Water plays a huge role in the human body. Making up about 60% of the body, it’s in the blood, muscles, organs and bones. Sometimes the body retains more water than it should. This is a sign the body has not been able to eliminate excess water.
That ‘bloated’ feeling can mess with your self-esteem but it can be a part of a bigger health condition and should not be ignored.
Lean Vitality Coach Lerato Letlhake joined Midday Joy with Unathi to share tips on how to identify water retention and what can be done to curb it.
What causes it?
• A diet high in sodium/salt
• Lack of exercise
• A reaction to some types of medication
• Dehydration
• Insufficient protein in your daily diet
• Alcohol
Foods that cause water retention
• Carbonated sodas
• Non-nutritive sweeteners eg. Sorbitol, Xylitol
• Cruciferous vegetables eg. Broccoli and cauliflower
• Dairy
• Starchy foods
What can help reduce water retention?
Apart from Lerato’s tips cutting junk food from your diet can help. Herbal and green tea is also a good way to rid the body of excess fluids and help with detoxing.
Other tips:
- Eat smaller meals more often instead of 3 big meals
- Cut down red meat and include more lean protein like fish and turkey
- Limit caffeine intake and energy drinks
- Avoid processed foods like cold cuts of meat or polony
- Drink 8 to 12 glasses of water
Also read: The Life Plug: Healthier alcohol choices



