You can't zip your favorite pair of jeans and you know you didn't overeat. The problem could be water retention. Also called edema, water retention occurs when your body stores excess fluids instead of processing them out through your kidneys and urine. Your diet may be partially to blame for water weight, so by making some healthy changes, you might fit into your jeans again. See your doctor before making any major changes to your diet.
Symptoms of Water Retention
In addition to feeling bloated around your midsection, you may notice puffiness in your face and your muscles may be achy, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Water retention may also affect your lungs, leaving you short of breath. Swelling in your ankles and lower legs is also a symptom of water retention.
What to Avoid
Reducing your consumption of salty foods may reduce water weight, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Processed foods, such as lunch meats, soy sauce, chips and canned soups, are often high in sodium. Look for low-sodium or low-salt packaged foods and take the salt shaker off your table.
What to Eat
A healthy diet, filled with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, is helpful for reducing occasional water weight, according to MayoClinic.com. Cucumbers, onions, celery and watermelon can produce a mild diuretic effect, encouraging your kidneys to remove excess water from your tissues and process it out through your urine. Include raw nuts and whole-grain products in your diet. In addition to eating a balanced diet, MayoClinic.com suggests drinking plenty of fresh water throughout the day.
Herbal Remedies
Some herbs may produce a diuretic effect when used in combination with a healthy diet. MayoClinic.com lists dandelion, juniper and ginger as potentially helpful in relieving mild water weight problems. The FDA, however, does not oversee the production and sale of herbal remedies, so there is no guarantee of effectiveness, safety or purity.
Concerns
Chronic water retention may be a symptom of an underlying disorder or problem, including food allergies, insect bites, medication side effect, internal organ dysfunction or other medical conditions. Following a water retention diet may alleviate bloating, but it will not treat a medical disorder, so see your doctor for an exam and diagnosis.
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