When you go on a diet, everyone always tells you that your water weight is the first to go, that you haven't really lost anything, but what exactly does that mean?
Water retention is when your kidneys hold on to the extra water in your body when they sense an imbalance. Your kidneys are responsible for making sure all the other organs are functioning properly. The water retained by your kidneys can make different body parts swell, like how pregnant women have swollen feet.
But pregnancy isn't the only cause of water retention. Eating foods with too much salt or sugar can also create an imbalance that can contribute to your water weight. Being dehydrated is another cause. Women retain water the most during a pregnancy, but also during the week before our periods.
The simplest way to get rid of water weight is to drink more water! The water will flush out all the stored water and sodium, and eventually minimize the swelling. You can also exercise more, and sweat out the excess liquid in your body.
Source: Pure Wow.
This story originally appeared on Cosmo.ph.
*Minor edits have been made by FemaleNetwork.com editors.
