Our body is made up of about 60% water and the amount of water that we retain can vary depending on our eating. If your eating style usually leans towards high-salt content, your cells are bound to soak up all the water that you have been drinking and just keeping them hence that bloating feeling. This is also referred to as water weight which can appear as swelling of your hands, legs, feet, and your ankles even. Although water weight is harmless, it may cause some discomfort on your part, bloating, and of course, having to struggle with your weight loss too.

How then can you lose your water weight?

If you find yourself dealing with water weight most of the time, and you want to solve it fast, here are some tips that you can try yourself.

Reduce salt intake

One way to reduce the amount of water that your body is retaining is by lowering your salt intake. Look for low-sodium options to replace your favorite meals as much as possible. If you are having a hard time cutting salt from your diet, you can do this gradually instead.

Hydrate regularly

In order to prevent water retention, you should make it a point to drink water regularly. When your body senses that you are becoming dehydrated, it will take steps to retain water hence water weight. That said, by staying hydrated, you are helping your body function better in eliminating excess water in your system. Another thing that you should keep in mind when you drink water is that it encourages the liver and the kidneys to function better too. When this happens, your body will be able to flush out excess salt and water to get rid of water weight.

Exercise regularly

Although performing intense workouts may trigger water retention at times because of muscle repair, in the long run, exercising will help stimulate the blood flowing in your body which can get rid of any buildup in your lymphatic system. In case you see some swelling after an intense workout, don’t worry, this will eventually disappear.

Choose healthier carbs

Cutting back on carbohydrates may help remove water weight, but this may also lead to lack of energy. When there is lack of carbohydrates in your diet, your intake of fat and protein will go up. The good news is that aside from getting energy, both protein and fats promote loss of water weight. If you are missing carbs in your diet, you can go for healthy carbs instead such as the ones that you’ll find in vegetables and fruits.

Have magnesium during your period

Women often have a tendency to crave for carbohydrates and fats during the second half of their menstrual cycle that they tend to experience bloating at the time because of their eating habits. If you wish to prevent water weight from getting the best of you, taking magnesium supplements can be of good use. Magnesium helps reduce water retention. You can also have black coffee, tea, and even dandelion root during your period because they are considered as natural diuretics. However, make sure that you consult with your doctor first to ensure that it is safe for you, especially when you are taking other supplements or medications.

Water weight affects a lot of people and although it is not harmful, it can still be bothersome especially when you are subjected to swelling. Fortunately, getting rid of the excess water that your body is keeping can be done quickly and safely using the tips mentioned above.