Could the Weight Gain on Your Scale Be Water Retention?
Because it's one of the most frequently asked questions, we're explaining the foods that cause water retention and the foods that can help you reduce bloating. Let's take a look at the foods that cause water retention in your body!
Do you wake up in the morning feeling bloated, noticing your weight constantly going up and down on the scale? Or do you find that clothes you fit into comfortably yesterday feel tight today? Don't worry! Your body may be retaining water — that is, holding onto fluid — due to the heat. From time to time, your body can also react to a food you've eaten, a medication you've taken, or stress and emotional strain you've experienced. Don't let it get you down — water retention can happen to anyone. What matters is understanding why your body is retaining water and how you can reduce it. In other words, learning to listen to what your body is telling you. Because this is one of the questions we're asked most often, we decided this week to tell you about the foods that cause water retention and the foods that can help you reduce it. Let's start by looking at the foods that cause water retention in your body!
Salt
Salt intake is one of the biggest factors that causes water retention. Did you know that for every 1 gram of excess salt consumed, your body retains around 200 ml — about one water glass (about 200 ml / 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp) — of water? You can limit your salt intake by reducing the amount you add to your meals or by not adding extra salt at the table. The high salt content in fast food consumed outside the home can cause water retention in your body. You can opt for lighter options like salads and vegetable dishes instead. Pre-packaged products you buy at the store — such as ready-made soups, packaged sauces, store-bought vegetable broths, cheese, pickles, canned goods, and frozen ready meals — tend to have very high sodium content. Reading product labels can be a lifesaver! In fact, whenever possible, consider making these at home yourself rather than buying them.
Alcohol
There have probably been times when you woke up feeling puffier than usual the morning after drinking alcohol. Alcohol and the salty nuts often consumed alongside it can cause water retention in your body. Limiting your alcohol consumption, drinking an extra glass of water for each drink you have, and choosing high-water-content snacks like cucumber slices and other vegetables — which are easy to find in warm weather — instead of salty nuts and chips, will all help solve your post-alcohol bloating problem.
Consuming Foods High in Carbohydrates
Watch out — eating too many carbohydrates can cause water retention! Carbohydrate sources that contribute to bloating include rice, pasta, white flour and baked goods made from white flour, white bread, table sugar, jam, and honey. If you're overdoing these, be careful! These foods in your diet can cause your body to bloat. To reduce your water retention issues, you can swap them out for whole wheat products or oat-based products, which are higher in fiber.
So How Can You Solve Your Water Retention Problem?
* How much water are you drinking? As the weather warms up, your body is losing more water — but are you still not drinking enough? You absolutely must pay attention to your water intake to flush out excess fluid. Make it a habit to drink 500 ml of water every morning when you wake up and before each meal.
* If you don't have any underlying health conditions, you can drink one cup a day of herbal teas that help with water retention, such as rosemary, nettle, cherry stem, hibiscus, and heather leaf tea.
* Among vegetables, regularly consuming dark leafy greens — especially parsley, arugula, and watercress — and among fruits, regularly eating pineapple, cherries, and apricots will help your body shed excess water.
* Make it a point to exercise regularly! Excessive inactivity can reduce lymphatic circulation and venous circulation, which can cause water retention especially in the arms and legs. Take advantage of the beautiful weather and boost your circulation with outdoor walks.
Detox Water for Water Retention
For 1 liter of water;
Ingredients
6 strawberries
1 medium orange
1 handful of fresh mint
Ice cubes (optional)
Anti-Bloating Salad (ingredients for 1 serving)
2 water glasses (about 200 ml / 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp each) of spinach
½ tea glass (about 100 ml / 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp) of blueberries
1 large carrot
½ medium cucumber
2 water glasses of cabbage
½ tea glass of raspberries
3 strawberries
10 raw almonds
Not sure about the calorie counts of certain foods? Then Click Here for the Calorie Chart!
