How to Release Water Retention

Water retention, also known as fluid retention, has to do with an increased and abnormal amount of fluid and water in the body, most commonly in the heart, lungs and kidneys and in the legs. Releasing excess water is the kidneys' job. The body uses a very high tech group of hormones called prostaglandins to keep the fluids in the body level. If you don't drink a lot of fluids during a day, your body will retain the liquid and you won't urinate as much causing water retention.

Instructions

• 1

  Drink six to eight glasses of water per day. This may sound confusing because you are trying to release water retention instead of filling up on it, but when you drink more water, the body will release more water and not store as much. Consumption of any other fluid may increase sodium intake, causing edema to become worse.

• 2

  Cut out high-sodium foods from your diet. Too much salt causes hypertension, which leads to swelling of the hands and feet. Cutting down on sodium is extremely hard to do because most foods do in fact contain sodium, but there are low sodium foods available in your local grocery store. Avoid prepared foods, such as canned soup, TV dinners and pizza, which often contain a lot of sodium.

• 3

  Increase your fruit and vegetable intake. Certain foods have diuretic properties that help with releasing water retention, some of these foods include celery, onions, garlic, cabbage, corn and grapes.