Low Salt Diet for Swollen Feet

salt

Swollen feet (and sometimes ankles and legs) are a common problem. Swollen feet can be caused by several mechanisms, including:

• Injury/infection (causes swelling to one foot only)
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Pregnancy
• Obesity
• Older age
• Prolonged standing

If your feet tend to swell, drinking more water may help to relieve swelling.

Swollen Feet and Avoidance of Salt

Method

• If your feet and lower legs swell, be sure that you are drinking adequate amounts of fluid.
• Try to drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day.

Why It Works

If you do not drink enough water, your body perceives this as a “threat” and will attempt to hold on to what water your body contains. Water is stored outside the cells in the extracellular spaces. This stored water will announce itself as swollen ankles and feet. This is one of the reasons why people’s feet swell more in hot weather, during the summer months. When you drink the amount of water your body naturally requires, your body will rid itself of the excess instead of holding on to water in the form of edema, or swelling of the feet.

Precautions

Swelling of the feet and legs can sometimes be caused by serious medical conditions. If your swelling has a sudden onset, is severe and is not relieved by resting, consult your physician. If your swelling is accompanied by shortness of breath or other symptoms, you should see your physician immediately. Anyone who is on a fluid-restricted diet for a health condition should not drink more fluids than recommended by their physician.

More Remedies

• Click here for all Swollen Feet remedies