10 Effective Home Remedies For Water Retention In The Body

Updated: 11/23/2019

Water is one of the essential elements of human life. However, for some reason, your body is water retention. This is not good for human health. This situation makes you have difficulty in mobilizing, playing, and working. Therefore, repelling water retention in the body should be done as soon as possible.

Although wanting to get rid of water retention in the body, but many people do not know how to do that. Therefore, in this article, we will provide you with home remedies for water retention in the body which is very simple, effective and safe. However, before that, you had better understand some basic information about this problem. That way, you can deal with it the right way.

What Is Water Retention?

Water is one of the most important ingredients for human health. The body cannot work without water. In the human body, there is always a strict management system of water concentration to prevent dehydration and ensure the existence of people in time. Water accounts for more than two thirds of human body weight, no water we will die in a few days. The human brain is made up of 75% water. Dehydration is a mild cause of fatigue immediately. However, do you know that water retention in the body is more dangerous than dehydration?

Most people, especially those who exercise regularly, are only interested in drinking enough water. However, few know that excess water is as dangerous as water shortages. This condition can cause fluid and salt imbalance in the body, resulting in edema or leading to death ^[1] [2].

There are two conditions of excess water:

• High Intake Of Water

Drink more water than the amount that the kidneys discharge into the urine, leading to too much water in the body. Some people mistakenly think that drinking a lot of water means that the toxins in the body are completely eliminated from the body. However, drinking too much water will make the kidneys overload. In addition to eliminating metabolic products and toxins from the body, excess water also causes the body to eliminate the nutrients and trace elements that are necessary for the body.

• Water Retention

This happens when the body cannot discharge excess water. Some types of illness can cause this condition. Water retention can cause the patient to become lethargic or even death.

Here are the negative effects of water retention on the human body:

• Swollen Cells

Your body has free sodium and potassium ions that act as electrolytes to help balance fluid between cells and blood. As water levels increase too much, electrolyte levels decrease, water moves from the blood into the cell. This causes the swollen cells to even cause brain swelling that is very dangerous to health.

• Lower Blood Potassium Levels

When excess water is present, the body releases water through sweat and urine, thereby reducing the level of potassium in the body. This prolonged condition can cause hypokalemia with symptoms such as vomiting, low blood pressure, paralysis, nausea and diarrhea.

• Cramp

Excessive consumption of water will reduce the amount of electrolyte in the body. The fluid imbalance also affects the muscular function leading to muscle cramps.

• Harms The Heart

Drinking too much water can cause excessive stress on the heart due to increased blood flow to the heart.

• Harms The Kidneys

The kidneys are water purifying organs, so if you drink too much water, your kidneys work harder. Over time, the kidneys are overloaded. This causes the kidney function to decline, which can cause kidney disease such as kidney stones or kidney failure.

What Are Common Causes Of Water Retention?

There are many causes of water retention ^[3]. Here are the main reasons:

• Do Not Move For A Long Time

Sitting or standing for many hours can cause water retention because this reduces blood level in the body. And the only way to prevent this condition is physical activities.

• Some Diseases

Certain diseases like kidney disease, heart disease, hepatitis or brain tumors can cause water retention. Therefore, if you see signs and symptoms of these diseases, see your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.

• Drug

Some medications can cause water retention. Amlodipine high blood pressure medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroids and birth control pills can cause water retention. Therefore, consult your doctor before taking any medicine.

• Excessive Salt

Eating too much salt can cause water retention. Limit salt intake by limiting the amount of salty foods and high-salt foods.

• Vitamin B6 Deficiency

Vitamin B6 deficiency can also lead to water retention. Therefore you need to be sure to provide enough vitamins for the body.

• Pregnant

During pregnancy, the uterus is very large. Then, the uterus will override the main vein, which can cause fluid accumulation in the body during pregnancy. This is not a big problem to worry about because the problem will be solved after birth.

What Are Common Symptoms Of Water Retention?

The following are common signs of water retention:

• Constant Headaches

When you have water retention, the cells in your body may be swollen, including brain cells. When the brain cells increase in size, it will be squeezed in the skull. This pressure causes frequent headaches.

• Always Feel Tired

Drinking excess water will cause overloading of the kidneys that cause hormonal disturbances, which can make the body stress and fatigue ^[4].

• Urinate Too Much

When the body is excess water, the body needs to release water and the number of urine trips will increase. If you urinate more than 10 times a day, you may have more fluid than you need to.

• Urine Is Too Clear

In normal conditions, the urine is usually yellowish and clear. Clear urine like filtrate is a sign that you are receiving water retention.

Who Is At High Risk Of This Problem?

Anyone can encounter this situation, but pregnant women and people with certain diseases like kidney disease, heart disease, hepatitis disease or brain tumors are the most at risk for water retention. In addition, people who often eat salty foods are also more likely to suffer from this condition than others ^[5] [6].

When To See A Doctor?

When you experience water retention, but applying long-term treatments without any result, visit your doctor as soon as possible. You may have some of the diseases that we mentioned above.

Here is the basics you need to know about water retention. It is very necessary to treat this condition early to avoid the bad consequences. Here, we will introduce you to natural home remedies for water retention in the body which are very safe and effective ways that do not cause side effects.

Top 10 Effective Home Remedies For Water Retention In Body

1. Exercise Regularly

Among home remedies for water retention, this is one of the most effective. Exercise can be one of the best ways to reduce the amount of water retention in the short term. Any form of exercise can increase the amount of sweat the body produces. This means you will be lost of water in your body. The average amount of fluid that your body lost during an hour of exercise is 16-64 oz (0.5-2 liters / hour). This depends on factors such as heat and the clothes you wear when practicing.

During exercise, your body also transfers a lot of water to the muscles. This can help reduce water outside the cell and reduce the swelling of people with excessive fluid accumulation. However, you still need to drink plenty of water during your workout. Another good alternative way for sweating and losing water is the sauna. You can do this after you exercise.

Choosing an exercise regime is very important. Age should be taken into consideration when choosing the type of exercise. Choosing an age-appropriate exercise regime will help you get rid of water retention in the most effective way. Before following a workout regime, you should have a physical examination to find out the type and mode of exercise that is appropriate for your condition. For people with certain cardiovascular and osteoarthritis conditions, individual regimens are needed.

For normal people, practicing every day for about 30 minutes is best. For those people who usually exercise for a long time, increasing exercise time to about 40-45 minutes is essential. When exercising, increase the time and intensity to meet the requirements. Each exercise should take 5 minutes to start and gradually reduce intensity in the last 5 minutes to get used to the intensity of the exercise.

2. Home Remedies For Water Retention – Sleep More

This is another must-try home treatment in this list of home remedies for water retention. Research on sleep has shown that sleep is as important as diet and exercise. Stress and sleep are closely related to each other and affect the blood circulation of the body. Sleeping helps to reduce stress and therefore one can control blood pressure and influence the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol blood levels are one of the major causes of cardiovascular disease. As you know, heart disease is also one of the causes of water retention. Lack of sleep makes you depressed. A good night's sleep helps an inner person reduce anxiety. You always get better emotional balance by sleeping well. Therefore, a quality sleep is something that you need to ensure if you want to get rid of this water retention condition.

One study found that while sleeping, the body acts as a plumbing system and pushes the “toxin” out of the brain. Having a good quality sleep can also help your body control its hydration level and minimize the accumulation of water. Healthy sleep every night for most people will be around 7 – 9 hours.

3. Reduce Stress

This remedy is one of little – known home remedies for water retention. Long-term stress can increase the amount of cortisol, which directly affects the buildup and water weight in the body. This can happen because stress and cortisol increase the hormone that controls water balance in the body (known as ADH). ADH has the function of sending signals to the kidneys to inform the amount of water that needs to be pumped back into the body. If you manage stress levels, you will maintain normal levels of ADH and cortisol, which is important for your body's fluid balance, disease risk and long-term health.

When you are tired or stressed, do not try to do more or simply do not think about what make you worry about. Find out for yourself a favorite relaxation like listening to music, drinking coffee, walking, shopping or chatting with your friends. Quickly dispel stress and do not let it get worse. This helps you to prevent or improve water retention problem.

4. Home Remedies For Water Retention – Addition Of Electrolytes

This is the next treatment in this list of home remedies for water retention. Electrolytes are charged minerals, such as magnesium and potassium. They play an important role in the body, including regulating water balance. When the electrolyte concentration becomes too low or too high, they can alter the fluid balance. This can increase the water capacity in the body. You should adjust the amount of electrolyte you give to the body based on the amount of water you drink every day. If you drink a lot of water, you may need more electrolytes. If you exercise daily or live in a hot and humid environment, you may need to add more electrolytes to compensate for the amount of water your body loses because of sweating.

In contrast, large amounts of electrolyte from functional foods or high-salt foods, along with low amounts of water, can have the opposite effect and increase the water weight in your body. This causes you to gain weight uncontrollably. Electrolyte controls water balance and cell hydration. Dietary electrolyte supplements are beneficial if you drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, live in hot climates or do not eat a lot of salt.

5. Control The Consumption Of Salt

Sodium that the body absorbs daily from salt is one of the most common electrolytes in the human body. It plays an important role in the level of hydration. If the sodium concentration in the body is too low or too high, it leads to an imbalance in the body and thus causes water retention ^[7].

The high consumption of salt, usually due to the diet containing more processed foods, can increase the ability to retain water of the body. This is especially true if you drink too little water and do not exercise. However, this seems to depend on the current intake of sodium and the amount of blood each individual has. A study has examined this and found that you only accumulate excess water if you increase or change your eating habits too much. Salt or sodium plays an important role in liquid balance, so try to avoid extreme changes, such as eating too much salt or removing salts from your diet. This will help you avoid water retention ^[8].

6. Home Remedies For Water Retention – Magnesium Supplement

This is one of the little-known home remedies for water retention. Magnesium is an important electrolyte and mineral for the human body. Recently, many people have found that magnesium supplement is a popular way to improve health and exercise performance. Studies on magnesium have been extended and show that this substance has more than 600 roles in the human body. A lot of evidence in women suggests that magnesium can reduce the amount of water stored in the body and premenstrual symptoms (PMS).

These changes can occur because magnesium plays an integral role in other electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium. These substances help to control the body's water balance. By that, you can also see that magnesium absorption needs to be optimized as it plays an important role in hydration and water levels in the body.

7. Use Functional Foods Containing Dandelion Flower Extract

This is reckoned one of the best home remedies for water retention. Functional foods containing dandelion flower extracts are often used to treat water retention. In recent years, these drugs have become popular among bodybuilders and athletes who need to reduce the amount of water in their bodies for aesthetic purposes or to meet the required weight.

Functional foods containing dandelion flower extracts can help you reduce the amount of water stored by signaling kidney discharge of urine, sodium, or excess sodium. In some human studies, dandelion uptake increased the frequency of urination in the 5-hour period. However, although functional foods containing dandelion extract have been used extensively, we still need more research to come to the assertion. Therefore, you should consult your doctor before applying this remedy.

8. Home Remedies For Water Retention – Drink A Lot Of Water

This sounds strange when it comes to home remedies for water retention, but it works. It is interesting that drinking enough water can reduce the accumulation of water. Your body is always trying to achieve a healthy balance, so if you are constantly dehydrated, your body tends to retain more water to prevent the water in the body from falling too low. Achieving optimal daily intake of water is also important for liver and kidney health, which can reduce long-term water flow.

The benefits of drinking plenty of water do not stop there. Other studies have shown that water is important for health. Water helps to reduce fat, enhance brain function and more. Achieving balance is always the best thing. If you drink too much water, you can increase your body weight. Therefore, listen to your body's needs to give it the right amount of water. This is very simple. You only need to drink water at fixed times of the day and stop when you feel you have plenty of water. You should also drink a little more when you are in a hot environment or when you are exercising. You can also monitor urine color to assess hydration. If your urine is light yellow or slightly clear, this means that you are drinking enough water.

9. Add Some Foods

The next one in this list of home remedies for water retention is to add some foods. There are many foods that you may want to put on your diet to “combat” water retention. Foods rich in potassium are often recommended because potassium can help balance sodium and increase urine output, helping you reduce excess water ^[9]. Green leafy vegetables, beans, bananas, butter, tomatoes and yogurt or other dairy products are rich in nutrients and rich in potassium. In addition, you also need to add magnesium or magnesium rich foods such as dark chocolate, dark green leafy vegetables, seeds and whole grains. These include high processed foods, high fiber foods and sometimes beans and milk. You can also try specializing in using FODMAP little food for a while to see its benefits. Combine them with easy-to-digest foods that do not cause bloating or dyspepsia to get the best results ^[10].

10. Home Remedies For Water Retention – Cut Off The Carb

When it comes to home remedies for water retention, cutting the amount of carb intake is a popular strategy to rapidly reduce excess water. Carb is stored in muscle and liver as glycogen, but glycogen also draws water. For every gram of glycogen stored in the muscle there are 3-4 grams (0.11 – 0.14 oz) of water stored along with it. This explains why many people lose weight fast when they switch to low-carb diets, which reduces glycogen storage.

Carb also leads to increased hormone insulin, which can increase sodium accumulation and re-absorption of water in the kidneys. Conversely, if you are on a low carb, a high-carb diet can pull excess fluid from your body into the muscle and increase your water weight. This can also make a visible difference, increasing water in the muscle but helping to reduce excess water under the skin.

The above-mentioned home remedies for water retention in the body are claimed to be able to reduce the symptoms of heavy or prolonged periods. Apply and alternate some of them in your treating to see how effective they are. If you have any comments about our article of “Top 10 Effective Home Remedies For Water Retention In Body” introduced in Home Remedies Category, do not hesitate to drop your words below this post. We will answer as soon as we could.

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