{"id":44051,"date":"2022-06-24T20:59:33","date_gmt":"2022-06-24T20:59:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/?p=44051"},"modified":"2025-06-06T22:22:36","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T22:22:36","slug":"list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/","title":{"rendered":"List Of Foods That Cause Water Retention"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_75 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#What_Is_Water_Retention\" >What Is Water Retention?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#What_Foods_Make_You_Retain_Water\" >What Foods Make You Retain Water?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Highly_Processed_Foods\" >Highly Processed Foods\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Alcohol\" >Alcohol<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Salty_Foods\" >Salty Foods<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Sugary_Foods\" >Sugary Foods<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Refined_Carbohydrates\" >Refined Carbohydrates<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#What_Is_the_Biggest_Cause_of_Water_Retention\" >What Is the Biggest Cause of Water Retention?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#What_Are_the_Signs_of_Water_Retention\" >What Are the Signs of Water Retention?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#What_Can_I_Eat_to_Stop_Retaining_Water\" >What Can I Eat to Stop Retaining Water?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Foods_Rich_in_Magnesium\" >Foods Rich in Magnesium<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Foods_Rich_in_Potassium\" >Foods Rich in Potassium<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Cranberry_Juice\" >Cranberry Juice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Dandelion_Tea\" >Dandelion Tea<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Hibiscus_Tea\" >Hibiscus Tea<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#What_Else_Can_I_Do_to_Reduce_Water_Retention\" >What Else Can I Do to Reduce Water Retention?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Exercise\" >Exercise<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Get_More_Sleep\" >Get More Sleep<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Manage_Stress\" >Manage Stress<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Drink_Plenty_of_Water\" >Drink Plenty of Water<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Elevate_Your_Legs\" >Elevate Your Legs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Wear_Compression_Stockings\" >Wear Compression Stockings<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#FAQs\" >FAQs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Can_drinking_water_reduce_water_retention\" >Can drinking water reduce water retention?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Does_sleep_help_water_retention\" >Does sleep help water retention?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#Does_sugar_cause_water_retention\" >Does sugar cause water retention?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#How_long_does_water_retention_usually_last\" >How long does water retention usually last?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#How_much_should_I_drink_each_day_to_lose_weight\" >How much should I drink each day to lose weight?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#The_Bottom_Line\" >The Bottom Line\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Athletes and bodybuilders who are set to compete often need to watch their diets carefully to ensure they don&#8217;t end up carrying any excess water weight. However, they aren&#8217;t the only ones who worry about a sudden increase in weight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;&lt;a href=&quot;&quot;https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=list_of_foods_that_cause_water_retention&quot;&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;video autoplay=&quot;autoplay&quot; loop=&quot;loop&quot; muted=&quot;muted&quot; playsinline=&quot;playsinline&quot; width=&quot;777&quot;&gt;&lt;source src=&quot;&quot;https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4&quot;&quot; type=&quot;video\/mp4&quot; \/&gt;&lt;\/video&gt;&lt;\/a&gt;&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:256,&quot;11&quot;:3}\" data-sheets-formula=\"=replace(R[-12]C[0],SEARCH(&quot;LINK TO QUIZ&quot;,R[-12]C[0]),LEN(&quot;LINK TO QUIZ&quot;),R8C[0])\"><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=list_of_foods_that_cause_water_retention\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people who are trying to <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-much-water-should-i-drink-a-day-to-lose-weight\/\">lose weight<\/a> or simply maintain their current weight find that they can&#8217;t seem to get rid of that last pound to achieve their goal. Some people have chronic conditions that make them more prone to water retention. While many factors can contribute to this, the foods we eat are often overlooked.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some foods may help with water retention by promoting diuresis or the increased production of urine, whereas others can cause the body to hold on to water. If you&#8217;re trying to<a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lose-water-weight\/\"> lose water weight<\/a>, it&#8217;s best to avoid foods that are high in sodium.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Water_Retention\"><\/span><b>What Is Water Retention?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also known as fluid retention, it\u2019s a situation where the body retains or holds on to more water than normal for a variety of reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The human body is made up of approximately 60% water. This fluid helps cushion and protect our organs, joints, and tissues. It also helps with digestion, absorption, and transportation of nutrients.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Water also regulates body temperature and plays a role in the elimination of waste products. Most of the time, our bodies maintain a healthy balance of water by regulating how much we consume and eliminating excess through urine and sweat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, there are certain conditions that can prevent this from happening and result in our bodies retaining more water than usual, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Edema:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This is the medical term for swelling that is caused by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the tissues.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Edema can be the result of an underlying medical condition such as congestive heart failure or kidney disease. Corticosteroids can also be a factor (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK279409\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full\/10.1177\/1358863X16672576\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">33<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many women retain water and experience bloating in the days leading up to their period (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4362892\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Obesity:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Obesity may cause the body to retain water (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0306987719306267?via%3Dihub\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">28<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hormonal Changes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Water retention can be a side effect of shifts in certain hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.lww.com\/acsm-essr\/Fulltext\/2008\/07000\/Sex_Hormone_Effects_on_Body_Fluid_Regulation.8.aspx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pregnancy: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the baby grows, extra fluid is required to support its development. This fluid is sometimes retained after birth (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/9185112\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Menopause: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Changes in hormone levels during menopause can cause some women to retain water (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3984489\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=list_of_foods_that_cause_water_retention\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-30039 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Best-5-Day-Workout.png\" alt=\"list of foods that cause water retention\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=list_of_foods_that_cause_water_retention\">\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Foods_Make_You_Retain_Water\"><\/span><b>What Foods Make You Retain Water?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to the aforementioned causes of fluid retention, certain foods can contribute to the body retaining water. These foods can promote inflammation or interfere with the body&#8217;s natural ability to regulate fluid levels, leading to storage of extra water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foods that can cause the body to hold on to water include:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Highly_Processed_Foods\"><\/span><b>Highly Processed Foods\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food processing involves various stages that can change the nutrient content and structure of foods. They often contain additives and preservatives, such as sodium and sugar, which can lead to water retention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Highly processed foods that are high in sodium or added sugar that can promote water retention (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5409798\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Canned soups, stews, and chili<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Packaged ramen noodles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/best-frozen-meals-for-weight-loss\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Frozen meals<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Processed cheese\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cured meats, such as bacon, salami, and ham\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sausages\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hot dogs\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pre-made sauces and dressings\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chips\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crackers\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cookies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cakes\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ice cream\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Lean and toned up body isn\u2019t just a far-fetched fantasy. Check out the BetterMe app and watch it <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=list_of_foods_that_cause_water_retention\">propel your weight loss journey <\/a> into high gear!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Alcohol\"><\/span><b>Alcohol<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it helps promote the production of urine, it can also cause the body to retain water due to chronic alcohol intake, which can cause damage to the liver.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, alcohol is often combined with sugary mixers that can cause the body to hold on to water, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liquor mixed with sugary soft drinks, such as gin and tonic or rum and cola<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sweetened mixed drinks, such as daiquiris and margaritas\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alcohol can also dehydrate you. Its diuretic effects mean that it causes your body to remove fluids from your blood through your renal system at a much faster rate than other liquids.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is why you find yourself going to the bathroom more often when you drink alcohol. If you don\u2019t drink water in between your alcoholic beverages, you end up dehydrated, which can ultimately cause water retention.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Salty_Foods\"><\/span><b>Salty Foods<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eating foods that are high in salt can cause the body to hold on to water. This is because too much salt consumption upsets the body\u2019s water-sodium balance and promotes the retention of water in the body (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5409062\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">24<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some salty foods include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pretzels<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Potato chips<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corn chips<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Popcorn<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Salted nuts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Olives<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pickles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Canned vegetables<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Canned soups and chili<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Packaged ramen noodles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Processed cheese\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cured meats, such as bacon, salami, and ham<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sausages<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hot dogs\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Sugary_Foods\"><\/span><b>Sugary Foods<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the same way that too much salt promotes water retention, so does too much sugar (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/19940093\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sugary foods that may make your body hold on to water include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Candy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chocolate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cookies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cake\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pie<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ice cream\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fruit juice\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sports drinks\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sweetened coffee and tea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sweetened mixed drinks, such as daiquiris and margaritas\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=list_of_foods_that_cause_water_retention\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-30039 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Calorie-Deficit-But-Not-Losing-Weight.png\" alt=\"list of foods that cause water retention\" \/>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Refined_Carbohydrates\"><\/span><b>Refined Carbohydrates<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Refining carbohydrates removes some of the fiber and other nutrients that are present in whole grains. This can make them more rapidly absorbed by the body, resulting in water retention (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/19940093\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). High insulin levels in response to refined carbohydrate intake may cause your kidneys to reabsorb more sodium and retain fluid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your body also stores extra carbohydrates for later use as glycogen. This is helpful, but glycogen is stored with quite a bit of water attached to it, so it can alter the number you see on the scale.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Refined carbohydrates include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">White bread\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pasta\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cereal<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">White rice\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crackers<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i><strong>Read more: <\/strong><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/calories-burned-water-aerobics\/\"><i>Calories Burned Water Aerobics, or Why Aquafit is Good For Weight Loss<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_the_Biggest_Cause_of_Water_Retention\"><\/span><b>What Is the Biggest Cause of Water Retention?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As demonstrated above, there are multiple causes of water retention. From hormonal changes to weight gain, medication, and even food, many things can cause your body to retain water (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au\/health\/conditionsandtreatments\/Fluid-retention-oedema\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33506982\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, for the average person, hormonal fluctuations, medical conditions, or medication could lead to water retention, but the most likely culprit is your diet. More specifically, the consumption of sodium, sugar, and refined carbohydrates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lifestyle choices could also cause water retention. Standing or sitting for too long can cause fluid to \u2018pool\u2019 in the tissues in the legs, which can lead to swelling. This is usually due to gravity and walking should quickly get rid of this issue.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Signs_of_Water_Retention\"><\/span><b>What Are the Signs of Water Retention?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the body retains extra water, the symptoms can show in various ways. Some signs of water retention you should look for include (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au\/health\/conditionsandtreatments\/Fluid-retention-oedema\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/oedema\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">27<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">):<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unexplained weight fluctuations &#8211; If you ever find yourself wondering \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-did-i-gain-2-pounds-overnight\/\">how did I gain 2 pounds overnight?<\/a>\u2019 the answer may be fluid retention. Think back to what you ate the previous night and you may find your answer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swelling, particularly in the hands, feet and ankles<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aching or tender limbs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stiff joints<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shiny or puffy skin<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abdominal bloating<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Puffiness of the abdomen, face, and hips<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Can_I_Eat_to_Stop_Retaining_Water\"><\/span><b>What Can I Eat to Stop Retaining Water?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re looking for foods that can help reduce water retention, you&#8217;re in luck. There are several foods that have diuretic properties, meaning that they help promote urine production and therefore, they may help rid your body of excess water.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best foods for reducing water retention include:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Foods_Rich_in_Magnesium\"><\/span><b>Foods Rich in Magnesium<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magnesium is a mineral that&#8217;s essential for many different bodily functions, including keeping your heart healthy and your bones strong (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hindawi.com\/journals\/ije\/2018\/9041694\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">19<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). It has also been found to help alleviate premenstrual fluid retention (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/9861593\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). It works together with sodium and potassium to help restore your body\u2019s water balance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some good sources of magnesium are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beans<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nuts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whole grains<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leafy greens<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=list_of_foods_that_cause_water_retention\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-30039 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/How-Many-Pounds-To-Lose-An-Inch.png\" alt=\"list of foods that cause water retention\" \/>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Foods_Rich_in_Potassium\"><\/span><b>Foods Rich in Potassium<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Potassium is another essential mineral that&#8217;s important for maintaining a healthy heart and keeping your muscles working properly (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK541123\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Potassium tends to counter sodium to help maintain fluid balance in the body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good sources of potassium include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">White and sweet potatoes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bananas<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most fresh fruits and vegetables<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cranberry_Juice\"><\/span><b>Cranberry Juice<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cranberry juice is an excellent source of antioxidants and is believed to help reduce water retention. It&#8217;s also believed to be a natural diuretic that boosts frequent urination. Cranberries are also thought to work by helping to keep urine diluted, which helps prevent fluid from being reabsorbed into the body.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dandelion_Tea\"><\/span><b>Dandelion Tea<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dandelion tea is a popular herbal tea that&#8217;s often consumed for its diuretic properties. It&#8217;s believed to work as it aids in increasing urine production, which helps rid the body of excess fluid (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3155102\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">29<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). If you have an allergy to plants in the asteraceae family, you may want to avoid this option.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A study in 2013 also found that this herb may interact unfavorably with some medications, including certain antibiotics, anticoagulants, and blood sugar drugs (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3575928\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Make sure you talk to your doctor before you try any herbal teas or supplements.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hibiscus_Tea\"><\/span><b>Hibiscus Tea<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hibiscus tea is another herbal tea that&#8217;s believed to have diuretic properties (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/23150077\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). As with dandelion tea, it&#8217;s believed to help increase urine production, which can help reduce water retention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While hibiscus allergies are rare, they still happen. If you tend to have adverse reactions to the\u00a0 Malvaceae family of plants, hibiscus may not be the water retention option for you. Too much hibiscus is also believed to trigger stomach upsets, gas, and constipation. Therefore, to be on the safe side, you should talk to your doctor first.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Looking for a way to <a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=list_of_foods_that_cause_water_retention\">break the vicious cycle of weight loss <\/a> and tone up all the jiggly parts? Watch the extra pounds fly off and your muscles firm up with the BetterMe app!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Else_Can_I_Do_to_Reduce_Water_Retention\"><\/span><b>What Else Can I Do to Reduce Water Retention?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eating diuretic foods can help reduce water retention, but there are some other things you can do to help <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-get-rid-of-water-retention-overnight\/\">get rid of water retention overnight<\/a>, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exercise\"><\/span><b>Exercise<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exercise is one of the most effective short-term treatments for water retention. When you exercise, your body releases fluids through sweating. This helps reduce the amount of water your body is retaining (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3707098\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">26<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, exercise can help improve circulation and increase lymphatic drainage. Both of these effects can help reduce the appearance of swollenness and bloating (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4530377\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Get_More_Sleep\"><\/span><b>Get More Sleep<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting enough sleep is important for overall health, but it can also help reduce water retention (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4444051\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">22<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). When you don&#8217;t get enough sleep, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. This can cause the body to hold on to water (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/8266000\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, if you&#8217;re looking to reduce water retention, make sure you get enough shut-eye. Most adults require 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Manage_Stress\"><\/span><b>Manage Stress<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic stress can contribute to a variety of health problems, including water retention. When you&#8217;re stressed, your body releases cortisol (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5579396\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">32<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). As previously mentioned, cortisol can cause the body to hold on to water (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/8266000\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, if you&#8217;re looking to reduce water retention, it&#8217;s important to manage stress. There are a variety of different stress-management techniques you can try, such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Drink_Plenty_of_Water\"><\/span><b>Drink Plenty of Water<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It may seem counterintuitive, but one of the best things you can do to reduce water retention is to drink plenty of water. When you&#8217;re properly hydrated, your body is less likely to hold on to water (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/jasn.asnjournals.org\/content\/19\/6\/1041\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, if you&#8217;re looking to reduce water retention, make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day. Most adults require approximately eight glasses per day.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Elevate_Your_Legs\"><\/span><b>Elevate Your Legs<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your legs are swollen, try elevating them to help reduce the buildup of fluid. When you elevate your legs, gravity helps pull the fluid away from your lower body and back into circulation (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/2794965\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">31<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can elevate your legs by lying down and placing a pillow beneath your feet. You can also try sitting in a chair with your feet elevated on a stool.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wear_Compression_Stockings\"><\/span><b>Wear Compression Stockings<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compression stockings are specially designed to apply pressure to the legs and feet. This helps promote circulation and can reduce the amount of fluid that&#8217;s able to build up in your lower body (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hindawi.com\/journals\/ijvm\/2015\/648074\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have swelling in your legs, you may want to try compression stockings. They&#8217;re available in a variety of sizes and can be bought at most pharmacies and medical supply stores.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><strong>Read more: <\/strong><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-much-water-should-i-drink-a-day-to-lose-weight\/\"><i>How Much Water Should I Drink a Day To Lose Weight?<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=list_of_foods_that_cause_water_retention\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-30039 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/How-To-Get-A-Smaller-Waist.png\" alt=\"list of foods that cause water retention\" \/>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span><b>FAQs<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_drinking_water_reduce_water_retention\"><\/span><strong>Can drinking water reduce water retention?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, it can. Dehydration is one of the causes of water retention. Drinking water keeps you hydrated and restores the fluid sodium balance in the body, which both prevents and reverses water retention.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure you avoid water intoxication in a bid to avoid water retention. While water intoxication is rare, it can still happen, which can cause:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hyponatremia, due to the dilution of electrolytes in the blood<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mild symptoms such as headaches, nausea and vomiting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Severe symptoms such as drowsiness, muscle weakness or cramping, increased blood pressure, double vision, confusion, inability to identify sensory information, and difficulty breathing<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_sleep_help_water_retention\"><\/span><strong>Does sleep help water retention?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, it does. As previously mentioned, lack of sufficient sleep leads to the increased production of cortisol, which causes the body to hold on to more water.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of enough sleep also causes you to make unhealthy food choices where you may end up consuming foods that are high in sodium and sugar which can trigger fluid retention.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_sugar_cause_water_retention\"><\/span><strong>Does sugar cause water retention?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, it does. Sugar is a carbohydrate and the body stores carbs as glycogen together with a little bit of water. Therefore, the more sugar you consume, the more glycogen and water are stored.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Too much sugar also increases insulin levels, which may cause your kidneys to retain water and sodium.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_water_retention_usually_last\"><\/span><strong>How long does water retention usually last?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Water retention can last anything from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the underlying cause of it.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_should_I_drink_each_day_to_lose_weight\"><\/span><strong>How much should I drink each day to lose weight?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this. How much water a person needs each day is largely dependent on the individual. To start, make sure you drink the recommended six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From here, add water according to your needs. For example, drink more water in hotter weather as the body demands, or if you\u2019re working out more, you\u2019ll need to drink more as you lose a lot of water via sweat &#8211; this will also prevent dehydration.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<p><span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;&lt;a href=&quot;&quot;https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=list_of_foods_that_cause_water_retention&quot;&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&lt;video autoplay=&quot;autoplay&quot; loop=&quot;loop&quot; muted=&quot;muted&quot; playsinline=&quot;playsinline&quot; width=&quot;777&quot;&gt;&lt;source src=&quot;&quot;https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-1.mp4&quot;&quot; type=&quot;video\/mp4&quot; \/&gt;&lt;\/video&gt;&lt;\/a&gt;&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:256,&quot;11&quot;:3}\" data-sheets-formula=\"=replace(R[-12]C[0],SEARCH(&quot;LINK TO QUIZ&quot;,R[-12]C[0]),LEN(&quot;LINK TO QUIZ&quot;),R8C[0])\"><a href=\"https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=list_of_foods_that_cause_water_retention\" target=\"_blank\"><video autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"muted\" playsinline=\"playsinline\" width=\"777\"><source src=\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-1.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><\/video><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Bottom_Line\"><\/span><b>The Bottom Line\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Water retention can be caused by a variety of different factors, including hormones, medications, and certain medical conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several different ways to reduce water retention, including dietary changes, exercise, and stress management.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your goal is to reduce water retention, make sure to drink plenty of fluids and limit your sodium intake.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Athletes and bodybuilders who are set to compete often need to watch their diets carefully to ensure they don&#8217;t end up carrying any excess water weight. However, they aren&#8217;t the only ones who worry about a sudden increase in weight. Many people who are trying to lose weight or simply maintain their current weight find [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":73354,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"coauthors":[109,87],"class_list":["post-44051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nutrition"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v20.2.1 (Yoast SEO v25.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>List Of Foods That Cause Water Retention - BetterMe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This \u2605 LIST OF FOODS THAT CAUSE WATER RETENTION \u27a4 can help you identify the foods that may be causing your bloating and swelling.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, nofollow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"List Of Foods That Cause Water Retention\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This \u2605 LIST OF FOODS THAT CAUSE WATER RETENTION \u27a4 can help you identify the foods that may be causing your bloating and swelling.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BetterMe Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-06T22:22:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/List-Of-Foods-That-Cause-Water-Retention-1-1024x640.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"640\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@betterme\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\u0421. Kamau\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/05bcd715bea15329a5c0bc94910663b3\"},\"headline\":\"List Of Foods That Cause Water Retention\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-06T22:22:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/\"},\"wordCount\":2197,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/List-Of-Foods-That-Cause-Water-Retention-1.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Nutrition\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"articleBody\":\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Athletes and bodybuilders who are set to compete often need to watch their diets carefully to ensure they don't end up carrying any excess water weight. However, they aren't the only ones who worry about a sudden increase in weight.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span data-sheets-root=\\\"1\\\" data-sheets-value=\\\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;[video-shortcode link=\\\\&quot;https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=list_of_foods_that_cause_water_retention\\\\&quot; mp4=\\\\&quot;https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\\\\&quot;]&quot;}\\\" data-sheets-userformat=\\\"{&quot;2&quot;:256,&quot;11&quot;:3}\\\" data-sheets-formula=\\\"=replace(R[-12]C[0],SEARCH(&quot;LINK TO QUIZ&quot;,R[-12]C[0]),LEN(&quot;LINK TO QUIZ&quot;),R8C[0])\\\"><\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Many people who are trying to <a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-much-water-should-i-drink-a-day-to-lose-weight\/\\\">lose weight<\/a> or simply maintain their current weight find that they can't seem to get rid of that last pound to achieve their goal. Some people have chronic conditions that make them more prone to water retention. While many factors can contribute to this, the foods we eat are often overlooked.\u00a0<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Some foods may help with water retention by promoting diuresis or the increased production of urine, whereas others can cause the body to hold on to water. If you're trying to<a href=\\\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lose-water-weight\/\\\"> lose water weight<\/a>, it's best to avoid foods that are high in sodium.<\/span>\\r\\n<h2 style=\\\"text-align: center;\\\"><b>What Is Water Retention?<\/b><\/h2>\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">Also known as fluid retention, it\u2019s a situation where the body retains or holds on to more water than normal for a variety of reasons.<\/span>\\r\\n\\r\\n<span style=\\\"font-weight: 400;\\\">The human body is made up of a ...\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/\",\"name\":\"List Of Foods That Cause Water Retention - BetterMe\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/List-Of-Foods-That-Cause-Water-Retention-1.png\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-06T22:22:36+00:00\",\"description\":\"This \u2605 LIST OF FOODS THAT CAUSE WATER RETENTION \u27a4 can help you identify the foods that may be causing your bloating and swelling.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/List-Of-Foods-That-Cause-Water-Retention-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/List-Of-Foods-That-Cause-Water-Retention-1.png\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1200},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Nutrition\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/nutrition\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"List Of Foods That Cause Water Retention\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/\",\"name\":\"BetterMe Blog\",\"description\":\"Health &amp; Fitness\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization\",\"name\":\"BetterMe\",\"alternateName\":\"Betterme Limited\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"BetterMe\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/betterme\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterme\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/betterme-apps\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bettermetips\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC0svgcjc3jSgcryqo83spPQ\",\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@betterme.health.coaching\",\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/betterme-health-coaching\/id1264546236\",\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.gen.workoutme&amp;amp;amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;gl=US\",\"https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q114895798\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/05bcd715bea15329a5c0bc94910663b3\",\"name\":\"\u0421. Kamau\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/90b178f3c6c0698ffcfa00531dad5f63\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/clare_kamau-150x150.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/clare_kamau-150x150.png\",\"caption\":\"\u0421. Kamau\"},\"description\":\"Clare is an excellent and experienced writer who has a great interest in nutrition, weight loss, and working out. She believes that everyone should take an interest in health and fitness, as not only do they improve your way of life, but they can also have a significant impact on your health. As a writer, her goal is to educate her readers about the ways they can reprogram themselves to enjoy exercise, as well as break free from bad eating habits. 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She believes that everyone, no matter their age, gender, or fitness level, can always learn something new that can benefit their health.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/clare-k-420b7a133\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/author\/clarekamau\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"List Of Foods That Cause Water Retention - BetterMe","description":"This \u2605 LIST OF FOODS THAT CAUSE WATER RETENTION \u27a4 can help you identify the foods that may be causing your bloating and swelling.","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"nofollow"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"List Of Foods That Cause Water Retention","og_description":"This \u2605 LIST OF FOODS THAT CAUSE WATER RETENTION \u27a4 can help you identify the foods that may be causing your bloating and swelling.","og_url":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/","og_site_name":"BetterMe Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","article_modified_time":"2025-06-06T22:22:36+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":640,"url":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/List-Of-Foods-That-Cause-Water-Retention-1-1024x640.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@betterme","twitter_site":"@betterme","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"\u0421. Kamau, Kristen Fleming, RD","Est. reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/"},"author":{"name":"\u0421. Kamau","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/05bcd715bea15329a5c0bc94910663b3"},"headline":"List Of Foods That Cause Water Retention","dateModified":"2025-06-06T22:22:36+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/"},"wordCount":2197,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/List-Of-Foods-That-Cause-Water-Retention-1.png","articleSection":["Nutrition"],"inLanguage":"en-US","articleBody":"<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Athletes and bodybuilders who are set to compete often need to watch their diets carefully to ensure they don't end up carrying any excess water weight. However, they aren't the only ones who worry about a sudden increase in weight.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;[video-shortcode link=\\&quot;https:\/\/quiz.betterme.world\/first-page-generated?flow=2228&amp;utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=Blog&amp;utm_campaign=list_of_foods_that_cause_water_retention\\&quot; mp4=\\&quot;https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ezgif.com-gif-to-mp4-2.mp4\\&quot;]&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:256,&quot;11&quot;:3}\" data-sheets-formula=\"=replace(R[-12]C[0],SEARCH(&quot;LINK TO QUIZ&quot;,R[-12]C[0]),LEN(&quot;LINK TO QUIZ&quot;),R8C[0])\"><\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people who are trying to <a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-much-water-should-i-drink-a-day-to-lose-weight\/\">lose weight<\/a> or simply maintain their current weight find that they can't seem to get rid of that last pound to achieve their goal. Some people have chronic conditions that make them more prone to water retention. While many factors can contribute to this, the foods we eat are often overlooked.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some foods may help with water retention by promoting diuresis or the increased production of urine, whereas others can cause the body to hold on to water. If you're trying to<a href=\"https:\/\/betterme.world\/articles\/how-to-lose-water-weight\/\"> lose water weight<\/a>, it's best to avoid foods that are high in sodium.<\/span>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>What Is Water Retention?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also known as fluid retention, it\u2019s a situation where the body retains or holds on to more water than normal for a variety of reasons.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The human body is made up of a ..."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/","url":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/","name":"List Of Foods That Cause Water Retention - BetterMe","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/List-Of-Foods-That-Cause-Water-Retention-1.png","dateModified":"2025-06-06T22:22:36+00:00","description":"This \u2605 LIST OF FOODS THAT CAUSE WATER RETENTION \u27a4 can help you identify the foods that may be causing your bloating and swelling.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/List-Of-Foods-That-Cause-Water-Retention-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/List-Of-Foods-That-Cause-Water-Retention-1.png","width":1920,"height":1200},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Nutrition","item":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/nutrition\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"List Of Foods That Cause Water Retention"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/","name":"BetterMe Blog","description":"Health &amp; Fitness","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#organization","name":"BetterMe","alternateName":"Betterme Limited","url":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BetterMe.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"BetterMe"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/betterme.health.coaching","https:\/\/x.com\/betterme","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/betterme\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/betterme-apps","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/bettermetips\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC0svgcjc3jSgcryqo83spPQ","https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@betterme.health.coaching","https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/betterme-health-coaching\/id1264546236","https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.gen.workoutme&amp;amp;amp;amp;hl=en_US&amp;amp;amp;amp;gl=US","https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Q114895798"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/05bcd715bea15329a5c0bc94910663b3","name":"\u0421. Kamau","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/90b178f3c6c0698ffcfa00531dad5f63","url":"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/clare_kamau-150x150.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/dev.cdn.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/clare_kamau-150x150.png","caption":"\u0421. Kamau"},"description":"Clare is an excellent and experienced writer who has a great interest in nutrition, weight loss, and working out. She believes that everyone should take an interest in health and fitness, as not only do they improve your way of life, but they can also have a significant impact on your health. As a writer, her goal is to educate her readers about the ways they can reprogram themselves to enjoy exercise, as well as break free from bad eating habits. In her articles, Clare tries to give advice which is backed by scientific research and is also easy to follow on a day-to-day basis. She believes that everyone, no matter their age, gender, or fitness level, can always learn something new that can benefit their health.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/clare-k-420b7a133\/"],"url":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/author\/clarekamau\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44051"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44051\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73355,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44051\/revisions\/73355"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/73354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44051"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.betterme.world\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=44051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}