How to Relieve Water Weight Gain

Water weight gain, or water retention, occurs when water builds up in the body instead of being released in the urine. Water weight gain may be caused by diet, certain medications, premenstrual syndrome and some medical conditions, such as heart failure, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome and kidney disease. Depending on its cause, water retention may be relieved by changing your diet or may require treatment with a prescription medication. Prolonged water retention should be evaluated and treated by your doctor.

Instructions

• 1

  Limit your sodium intake. Excessive amounts of sodium upset the fluid balance in your body, so the American Heart Association recommends limiting your daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg a day if you are healthy and less than 1,500 mg a day if you have high blood pressure or other risk factors for heart disease. Read nutrition labels carefully to determine how much sodium is present in foods and beverages.

• 2

  Take 1,200 mg of calcium or 200 to 400 mg of magnesium daily to help relieve hormone-related water retention, such as during premenstrual syndrome or polycystic ovary syndrome. Check with your doctor before taking any supplement to avoid negative side effects or interactions with other medications you may be taking.

• 3

  Exercise daily. Regular physical activity may help to relieve water retention, especially in hormone-related cases.

• 4

  Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables with a high water content. Some options include melons, cucumbers, celery, onions and parsley.

• 5

  Stay hydrated by drinking eight glasses of water or other liquids throughout the day. This helps your kidneys to flush out excess sodium that may lead to water weight gain.

• 6

  Talk to your doctor if water weight gain is prolonged or bothersome to you. Your doctor can evaluate the cause of your water retention and prescribe treatments, such as diuretics (water pills) to help relieve your symptoms.