Tight Ring? Foods That Slim Swollen Fingers

By Elizabeth Narins, WomensHealthMag editor

If you’ve ever used a tub of butter, a bar of soap, and a tube of lube to pry a ring up over your knuckle and off your hand, know this: Rings don’t shrink. Your fingers swell.

When your digits feel puffy and swollen, it’s fluid retention that is to blame. Medically referred to as edema, fluid retention is excess fluid collected in the body’s tissues. Commonly seen in swollen feet and lower legs, this swelling could also occur in your stomach, face, arms, and–as ring-wearers may painfully notice–in your hands. The good news: “It can be avoided,” says registered dietitian and Women’s Health nutrition expert Keri Glassman, who attests that the right food choices can save you from swelling. Here, she helps us hone in on the puffy-finger problem.

Q: What causes puffy, swollen fingers?

A high-sodium diet is often to blame, says Glassman. High levels of sodium can cause your body to retain excess fluid, making you look and feel puffy all over. Even if you’re eating healthy, you may still be getting added salt from foods you’d never suspect, such as bread, cottage cheese and dressings, she says.

Q: Which foods should be avoided to prevent edema?

Watch out for foods that are loaded with sodium, such as soy sauce, deli meats, pizza, and fries, as well as cottage cheese and olives, says Glassman. (And be sure to steer clear of the 8 Saltiest Foods in America.) Highly-processed foods, like chips, are often very high in sodium, too.

(Side note: Glassman warns that processed foods are commonly low in fiber, which can cause a backup in your intestines and lead to constipation. Although this bloating isn’t the same thing as fluid retention, it could cause an equally uncomfortable stomach bulge. Just imagine a car going 5 miles per hour on the highway as opposed to 65, she says, and then think of the traffic that would result. The more time food spends in your intestines, the more fermented it becomes, and the more gas it creates.)

Q: Are there any foods you can eat to reduce water retention?

Keep fluids flowing through your body by choosing water-rich foods and natural diuretics, such as the smart ingredients that Glassman recommends:

• Dandelion greens: A natural flushing agent, dandelion greens will help relieve your swollen tummy. Try adding them to your salad for a tangy and slightly bitter flavor, or steam them and enjoy as a side dish during dinner.

• Fruits and vegetables: The high water content in most fruits and vegetables can help rid the body of excess fluid: The more water you take in, the less your body tries to hold onto.

• Celery and fennel: These tasty, crunchy veggies act as diuretics, and help your body to let go of excess water it’s retaining.

• Tea (peppermint, ginger, and chamomile): Drinking fluids such as tea can help food pass through the stomach and (bonus) can help relieve gas.

Source: WomensHealthMag