What Liquids Can Best Help You Urinate?

Our bodies produce various waste products that we need to expel regularly. Substances that help you urinate are generally known as diuretics, and they help your body increase its rate of urination. You should always consult a physician if you're experiencing difficulty urinating or are considering taking a non-prescription medication or supplement to help you urinate.

Urination

Your body produces urine as a natural byproduct. From your bloodstream, your kidneys process wastes and excess water, the combination of which is known as urea. The urine then travels to the bladder and gets expelled once you're ready to urinate. Water retention, or edema, occurs for a variety of reasons, and prevents you from expelling water. If you experience urination, this may be caused by health issues such as kidney failure, urinary tract infection, prostate enlargement or other issues, according to Medline Plus, a service of the National Institutes of Health.

Caffeine

Liquids that contain caffeine, such as coffee and soft drinks, can help some people urinate. Caffeine, according to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's McKinley Health Center, has diuretic effects on the body 2. However, because caffeine is normally found in liquids, the increased urination is often offset by the water content of the drink. In other words, while drinking caffeinated beverages may help you urinate more, you retain about the same amount of water because of the water content of the caffeinated drink.

Water

Your body needs water for a number of reasons, including temperature control, protecting sensitive tissues and for producing urea to get rid of wastes. Drinking more water can help you urinate more frequently. The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you drink enough water to replace the fluids your body loses daily, but how much you drink depends on several factors. If, for example, you regularly perform vigorous exercise, you should drink several glasses of water once you complete your activity.

"Natural" Diuretics

There may be other liquids and dietary supplements that may aid in urination. However, "natural" diuretic dietary supplements can be harmful or contain ingredients that may interfere with any current medications. The FDA does not have to approve a dietary supplement before a manufacturer releases it into the market, so be very careful with any product making claims that it is a natural diuretic or can help you urinate.