EAT TO BEAT BLOAT

Retaining Lake Michigan? Try these foods to reduce water weight.

- ALYSSA JUNG

FEELING PUFFY after enjoying a delicious meal or during times of hormonal fluctuation is no fun. Bloating, a common complaint, can be caused by gas but can also happen when the body holds on to excess water, whether because of a salty meal, hormone levels, or medications such as some for hypertension that have fluid retention as a side effect.

One healthy quick fix for non-gas-related discomfort is eating foods that are natural diuretics. These help the kidneys make more urine to flush excess salt and water from the body, leading to frequent trips to pee and eventually a less bloated belly, says Laura lu, R.D.N., an intuitive-eating counselor in New York City.

You can find over-the-counter diuretic pills, but foods that are natural diuretics are a better bet. Water follows sodium in the body, which is why salty foods can make you retain water. Potassium and other electrolytes help balance things out by prompting your kidneys to flush out more sodium and the bloating water that accompanies it.

Give the meal below and the foods at right a try—after weeks of delicious but salty holiday treats, it may help you feel less balloon-like.