What Causes Water Retention and How to Avoid It
Water retention sucks, and sometimes it seems impossible to get rid of. Often times water retention is easier to prevent than getting rid of it. So, here are the causes of water retention and how to avoid it.
Water retention goes by a couple different names – whether it be fluid retention, water retention, or edema, they all suck equally. It occurs when excess fluids build up inside the body. It occurs in the circulatory system or within tissues and cavities. It causes you to swell around your legs, feet, ankles, hands, fingers, wrists, and etcetera. It is extremely painful too! While this isn’t a very serious health issue, it can scarcely be an indicator of heart failure or kidney disease.
- Swelling of body parts (ankles, feet, and hands) – Are your rings feeling tight on your fingers? Shoes rubbing or pinching for no reason?
- Bloated tummy – Finding it hard to fit into your favorite pair of jeans?
- Feeling stiffness or aching
- Weight fluctuations
- Joints may feel stiff
- When pressed the skin may hold the indent for a few seconds
Water retention can be caused by a number of things. Pregnant women often experience this as a side effect of pregnancy. Other times, a diet that is too rich in sodium can cause this. If you constantly eat salty foods without drinking water, your body will start to use its reserves.
Magnesium deficiency can also lead to water or fluid retention. Magnesium is a vital mineral or the body, and without it, your body can’t perform at its peak. One research showed that taking 200 milligrams as a daily dose of magnesium can reduce water retention in women with premenstrual symptoms.
Obviously dehydration – Plain old dehydration can cause water retention too. Like I said before if you aren’t drinking enough water your body will begin using its reserves. It actually forces your body to do this in order to survive. Give your body a break and drink more water!
Here are 6 ways to reduce your water retention:
- Eat Less Salt
- Take Magnesium Supplements
- Eat Bananas for Vitamin B6
- Eat More Potassium Rich Foods
- Avoid Refined Carbohydrates