Eliminating excess fluids and other waste products through urine is a natural process that sometimes is interfered with an external circumstance or internal pathology pathology. It is then that diuretos and, if not enough, diuretic drugs come into play.
What son the diurets and what are they for?
What in colloquial language is urinating, in nephrology it is called diuresis. It is the Physiological process through which kidneys produce and eliminate urine. It happens naturally and involuntary, and accompanies us until the end of our day, provided that the kidney works. Diuresis is key to maintaining the balance between liquids and electrolytes of our body and contributes to the elimination of metabolic waste products.
The Nephrologist Guillermina Barril Cuadrado, an honor academic of the Spanish Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, explains that “the deficion of DIuretic refers to any substance that helps eliminate excess water and salt retained in the body through urine. ”
Factors that affect diuresis
UN ADULT UN REGISTRATION VALUES OF diuresis between 800 and 2000 milliliters per day. That these values register such a variable fork is explained by diverse factors, such as the amount of fluid ingested (that is, if we drink more or less water throughout the day), physical activity or temperature. Of the kidney
There are also pathological situations that can affect diuresis. «That retention of water and salt can have 3 orifenes, sometimes related: cardiac, renal and hepáto. Porso that written to the usual diuretic in patients with arterial hypertension and renal impairment, on the advanced day. Nephrologist
Can the diet improve diuresis?
Certain foods, due to its content in water or salt, there are an help or enturing the elimination of that excess of liquids. In fact, it is common to read headlines where they are talking about foods that are ‘natural diuretics’ referring to those Foods high in liquids and low salt. These foods can help us eliminate that excess of liquids and normal function of our kidneys, but They will never cure a pathology that affects diuresis.
In those camos, pharmacological help will be necessary, in the doses and doses that determine a nephrologist. «We have different types of diuretic drugs. They act to different locations of the kidney and are more or less powerful, it is necessary to adjust the dose and frequency according to the characteristics of the patient,» warns Barril Barril Barril Cuencia.
It is important to emphasize that They should not take diuretic to lose weight if there is no hay fluid retentionthat only contribute to the elimination of fluids and not body gauze.
Possible interactions between food and drugs
Foods, no matter how much are, have a physiological level effects. This is explained because they contain minerals, vitamins or other substances that affect in different ways to the different functions of our organs. In a healthy person it is barely relevant, but when we have a specific ailment, the fact that the Diet interact with medications That we take to treat it, it can be a problem.
This can happen when a drug prescribed to improve diuresis and we decided, at our own risk, take such an infusion diuretes that ‘natural diural tea’ can have unforeseen consequences that runs the patient’s health. «You should always consult with the doctor. If a diuretic is used in infusion or prepared with nale plants (horsetail, orthosifon, artichoke) should be discussed to avoid an effect (polyuria polyuria). In particular, in the event that diuretic drugs are already being taken, the expert warns.
For a person, the dietitian-nutritionist Ángel Nogueira points out that “the important thing is to be guided a balanced Mediterranean diet, without excess food with possible diuretic effect. Above all, in those people who by something some present present Polyuria, it is Dio, it is dioduria. Superior to what it drinks, they will have to take them in moderation.”
When also taking potassium salts
Potassium is one of the electrolyte minerals (that is, with electric charge) presents other body fluids in the bloody. It abounds in fresh fruits and vegetables, in general, but, special, in those of green leaf. Also, in legumes, tubers and nuts and oleagineous seeds. Among other function, this mineral favors the elimination of sodium through urine. By reducing the volume of accumulated liquids in the body, it also helps to maintain blood pressure at normal levels. It is what explains that it is prescribed if diuretos drugs for hypertension and, in some cases, potassium supplements may be needed.
When there is one Renal failure, the Nephrologist generally contraindica potassium roomsMay a retain day. «In general, with the diet, potassium needs can be balanced, provided that this diet is rich in fresh vegetables and fruits. However, in some cases, if the potassium is low and Laa de laa de laa de laa de laa de la Latico and the belonging. Necessary amount,» explains Guillermina Barril Cuadrado.
Couldn’t potassium dose be achieved only with the diet? The problem of trying with foods’ renal insufficiency is that the exact amount of potassium ingested by the food patient is accurate. «Because it is preferred to prescribe a potassium supplement in the rare cases of having low potassium levels. I allow us to control the excata amount the patient takes,» says the nephrróga.
Diuretic foods
Although classicamme is considered foods rich in potassium fruits and vegetables, not all have the same concentration of potassium. «On the contrary, meat and fish on paper have less potassium, but with greater bioavailability,» says Ángel Nogueira.
If there is no renal hay problem, The best diuretic is water Contributed from drinking water.
Fruit
The highest water content is recommended: watermelon, melon, pear and citrus fruits, in general. To this group are added banana, avocado, apricot or grapes. «In those of chronic renal cooling, if the potassium is greater than 5 the fruits with a higher potassium content will be restricted. If there is oliguria (decrease in urine production), dose and frequency will be adjusted,» the expert clarifies.
Vegetables
These others stand out: vegetables (leaf vegetables – chard, spinach, col, etc.), mushrooms in general, celery, artichoke, pumpkin, beets, and tomato.
Legumes and nuts
All legumes, in general, natural source son of potassium, especially the beans and chickpeas, although part of cooking is lost. Like all nuts, highlighting the pistachios.
Basic dietitian-nutritionist tips to improve diuresis
Hydration
Maintaining adequate hydrate helps prevent edema by stimulating the functions of the kidneys facilitating the elimination of liquids in the urine.
Drinking water must be the source director of hydration, which can be complemented
Reducing salt
As the objective does not retain water, «the primer factor that we implement a low salt diet,» explains dietitian-nutritionist. It points several ‘tricks’ to avoid it.
- Limit the consumption of high foods in salt, such as pickles (olives, pickles …), preserves (choose reduced in salt), processed meats, such as cold cuts and sausages, precooked foods, bag snacks, etc.
- Avoid industrial seasoning and vegetable broths in cubes, which usually carry quite salt
- Reduce the salt we use when preparing and cooking food
- Do not add table salt
Ensure potassium food sources
- At least 5 daily rations between fruits and vegetables (Above all, green leaf)
- At least 4 rations of legumes a week
- Dry fruits without salt almost daily
- Tubers several times a week (potato, sweet potato)
In case of renal cooling, the daily contribution of potassium will be adjusted.
Foods to avoid if there is fluid retention
Both in those cases in which a person note swelling in the ankles, and of women of fertile age during the premenstrual period in which it is more retaining liquids, it is advisable to monitor the diet to relieve esintomatology.
«The Council is simple: Avoid salt -rich foods, asesture potassium sources, have a good state of hydrate and follow a lifestyle act. Although, if the relevant son symptoms, the most important thing is to assess the cause that produces retention and treat it in a therapy way, «they conclude.
The Aldi Council
Given any anomalous change in your body, consult with your doctor. Do not self -medicate, or look for miracle food to solve it.
Guillermina Barril. Doctor of Medicine from the Autonomous University of Madrid. Residence in nephrology at the Gregorio Marañón General Hospital in Madrid. Deputy, Chief of Section and responsible for the Nephrology Service (4 years) at the University Hospital of the Princess of Madrid Associate Professor of the UAM. More than 130 publications in national and international magazines. More than 450 presentations to national and international congresses. Since 2000 he has developed the nephronutricó line at the Princess University Hospital. At present, despite being retired from public health, it follows these works at the Biomedical Research Foundation of Madrid and belonging to the Research Institute of the Princess Hospital. He is an academic of honor at the Spanish Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
