Diet to manage water retention and body odour

Water retention happens due to various reasons, such as, intake of too much salt, sugar, white rice, white flour and dal, low proteins, low haemoglobin, congestive heart failure, adrenal exhaustion, allergic reactions, deficiencies of B1 and B6, renal problems, premenstrual tension, or due to the intake of medications including oral contraceptives and painkillers. Instead of going in for diuretics, it is wiser to find and eliminate the underlying cause. Here are a few tips to prevent water retention:

Reduce the intake of salt and sugar Increase the intake of proteins such as sprouted moong, whole pulses, paneer, tofu, fish, eggs and low-fat curd

Check your haemoglobin level. If it is low, you could take iron and B-complex supplements. If it is normal, you could increase your intake of fruits and leafy vegetables

Don’t consume products made from refined flour such as regular biscuits (made from maida), naan, burgers, pizza, white bread, cakes, pastries, etc.

Increase the intake of vitamin C. The best dietary sources include guava, capsicum, oranges, sweet lime, tomatoes, pineapple, sour lime, cabbage, etc.

If you know that eating a certain food causes fluid retention in you, avoid it

Vitamin B6 has been found to draw off extra body water. The best dietary sources are wholewheat, brown rice, soya beans, alfalfa sprouts, wheat bran, whole pulses, green peas, etc.

BODY ODOUR

Most people wonder why they suffer from body odour despite keeping themselves clean and bathing multiple times a day. Nutritional shortages make metabolic procedures less efficient. The body is unable to detoxify effectively and by-products give out a strong body odour. Tight clothing and humidity slows down evaporation of sweat and it mixes with skin bacteria, producing an odour.

Other reasons for body odour could be magnesium and zinc deficiency. Dietary sources of magnesium and zinc are almonds, soya bean, leafy vegetables, oats, wheatgerm, eggs, lamb, chicken, wheat, corn, sesame seeds, etc. You could also be suffering from body odour due to the intake of certain types of food such as garlic, fish, fenugreek (methi) leaves, onions, eggs, fish, chicken, peas and beans. The obvious solution is to avoid the intake of such foods. A glass of coriander juice will also help to get rid of body odour.

Anjali Mukerjee (Nutritionist)

PHOTO: ISTOCK