Help for preventing the causes of body water retention and fluid retention.

Many people are interested in using diuretics to treat water retention. Whether natural or synthetic, diuretics increase the amount of urine excreted and are usually used prescribed for patients with blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and liver disease. Diuretics also have the potential for creating a vicious cycle of water retention, known as rebound edema, as they alter salt- and water-retaining hormones. When the diuretics are stopped, hormone levels are out of balance.

In addition, prolonged use of diuretics can lead to dehydration, which can cause kidney damage and an imbalance in normal levels of electrolytes (e.g., sodium and potassium), which are vital to heart, kidney and liver function. When electrolytes are out of balance, it may follow by heart failure and sudden death.

Many people also turn to diuretics for weight loss, which only leads to temporary results and potentially other health problems. Since water retention has many causes, it is important not to begin taking water retention medication without proper medical supervision.

• Feeling of puffiness, especially the feet, ankles and legs
• Appearance of shiny, stretched skin
• Dimples/indentations upon pressing the skin
• Swollen, stiff and painful joints
• Headaches
• A bloated or enlarged abdomen
• Breathing difficulties
• Decreased flexibility of the joints (ankles, wrists and fingers)
• Sudden or rapid weight gain

Shortness of breath, chest pain, redness or heat in the swollen edematous area(s) are rare but serious symptoms that should receive immediate medical care.

One of the main causes of weight-related water retention can be attributed to sodium intake, particularly from processed foods. In addition, since sodium is present in all foods, a higher intake of food in general also contributes to weight gain from fat stores and subsequent water retention.

People dieting may experience frustrations in weight fluctuations related to water retention. Many people turn to diuretics or water pills, which create a false sense of weight loss. Reducing calories too quickly also forces the body to use up stores of carbohydrates and breakdown protein in the muscles, which also leads to water weight stored in those cells- sometimes with up to 75% of weight loss related to water weight. However, after calorie ingestion is resumed to a normal level, the water weight is restored as well.

Fluctuating hormone levels, hormonal imbalances, and a loss of progesterone can attribute to water retention in menopausal women. Unless the weight gain is excessive, it should not be a cause of concern and can be self-managed.

While it is not entirely known why high blood pressure occurs, a strong genetic component has been indicated. Other risk factors for high blood pressure include smoking, alcoholism, and high salt intake, being overweight, lack of exercise, and high levels of stress. Conditions known to cause secondary hypertension include Cushing’s syndrome, diabetic nephropathy, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, obesity, and many more.

Since many of the above conditions are linked to water retention such as salt intake and obesity, it is important to receive a proper diagnosis and take measures to control blood pressure and fluid levels in the body.

• Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is caused by an underactive thyroid gland that produces insufficient levels of thyroid hormones. Symptoms are often varied and difficult to define, therefore a symptom such as water retention may be mistakenly attributed to another condition. Many people with an underactive thyroid gland may be unaware of the problem.

While a blood test is needed to confirm hypothyroidism, clinical history, antibody screening tests, and thyroid scans typically accompany this test to help identify the underlying cause.

• Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism, also known as an overactive thyroid, overproduces hormones. As the thyroid controls vital systems of the body from metabolism to body temperature, a variety of symptoms can result, including water retention.

A blood test is usually the method of screening used to test for hyperthyroidism.

The kidneys are responsible for many important functions of the body, including removing toxins in the body via expelled urine and helping balance the volume of fluid in the body. When the kidneys are not performing these functions due to infection or disease, water retention may be experienced.

• Hot Weather: Warmer temperatures hinder the body’s efficiency of removing fluid.

• Postpartum Depression: A change in hormonal levels after pregnancy may lead to water retention.

• Seasonal Allergies: Those who are prone to seasonal allergies may experience fluid retention, especially around the eyes and face.

To avoid water retention during a weight loss period and avoid regaining the water weight back, it is important to reduce losing water weight as much as possible so the body is forced to burn fat stores, not carbohydrate or protein stores. This can be attained by eating small portions of high-quality protein at each meal, reducing food intake gradually, including anaerobic exercise into a fitness routine, avoiding crash and starvation diets, training for strength to increase muscle, and losing weight slowly (2 pounds per week max).

Natural treatment for menopausal water retention is much the same for other causes of edema. Many of the same tips apply for maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding water retention during menopause, including eating a balanced diet and avoiding crash and starvation diets, limiting intake of caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol (these can exacerbate water retention), and remaining active to help increase metabolism and burn fat plus protect against osteoporosis. Most women stabilize any water retention weight within a few months.

However, if weight gain is excessive, check with your doctor to make sure hormone and blood sugar levels are normal, as excess abdominal fat increases the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

Avoid diuretics if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, as these may have additional health risks for your condition. Instead, strive to achieve healthy fluid balance and blood pressure through a healthy lifestyle, including eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting sodium, alcohol, and caffeine intake, and getting plenty of exercise.

It is best to address the root cause of water retention rather than relying on diuretics, which only provide temporary relief and may create lasting health problems. You can also eliminate excess fluid naturally, by incorporating foods such as celery, onion, eggplant, asparagus, and watermelon into your diet, which are said to have a diuretic effect. 

Also be sure to keep foods high in sodium to a minimum, limit caffeine and alcohol, and follow a healthy lifestyle. Exercise can help relieve the body of excess fluid and salt through sweating, increased respiration and, ultimately, increased urine flow. While it may seem counterproductive, drinking water helps water move through the kidneys and bladder, diluting the urine. Since urine has some fluid-retaining salt in it, the more it's diluted, the easier it is to remove salt and prevent or decrease edema.

• Water retention remedies such as eating a well-balanced diet and reducing your intake of salt will make a marked difference.
• Drink plenty of water so that the body is well hydrated.
• Exercise regularly, especially by walking, to help pump fluids back into the circulatory system.
• Limit your intake of dehydrating drinks such as coffee, tea, and alcohol.
• Increase your intake of vitamin B supplements which are known to be beneficial for water retention.
• Wear support stockings or elastic sleeves to help push fluids back into your circulatory system and help circulation.
• Remember to elevate the affected area when sitting or lying down.
• If you are overweight or suffer from obesity, try to take the appropriate steps to lose weight and slim down to a healthier weight in a safe and natural manner.