Do you feel puffy and bloated in the stomach, arms, and legs? Does your skin look abnormally tight? Do holes remain on your skin when you press it? It could be water weight caused by excess water retention.
This study shows that water weight may come from sitting too long or standing too long. Teachers, supermarket attendants and people with desk jobs are especially vulnerable.
If you take medications that have water retention as a side effect then you may experience the same symptoms. Sometimes too much salt in the body or excessive urination may also be the cause.
Some people choose to take pills for this condition. But pills are not a natural remedy and they have side effects. Water weight can disappear if you follow these natural interventions. In fact, the techniques work so well that you would see results in just one night.
How to Lose Water Weight Overnight
1. It’s in the potassium
Since sodium or salt is a key cause of water retention, you need a substance that restores the electrolyte balance in your body.
When potassium is present in the body, it balances out the sodium. That way, you are less likely to retain water.
Bananas are known to be rich in potassium. Likewise, spinach and other green vegetables are rich in the mineral. You can also source your potassium from avocados, beans, fish and apricots. Take a banana before going to bed to help your body regulate fluids around your cells.
2. Drink water
You may think you must avoid water to lose water weight overnight but that’s not true. Think of water weight like fat storage. If you eat very few, your body holds onto the little food you have left and you thus retain fat or weight. The same is true for water. When your body is not hydrated, it prepares the internal system to keep as much water as possible.
Take sufficient amounts of water – 2 liters a day. That way, your organs will flush out as many solutes as possible. However, be careful not to overdo it as the condition may worsen.
3. It could be an allergy
Sometimes the body is allergic to certain foods and may respond through fluid retention. A common cause of allergies is milk. However, it could be something else that is sparking the reaction.
As a general rule, take note of instances when your water weight tends to increase. If it occurs after eating certain foods, they could be the cause. Remove them from the diet and see whether the symptoms disappear.
4. Get quality sleep
What you do during the night has a profound effect on how your body deals with water weight. Sometimes the kidneys do not get enough time to regulate salt and water in the body. One of the nerves connected to this vital organ is affected by sleep.
Therefore, strive to get a minimum of 7 hours of rest. Hydration levels are best controlled when you are asleep, so make sure the quality is sufficient. Getting quality sleep every night will definitely help you lose water weight overnight.
5. Reduce your salt intake
As explained earlier, salt imbalance is a primary reason why you have water weight. If you have a lot of salt in your system, your body will respond by increasing fluid retention to balance it out.
In this study, it was shown that if your salt levels are normal then you suddenly eat foods high in salt, water retention will occur. Avoid foods with excess added salt like chips before your sleep. Table salt is also not a good idea.
6. Respond to your environment
In very hot and humid climates, you are likely to lose plenty of water when you are awake. This means that you will have also lost some electrolytes during the day. You can restore this by taking slightly more sodium and potassium.
On the other hand, if the air is very dry and cold, you’d be in danger of having excess electrolytes and hence too much fluid retention. In those occasions make sure you stay hydrated.
7. Skip the wine and beer
If you want to lose water weight overnight, it may be a good idea to quit alcohol. Drinking usually causes inflammation in the body thus leading to puffiness and bloating.
Alternatively, alcohol dehydrates the system thus making your body hold on to water as explained here. This is the reason why many drinkers have red faces and a swollen appearance. If you take alcohol especially in the evening, consider stopping this unhealthy habit.
8. Take fewer carbs
Carbohydrates can increase water retention. Every time you take carbs, your body stores them as glycogen in the muscles. This process often comes with some water.
Therefore, the more glycogen you have, the more water you will retain. Consider replacing carbs with proteins or foods that are high in fiber such as fruits and vegetables.
9. Cut back on stress
Stress and water weight are related. If you are stressed, the adrenal glands are prompted to secrete more aldosterone. This hormone contributes to more fluid retention. You should eliminate stress by avoiding toxic people and environments.
Do not focus so much on work that it becomes unhealthy. Schedule some free time in which you can meditate, relax and decompress. Sometimes taking a walk would be just what your body needs.
10. Take some herbal teas
You can lose water weight overnight by taking herbal teas. These mixtures often help to eliminate waste and unwanted substances in the body.
Herbal teas have diuretic, flavonoids as well as vitamin C, which all aid in minimizing fluid retention. Some of the teas you could take include nettle, birch, hawkweed and horsetail.
11. Exercise moderately
If you do intense cardio workouts in the evenings, you are likely to increase water retention. This is because of the loss of electrolytes. Also, intense exercise causes minor tears in muscles. These make your body retain fluid in retaliation. Also, when you have too much inflammation in your body, you are likely to increase your water weight.
Therefore, only do gentle workouts. Walk to increase circulation and remove some excess water in your system. These short workouts are also excellent for losing water weight overnight.
12. Do Yoga
Yoga is another effective way to counter water retention. This often works by stimulating blood circulation in different parts of the body. In case your fluid retention was caused by inadequate movement, then Yoga could be the remedy.
Consider doing the warrior and mountain poses, which are both good for legs, hands and the abdomen. The Tadasana is another noteworthy alternative. You could do these at the end of the day so that you can feel the benefits when you go to sleep.
Final Word
The idea behind natural interventions for water weight is balancing out the electrolytes in your system. Cut down on the foods that cause fluid retention and increase those that do not. Additionally, avoid activities or substances that may elevate the salt levels within your body. A more precise response may be necessary in case it is caused by alcohol or allergies.
However, in most instances, simple remedies like sleep, stress reduction and short home workouts are enough to make everything go back to normal.
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