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Most Kenyans including myself consider fat legs a beauty statement, alongside a long neck and small waist. However, I have noticed that lately many people with fat legs have an underlying unhealthy condition that is causing the legs to retain water.
My heart goes out to these people when they come to our clinic and tell us that they have been to many different doctors and taken a lot of medication in vain. Some of these patients are under 30 years of age. One of them had had the condition for more than seven years and was in near tears with frustration. She used to wear plain shoes so people would not notice the swelling in her toes. She had stopped wearing skirts, she told me, and dresses for a long time. Her toes were so swollen that she joked with me that they resembled cooked sausages.
When she got well, she was so excited, that she went out and bought a new wardrobe with pretty knee-length skirts and some cute sandals to go with them. She was smiling all the way to my clinic to show off her new look. Her skin had also improved in a big way and she was glowing. This came as a bonus, for her skin became radiant due to drinking more water and better eating habits.
The problem and cure
Swelling of feet usually indicates that there is sluggishness in your main “sieves” — i.e. the kidneys. It is important for you to see a qualified health professional. Most times they will use a diuretic to drain out the water.
Diuretics need the supervision of a doctor because some can deplete the body of some important minerals, especially potassium. Another cause of feet and leg swelling could be thrombosis. This is a very serious condition that involves clotting of blood and may require hospitalisation when acute. It should never be taken lightly until checked properly by a doctor.
The biggest mistake people make when they notice their legs retaining water is to stop drinking water. That is a terrible move and can be fatal. You need lots of water to allow your blood to flow efficiently, and flush out toxins. It would be ideal to add some natural blood thinners like onions and garlic to your diet. It is also good to add natural foods that help your kidney to function better. These include, but are not limited to, coriander, parsley and corn silk.
In addition to seeing your doctor, cut down on your intake of salt as this makes the situation worse. All the patients I have treated for this condition were big lovers of tea or coffee, and most of them ate spinach almost daily. Foods that are high in oxalic acid together with animal fat help to form kidney stones. These include tea, coffee, cocoa and cooked spinach.
Stop eating animal flesh including chicken. Eat lots of the right kind of vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, pumpkin leaf, okra, etc. Include lemon juice, garlic and olive oil as part of your diet. Read our previous article on water therapy in Your Health column to help you get started on correct water drinking. Water should be drunk in between meals as opposed to during meals. This will greatly relieve your body and help your bowels to move properly without strain that can contribute to the problem.
Last but not least, try to get a reflexology session twice a week for the first three weeks then once a week for a while; then down to a regular once a month. This will help dislodge the blockages and make your recovery much faster.
It is good to make informed choices about your health, so read as much as you can about the condition you have and discuss it with your doctor to help you make the right choices. We have at our clinic and different health books.
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