowels and kidneys; cranberry juice contains a natural fruit acid which can also aid elimination.

Herbal teas

Adding herbal teas to your diet can also help purge your body of excess fluids. Make your own by purchasing bulk herbs or buy one of the many packaged herbal teas formulated specifically for detoxification and cleansing. Check the labels.

Beauty rest

Like diet, sleep habits can affect fluid retention in your body. In fact, sleeping positions help determine where fluids settle on your face. To help this problem, you may find it useful to sleep on your back with your head and upper body slightly elevated. Otherwise, fluids can pool in your face, creating facial puffiness and eye bags.

Facial masks

As an added measure to help release fluids from your body, facial masks, such as the Rejuvenating Enzyme Mask help reduce facial puffiness. Look for anti-inflammatory and anti-puffiness products that contain seaweed in your natural products store. Seaweeds are cool and soothing, help reduce inflammation, and are high in tannic acids, natural astringents that won’t dry your skin; or use chamomile, calendula, or rosemary.