I’ve heard that leeks, asparagus and other vegetables are mild diuretics. What specifically do these vegetables contain that promote water expulsion? Is it possible that they could dehydrate?
Diuretic does not equal dehydration. Diuretics help your body pass excess water out of your body. This is a good thing. Basically the opposite of salt which helps your body retain excess water.
But they key point is that no, eating a bunch of asparagus will not dehydrate you. There’s actually a ton of water in asparagus that will hydrate you more than anything you pee out.
Biggest myth related to this is that coffee dehydrates you. It absolutely doesn’t. The water in coffee more than makes up for any diuretic effects.
Most vegetables absolutely do dehydrate the colon due to the high amounts of undigested fiber. This is why most people that eat high fiber have dry stools and also why they have to drink a lot more water and fluids to stay hydrated.