If you feel that you are about to start your monthly menstrual cycle, fluid retention and bloating are common issues.  A natural treatment for fluid retention is to be sure to limit your salt intake drastically.  Pass on the salt shaker because salt will increase your fluid retention.  If you're cooking and the recipe calls for salt, try to use a limited amount, or substitute with pepper or any other spice that would be appropriate for your dish.  While you shouldn't eliminate salt from your diet completely, it's a good idea to limit your consumption of fast food and any processed foods.  These foods are jam-packed with salt and will only increase fluid retention in your legs.

A naturally remedy for fluid retention and to cut down on bloating, reach for a banana.  Because bananas are very high in potassium, they will really help if you are retaining water.  If you don't like bananas on their own, you can try to add them to a smoothie or added to your cereal.  If that still doesn't sound appetizing, you can also try to eat raisins to achieve the same results.

Cranberry juice

Fluid retention in the legs and ankles is a common problem.  You can try using an ice pack to reduce the swelled size of your lower limbs.  To make an ice pack, simply fill a plastic zip top bag with ice and then wrap the bag with a light towel (a hand towel or dish towel works well).  Just apply this ice pack to your ankles for about ten minutes.  Do not apply ice directly to the skin, as this can cause frostbite.  If you don't have the materials needed to make an ice pack, you can also use a bag of frozen veggies.  During warmer months, you can also dip your feet (up to your ankles) in an ice bath.  If you suffer from diabetes, do not soak your feet in an ice bath, unless instructed to do so by a health care professional.

Cabbage is a natural diuretic and is an excellent natural treatment for fluid retention in the legs.  You can add it to your sandwich or to a salad.  Coleslaw with your lunch is also a great way to get some cabbage in your diet.

Cranberry juice is a natural diuretic and is very useful as a home remedy for fluid retention in legs.  You don't even need to do much preparation for this natural treatment; you can swig straight from the bottle.

Fluid retention can cause bloating, which is very uncomfortable.  This can be brought on by overindulging in rich foods.  If you've treated yourself a bit too much, try reaching for some plain, low-fat yogurt with active cultures.  You'll find that these active cultures will help with digesting those rich foods and will increase the amount of good bacteria in your digestive system.  This is a very effective natural remedy for fluid retention.

If your water retention is caused by menstruation, you will find that drinking more water can help.  While this may seem counter-intuitive, it actually works very well to flush out your system and greatly helps with bloating.  Be sure that you're getting eight to ten glasses a day.  Please keep in mind that while this is a great natural treatment for fluid retention, it is advised to only be done by women that are suffering from fluid retention due to their monthly periods.  If your fluid retention is due to another (medical) reason, ask your health care professional whether drinking more water will help your situation.

To battle fluid retention, a wonderful natural treatment is to increase your daily dosage of vitamin C and vitamin A.  Both of these essential vitamins will help strengthen the capillaries and relieve fluid retention.