a few things to consider:
alcohol drains magnesium from various tissues [
among other things] (1),
magnesium loss screws with your electrolytes: potassium goes down, calcium goes up [
not good], sodium goes up too [
also not good] (2)
excess sodium is linked to orthostatic edema [
position-dependent swelling of lower extremities] (3)
1. Magnesium homeostasis and alcohol consumption (2008)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19271417
Abstract
Clinical and experimental evidence indicates alcohol consumption as one of the major causes of magnesium loss from several tissues. As a result of this loss, serum magnesium tends to decrease while urinary magnesium excretion increases 2-3 fold. Experimental data confirm that chronic consumption of 6% ethanol in the Lieber De-Carli diet for 3 weeks results in a marked decrease in total tissue magnesium content in rats.
2. The production of secondary potassium depletion, sodium retention, nephrocalcinosis and hypercalcaemia by magnesium deficiency (1958)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1196693/
3. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension and orthostatic edema may share a common pathogenesis
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9566401
The orthostatic retention of sodium and water and the consequent edema is very similar in IIH and OE patients, suggesting a common pathogenesis for both disorders.
your body needs lots of mag, 400mg per day for maintenance when healthy, more when deficit results in symptoms.
things you can try:
track what you eat from this list each day, get as many of these servings as you need to achieve 600mg of magnesium per day.
list of healthy magnesium dense food sources:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tnam ... #foodchart
if a pure diet solution is not feasible, consider boosting diet via oral magnesium glycinate supplement or external magnesium products like Epsom salts, magnesium bath flakes or concentrated topical solutions (used only according to package directions).
avoiding diuretics like coffee and alcohol can help. avoiding dark colas can also help your body hang on to magnesium.
mag is just one thing depleted by alcohol, but it's a good start for something to work on wrt edema. other nutrients to investigate where edema is concerned include
zinc, selenium, vitamins A, C, E, and the B-complex vitamins.