What are Diuretics?
Diuretics are certain class of medications that are used to treat extra fluid or salt present in the body. These cause Diuresis, in which, they minimize the reabsorption of water from the kidneys. In simple terms, it is a condition where the amount of urine produced by the body increases. It also causes a drop in blood volume.
These type of drugs are often prescribed to patients who suffer from:
- High blood pressure (hypertension),
- Heart failure,
- Swollen tissues (edema) and
- Many kidney diseases,
- Fluid retention, etc.
Diuretics can also help in maintaining a balance of minerals like potassium, magnesium, sodium, etc. inside your body.
They can cause havoc inside your body when consumed in excess.
Diuretics can seriously put your body in a state of imbalance. More often consumed for other purposes, they can do you harm without you noticing it. In a normal person frequent intake can cause dehydration, dizziness, headaches, muscle cramps, excessive urination, etc.
Some naturally occurring diuretics are:
- Caffeine in coffee, tea, and sodas, which inhibits sodium reabsorption,
- Alcohol in beer, wine, and mixed drinks, inhibits secretion of Anti Diuretic Hormone in our body.
List of Naturally occurring diuretics that you should only consume in a limit.
Alcohol:
Now as we know alcohol already has a bad reputation. It is a famous diuretic and can have potent effects on a person’s mental state. It can cause a list of adverse health effects. Some include, horrendous dehydration, blackout, liver failure, kidney diseases and many more. It’s intake should always be checked and minimized.
Caffeine:
Caffeine in tea, coffee, soda, etc., can cause mild, short-term diuretic effects. After consumption of a high dose of caffeine, a person may feel recurrent need for urination, headache and lethargy in general. Regular intake of caffeine can make people develop a tolerance to caffeine. As a result, we should try to minimize the intake of caffeine every day.
Nigella sativa:
Nigella sativa or black cumin, black seed, or black caraway, is a natural diuretic and hypotensive plant (blood pressure decreasing). It can increase your urine output up to 30% if consumed regularly for 15-20 days. It increases the excretion of ions like Cl-, Na+, K+ and urea, while decreasing the blood pressure. If consumed by a non-hypertensive person, it can cause Hypotension and low energy levels in the body along with excessive urination.
Hibiscus:
Hibiscus sabdariffa or roselle or red sorrel is another diuretic plant. Often used as a medicinal supplement, it is also consumed as tea. High intake of Hibiscus can cause frequent urination along with headache and muscle cramps.
