Many people seeking to lose weight face the problem of shedding water weight that causes bloating, and even though your entire body is 60% water, sometimes too much water is retained and this can make Weight loss Difficult because it may seem that you are not losing weight. In this report, we learn about ways to get rid of water weight in your body, according to the “health” website.
The amount of water your body contains is a function of your body composition, your gender, and your age, but eating can cause you to retain a few extra pounds of water. This extra water is a fluid that the kidneys normally cleanse from the body.
“Most of our weight is water,” said Dr. Gabe Neal, MD, a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine in the US.
How do you lose water weight?
There are many reasons why the body retains water, including excessive salt or carbohydrate intake, menstrual hormones, and dehydration.
Water circulates throughout our bodies. We want it to go to arteries, veins, tissues and cells throughout the body. However, when it travels to places between cells and around fat it becomes a problem.”
How quickly excess water leaves the body can depend on diet and physical activity.
The healthier your diet and the more physically active you are, the faster you will get rid of excess water. Water weight can also be a sign of a chronic condition, such as heart or kidney disease that needs treatment.
In women, changing menstrual cycles and hormones can also affect water weight.
How to lose water weight
One way to prevent water retention is to reduce the amount of salt in your diet. This includes eating fewer processed foods that are often high in salt and using less salt at the dinner table.
Processed foods such as instant noodles, cheese, soup mixes, pasta sauce, frozen meals, and salty snacks use salt for flavor and as a preservative to extend shelf life.
From a chemistry standpoint, water follows salt if your diet contains too much sodium, water will follow and not go where it’s supposed to be.
Natural foods, such as vegetables, seeds and nuts, are low in salt, so choose them to keep your water weight down.
Another tip is to stay hydrated by drinking water. This may sound counterintuitive, but water helps with kidney function and helps flush excess water and salt out of the body.
When you’re dehydrated, your body retains extra water to prevent dehydration, according to the American Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).
Another trick is to cut back on carbohydrates, such as pasta and rice.
Carbohydrates cause the body to store glycogen molecules, which contain 3 grams of water per gram.
Not eating carbohydrates reduces glycogen molecules, thus reducing water weight.
Change your high-carb meals to protein-rich meals such as eggs, soybeans, and lean meats.
In addition to changing your diet, supplemental vitamin B6 and magnesium can help reduce water retention. These supplements help the kidneys get rid of excess salt and water. They can also help reduce bloating and swelling in the legs.
Exercise and exercise is another way to reduce water weight by burning glycogen energy. How much water you lose depends on the temperature and what you’re wearing. Physical activity that makes you sweat will quickly reduce water weight.
Drinking water after exercise is vital to replenish lost fluids and avoid dehydration.
Taking diuretics is another way to reduce water weight. Usually, a doctor prescribes these pills to lower blood pressure.
Sitting for long periods of time can also cause water to build up in the body and lead to swelling of the arms and legs.
To prevent fluid buildup, it is best to take breaks and go for a short walk.