The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Rob (Toronto) on 07/03/2020
★★★★★
I believe for any chronic repetitive condition a food diary and elimination diet is probably the best thing one can do for edema. Rather than applying anti-inflammatory compounds you may get to the root cause of what is causing the inflammation. In my case I just kept note of when I would have the condition and what I ate the prior day. If I eat very cleanly, just some specific greens, teas, and little to no meat all is good. It seems the suspects for my edema/inflammation are milk products, soy milk with the added fillers, I only drink a Soy product which contains soy and water, which doesn't not cause issue. One should have their kidney's checked to rule out that they are functioning properly. Low salt of course.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Anon (Anon) on 04/29/2016
★★★★★
I've had varicose veins and pain and swelling in my lower legs on and off for years. The swelling started when I was taking aspirin and drinking coffee at work and not eating. I was also using birth control pills around the same time. The veins I still have, but I discovered after much searching that eating raw eggs or eating curry powder with food makes my lower legs and feet feel nice and warm. Coffee, chocolate, green and black tea make my legs hurt if I have too much. I also get swelling in my left leg and anxiety that seems diet related, I'm thinking from MSG, but I haven't figured that out yet. I found a tea at the grocery store that is a Chinese formula for lowering blood pressure and it works quite well. A juice from artichokes, lemons, and ginger I like. I blend it all in a blender and strain it through a clean wash cloth because the artichokes have thorns. Also cherries are so good. Also Jesus is so good :)
Dietary Changes
Posted by Albularyo (Chatham, Ontario, Canada) on 04/26/2013
★★★★★
For edema, it's not just sugar that needs avoiding, but all carbohydrates, in fact anything requiring Insulin to digest. What happens is that Insulin causes the kidneys to re-absorb salt and thus increases the water contents of the body. Historically humans were hunters and gatherers, they hunted the fattest animal they could find and they ate all of it, with very little else, ... And most importantly were able to live very healthy and energetic lives on that diet. Insulin was only needed for the little bit of fruits and vegetables they ate. Today's diet is the opposite from their's and some of us don't tolerate a mainly carbohydrate diet it all that well and end up diabetic and waterlogged, if not fat as well.
The upshot is, it takes only a few days on a NO-Carb diet and your waterlogged legs and feet will go back to normal. It's amazing to say the least.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Anon (Anon) on 02/02/2013
★★★★★
My mom gets swelling in her hands from eating too much sugar. Try not eating sugar. Sugar is also said to reduce potassium from the body.
