Most people retain a little water, and it is fairly common. Women especially may notice an increase in water retention during the week before their period. It’s fine to stop water retention at home that is minor. Yet if water retention seems major, occurs all the time, and is continually resulting in puffy extremities or excessive weight gain, this can indicate serious health issues. If you suffer more than a little water retention, you should not try to stop water retention at home but should see a physician for a thorough checkup.

There are essentially two main things that help stop water retention. Ironically, the first of these is drinking more water. Water retention is common when we are dehydrated or low on water. The body tends toward conserving water, and will retain a bit in order to keep us hydrated. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day helps shed extra water, reducing water retention.

The other thing that can help stop water retention is minimizing extra sodium in the diet, which can be difficult. We usually can point to a few foods high in sodium, but just about any packaged food contains some level of sodium. Most natural food sources also have some sodium too, though the amount is negligible. If you’re having problems with water retention, lowering overall sodium intake is one of the best methods for reducing it. Look for low sodium varieties of foods, especially canned foods and prepared meals.

Try to keep sodium content to under the recommended daily allowance. This amount varies for men, women and children. However, eliminating all sodium can actually create major health issues. Usually simply buying fresher foods and preparing them at home will go a long way toward reducing sodium without completely eliminating the supply needed each day.

You can try a few other remedies to stop water retention. Caffeine, for instance, is a known diuretic, explaining its presence in many pain relievers made for women with PMS. It will shed a bit of water weight when taken in small amounts. Too much caffeine can have a reverse effect, causing dehydration and thus a cycle where the body attempts to retain water.

Some foods have a bit of diuretic effect. A little lemon juice in your water will cause more frequent urination and stop water retention. Cranberry juice is another natural diuretic. You might substitute a glass of cranberry juice for one of your cups of water each day to stop water retention. Just about any food high in vitamin C has natural diuretic properties.

Water retention levels vary, and will go up and down depending upon a person’s diet. To stop water retention permanently means committing yourself to drinking water daily, and to eating a low sodium diet. Still, your body may retain a little water, especially if you are a menstruating woman. These symptoms may be reduced but may not always be wholly eliminated.