What does it mean when your body is retaining a lot of water?

Plane flights, hormone changes, and too much salt can all cause your body to retain excess water. Your body is made up mainly of water. When your hydration level is not balanced, your body tends to hang on to that water. Usually, water retention may cause you to feel heavier than normal, and less nimble or active.

What is the cause of water retention in the body?

Drinking less fluid will not cure water retention. One of the causes of water retention is dehydration due to not drinking enough water. These causes of water retention often respond to dietary measures.

Is it normal for people to retain water?

Water Retention Symptoms Although the human body is mostly made of water, it is not normal for people to gain weight because of excessive water accumulation in the body. This condition, in fact, is the result of an imbalance not only in water but in the important electrolytes and minerals (sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, etc.) that our body needs.

Who is most at risk for water retention?

People who spend a lot of time immobile, e.g. those in hospital beds, wheelchairs, or on long-haul flights, even ‘couch potatoes’ can develop water retention because without regular movement, it is difficult for your lymphatic system to drain excess fluid out of your tissues.

What can I do to get rid of water retention?

Reducing the amount of salt in your diet will help you to release a little water retention but not usually more than about 2 lbs in weight. Even a relatively salty diet, although it can be harmful in many ways, will not normally cause gross water retention.

Why do some people have more water retention than others?

Some people’s bodies also react poorly to certain type of foods which tend to increase water retention. Water retention is also linked to protein deficiency, anemia, and the high requirement for vitamin and supplement intake. There is a specific kind of diet that is recommended for water retention which forces the body to eliminate excess fluid.

How to know if your body is retaining too much water?

Here are 9 ways to know that your body is holding on to too much water and needs to decrease its inflammatory response. With a few simple tweaks, you’ll start to feel back to normal in no time. 1. History Of Disease According to Elizabeth Ann Shaw, MS, RDN, CLT, over email with Bustle, you can swell from different health conditions.

What to do if you are retaining a lot of water?

It’s best to follow a healthy diet and limit foods high in sodium. Keep a diary of what you’re doing and eating when you feel like you’re retaining extra water. This will help you pinpoint the causes. Then you can make appropriate lifestyle changes to help prevent water retention.

What foods can cause your body to retain too much water?

As if you could ever imagine that you can eat too many green veggies, but actually, Dr. Lisa Ashe, Medical Director of BeWell Medicine, explains over email with Bustle, that eating too many cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, etc.), can lead to excess fluid retention and bloating.