What is Water Weight and Do I Need to Get Rid of It?

You’ve probably experienced the discomfort of gas, bloating, and constipation — all normal sensations your body experiences from time to time. But what about water retention? If you see the numbers on the scale go up without explanation, it could be due to fluctuations in water weight. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including after a workout, standing for long periods of time, or after a large meal.

The weight fluctuations on the scale can be confusing and frustrating. However, fluid retention is usually not a sign of anything serious. With your body made up of 50-70% water, the level remains constant and maintaining close enough balance will keep your body running like clockwork.

Here’s some good news — there are simple steps you can take to safely and effectively limit your water weight, many of which are either scientifically proven or recommended by medical professionals. use.

What is water weight?

Your weight can fluctuate throughout the day and for a number of reasons. Increase salt intake (reduces the amount of free water excreted from the body), hormones, and even what you eat can make a difference.

Especially for women, certain hormones – such as estrogen and progestogen levels that fluctuate through different life stages – are more likely to cause changes in water weight. This is especially true during pregnancy and menopause.

We do not rule out certain medications that can cause weight loss due to water retention. Edema (fluid swelling) can occur with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antidepressants, blood pressure medications, antivirals, and hormones.

Sometimes a drastic change in water weight indicates a medical condition and is a cause that should be checked by a medical professional.

How to reduce water retention

There are safe and effective ways to prevent water retention or ease your existing symptoms by flushing excess fluid out of your body. Including:

Exercise regularly

Exercise promotes blood flow and circulation throughout the body, which helps reduce water retention rates. Exercises that need to store more glycogen (in muscle) will reduce your water weight because there are about 3 grams of water per gram of muscle.

Keep enough water

Drinking too much or not enough water has negative health consequences. Too much water can cause swelling in your cells, water retention, and possibly central nervous system dysfunction, while drinking too little water can lead to fainting due to venous accumulation and decreased blood flow. blood flow to the brain.

Maintaining optimal fluid balance will depend on your gender, age, and health status. Watch for warning signs like headaches, fatigue, and brain fog — signs of dehydration and try to get 80% of your daily fluids from plain, naturally flavored water and decaffeinated tea, with the remaining 20% ​​going to food.

The best indicator of hydration status is urine color. Urine should be pale yellow if you are well hydrated.

Prioritize Sleep

According to the results of an observational study of nearly 20,000 people in the US and China, lack of sleep can lead to water retention. It found that people who slept for 6 hours were more likely to be dehydrated than those who slept for 8 hours.

Although the direct cause is unknown, it is theorized that the body’s circadian rhythms may be disturbed during the sleep cycle, meaning that the hormone vasopressin (the antidiuretic hormone), which helps retain water, is inactive. normal.

The National Sleep Foundation (USA) recommends that adults ages 26-64 get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.

Reduce stress

Scientists have long known about the link between stress and spikes in cortisol levels. Cortisol, a hormone that regulates your immune response and metabolism, can fluctuate when your body is under stress. In the event of physiological stress, your body’s cells or tissue fluids can become chemically or physically imbalanced. This can lead to both water weight and fat gain.

If you’re prone to stress, try incorporating simple lifestyle changes to limit stress levels and keep cortisol in balance:

• Do exercise
• Meditation and mindfulness
• Focus on eating nutrient-rich foods
• Journalling
• Build self-care habits
• Go outside and enjoy the fresh air

Memorize electrolytes

An imbalance of electrolytes – minerals needed by the body such as calcium and sodium – is lost throughout the day due to sweat and movement, especially intense exercise.

Importantly, electrolytes regulate many functions in the body, including your water intake, and people living an active lifestyle will need to replenish their stores to avoid dehydration and fluid accumulation in the body.

A study of 19 healthy young adults comparing the effects of rehydration methods found that electrolytes best improved water retention in the form of carbohydrate sports drinks, with electrolytes contributing the best. on improving hydration when consumed at rest.

Natural ways to lose weight with water

Fluid changes in the body are normal. However, if you feel you’re carrying around excess water weight, you may want to consider some alternatives—before you start, you should consult a registered dietitian or doctor. doctor

Herbal treatment

Natural diuretics in the form of herbs and teas have been shown to be effective in helping you excrete excess fluid. Black tea, dandelion, coriander, dill, radish and melon are all considered natural and safe treatments for water loss.

Green tea can also be helpful because it contains caffeine, which acts as a diuretic.

It should be noted that these natural remedies are not regulated by the FDA. Work with your doctor to find something that works for you.

Over-the-counter diuretics

In addition to herbal treatments, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter diuretics to get rid of water weight. These products are commonly found in drug stores and pharmacies, although like other OTC pills, they are not FDA-approved, and therefore, long-term safety is unknown. Before trying it on your own, talk to a medical professional for advice on whether an OTC medication is right for you.

Safety tips

There are many supplements on the market that claim to reduce water weight. It’s important to remember that there is a lack of evidence about the effectiveness of over-the-counter medications. Although water-specific pills can help reduce the amount of fluid retained in the body, they are often prescribed.

Use your common sense before trying a supplement and make sure not to mix several at once. As always, your first calling point should be a healthcare practitioner.

When to see a doctor?

If you are experiencing persistent discomfort due to increased water intake, it may be time to see a doctor. Underlying conditions like kidney damage or an underactive lymphatic system can wreak havoc on your body and will require professional diagnosis and treatment.

In most cases, you are simply experiencing a temporary water fluctuation that can leave as quickly as it arrived.

A very good word

It’s important to talk to your doctor if water weight is causing you pain. The health care provider can determine if the condition is normal (like most fluid fluctuations) or indicate a health concern that needs to be addressed.

Tell your doctor if you are using any kind of treatment to lose water weight as some herbal supplements, lotions, and even certain foods can interact with medications and medications. Diuretics may be prescribed.