How to Get Rid of Water Retention Fast

How to get rid of water retention

How much water should I drink?
How much water should I drink?

Water retention or fluid retention can be caused due to several medical conditions and some medications. Edema is the medical term for swelling caused by the retention of excessive fluids in the body tissues. Although it is usually harmless, it may be a result of severe medical conditions, such as heart, liver, or kidney disease. Women may experience water retention during pregnancy or while the ovaries are releasing the eggs. The ways suggested to get rid of water retention are intended for healthy people or athletes. People with chronic edema should consult their physician for further treatment.

Here are some ways to ditch water weight fast:

  • Regular exercise: Although you may be aversed to it, you run out of options when trying to lose water weight. Hence, it is important to sweat it out. Regular exercise helps to reduce inflammation, thus retaining less water overall.
  • Get those fluids: Although it may sound bizarre, drinking more water helps to get rid of extra water and sodium. Either drink 2-3 L of water or increase the intake of water-rich foods. Below is the summary of various food items and their water content in percentage:
Chart of the summary of various food items and their water content in percentage
PercentageFood Item
90-99%Fat-free milk, cantaloupe, strawberries, watermelon, lettuce, cabbage, celery, spinach, pickles, and squash (cooked)
80-89%Fruit juice, yogurt, apples, grapes, oranges, carrots, broccoli (cooked), pears, and pineapple
70-79%Bananas, avocados, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, potato (baked), corn (cooked), and shrimp
60-69%Pasta, legumes, salmon, ice cream, and chicken breast
50-59%Ground beef, hot dogs, feta cheese, and tenderloin steak (cooked)
40-49%Pizza
30-39%Cheddar cheese, bagels, and bread
20-29%Pepperoni sausage, cake, and biscuits
10-19%Butter, margarine, and raisins
1-9%Walnuts, peanuts (dry roasted), chocolate chip cookies, crackers, cereals, pretzels, taco shells, and peanut butter
0%Oils and sugars
100%Water
  • Increase your potassium intake: Potassium helps to maintain water balance and blood pressure by eliminating sodium from the body. Thus, consuming more potassium-rich foods may help you to lose water weight. Some of the potassium-rich foods and their potassium content include in the below chart.
Chart of the potassium-rich foods in serving size
Food (no table salt added)Serving sizePotassium (mg)
Apricotstwo raws or five dry200
Artichokeone medium345
Beans (lima, baked navy)half cup280
Beef, groundthree oz270
Beets, raw or cookedhalf cup260
Broccolihalf cup230
Brussels sproutshalf cup250
Clams, cannedthree oz535
Datesfive270
Dried beans and peashalf cup300-475
Fish (haddock, perch, salmon)three oz300
French friesthree oz470
Lentilshalf cup365
Milk (fat-free, low-fat, whole, buttermilk)one cup350-380
Orangeone fruit240
Orange juicehalf cup235
Potato, bakedone potato925
Potato chips, plain, saltedone oz465
Prunesfive305
Pumpkin, cannedhalf cup350
Spinachhalf cup420
Sweet potato, bakedone potato450
Tomatoes, cannedhalf cup200-300
Tomato, freshone fruit290
Turkeythree oz250
Winter squashhalf cup250
Yogurt, plainsix oz260
Zucchinihalf cup220
Bananaone425
  • Load yourself with fibers: It is important to have a healthy digestive system if you plan to lose water weight. Fibers help to improve the digestive system and maintain water balance.
  • Curb your sodium intake: High sodium is linked to water retention. Hence, it is advisable to manage your salt intake by cutting on processed foods. Below is the sodium requirement for the different age groups
Chart of the daily sodium requirement for the different age groups
Age (years)Sodium requirement
19-301.5 g/day
31-501.5 g/day
51-701.3 g/day
>701.2 g/day

For pregnant and lactating women, the sodium intake should be limited to 1.5 g/day of sodium.

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References
https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/whats-water-weight#1

https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/whats-water-weight#1

https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/abo9047

https://www.nal.usda.gov/sites/default/files/fnic_uploads/water_full_report.pdf