A listing of suggestions to decrease water retention and drop excess water weight.
When you suffer from water retention, or edema, it can increase the number you see when you step on the scale. Making dietary changes may help you get rid of water weight quickly. Consult your doctor if you’re still retaining water weight after changing your diet — medications and underlying health problems also may cause edema. A switch of medications could naturally relieve water retention issues without the need for dietary changes.
1. Follow a Low-Carb Diet
Low-carbohydrate diets, such as Atkins and South Beach Diet, typically cause you to lose weight quickly. Low-carb diets can lead to ketosis, a state in which your body uses ketones for energy instead of carbohydrates. When the body breaks down fat for energy, ketones appear and your body starts to rely on them for fuel. Water loss may occur during ketosis.
2. Eat a High Protein Diet
Eat mostly high-protein foods if you plan to follow a low-carb diet to drop water weight quickly. Avoid foods high in carbohydrates, such as breads, pastas, alcohol, fruit juice, rice, cereals, sweets and fruits. Consume vegetables and lean proteins in place of carb options. Permitted foods include lettuce, broccoli, kale, celery, chicken, turkey, fish, cheese and eggs. Avoid meats high in saturated fat, such as red meats to control fat intake. As you progress on a high protein and low carbohydrate diet, moderate amounts of carbohydrates can be added back into your diet.
3. Limit Sodium Intake
Lose water weight by limiting the amount of sodium in your diet. Too much salt in the diet causes your body to retain water. Foods very high in sodium include fast food, frozen food dinners, canned vegetables, lunch meat, soy sauce and table salt. Avoid adding any extra salt to foods when you are preparing meals. Use fresh herbs and spices for seasoning in lieu of salt when cooking.
4. Drink More Water
Drinking a lot of water can be part of your diet to lose weight caused by edema. Drink at least eight glasses of water daily. This helps dilute any sodium in your blood and prevents bloating. Food rich in water, such as melon, celery and cucumbers have a similar effect.
5. Increase Exercise
Working out, along with following a healthy diet, helps you lose water weight as well. FitLifeArt.com recommends performing high-intensity exercises that make you sweat a lot to drop weight quickly. Mix up resistance training with cardio exercise for 45 to 60 minutes at least three to five times per week.