Gabriel Hernández
23. Pharma Student and Kitchen Lover. Trying to bring the best of pop and indian culture to everyone.+ info
Some women experience water retention during pregnancy or before their monthly period.
People who are physically inactive, such as when bedridden or sitting through long flights, may also be affected.
Symptoms
There are many symptoms of water retention, but the swelling of your body parts, particularly ankles, feet and hands, and feeling stiff and ache are common ones.
- Bloated stomach
- Feeling stiffness or aching
- Weight fluctuations
- Joints may feel stiff
- When pressed the skin may hold the indent for a few seconds
Some ideas you can try!
- Step up your protein intake: eating more protein encourages your body to shed excess fluid
- Change any medication you are taking, or the dosage: consult your GP first.
- Eat more bananas: they are rich in potassium which is helps to eliminate fluid retention
- Add more cabbage, cucumber, parsley and salad leaves to your diet as they are natural diuretecs
- Calcium, magnesium, manganese, evening primrose oil and chaste tree are all helpful ways of preventing water retention.
- Cut back on dehydrating drinks such as coffee, tea and alcohol
- Cranberry juice has mild diuretic properties
- Drink more water: water retention come from a lack of water because your body doesn't know when it will get more so it retains the water it has.
- For girls: check your menstrual cycle as plenty of girls retain water for a period of time during their monthly cycle
- Write a food diary and make connections between certain foods and periods of bloating/swelling
- Cut high sodium foods out of your diet: salt absorbs water and causes water retention
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet that contains a lot of vegetables, grains and other high-fiber foods
- Deficiencies in protein, calcium, magnesium and vitamins B1, B5 and B6 may lead to problems with water retention
- Exercise has been known to help control water retention: try to do at least 20 minutes a day
- Lie down and sit with your feet elevated when resting and taking breaks: standing or sitting all day can cause fluids to drain into your feet and legs
- Try a natural duiretic (water pill): some herbal remedies are known to increase the kidney's fluid output which helps to control water retention.
- Try essential oils when taking baths or going for massages, including lavender, rosemary, geranum and cypress