What Is Water Weight?

The medical term “water weight,” also known as edema, refers to extra water the body retains. The human body is made up of 50%-70% water, and those fluid levels constantly fluctuate. The wide percentage range explains how water weight can shift overall body weight between 2-4 pounds.

Certain factors such as diet and dehydration can contribute to the body retaining excess water. If you suspect dehydration is contributing to water weight, rehydrate with electrolyte drink mix DripDrop.

Let’s explore some factors that can contribute to water retention and how to lose water weight.

What Causes Water Weight Gain?

Diets High in Sodium or Carbohydrates

Water weight is caused by your body holding on to excess water. Consuming high levels of sodium or carbohydrates can signal to your body that it needs to hold on to more water. Your body needs to retain a specific sodium-to-water ratio, so ingesting a lot of sodium will cause your body to retain water to maintain that proper ratio.

Carbohydrates are essential sources of energy. Your body converts carbs into glycogen to store energy sources for later, but each glycogen molecule also includes 3 grams of water your body must retain. If you’re wondering how to lose water weight, and you consume high levels of sodium and carbohydrates, try limiting your intake and drinking a lot of water.

Cortisol Levels

Cortisol is often known for its role in stress, but this hormone also plays a crucial role in combating inflammation, creating memories, regulating metabolism, and balancing blood sugar levels. Elevated cortisol can cause increased water retention, but it isn’t common—and the changes in cortisol caused by stress levels probably won’t be enough to trigger this.

Tumors on the adrenal or pituitary glands may release too much cortisol into the bloodstream, elevating levels to the point where water retention is a possible side effect. Additionally, low levels of thyroid hormone can cause swelling around the eyes.

Traveling or Sitting for Extended Periods

Our advancements in technology and engineering may have opened up an entirely new world of accessible air travel, but our bodies aren’t always up for the trip. Fatigue, stiffness, and uncomfortable bloating are common symptoms travelers experience. Travel bloating is often a result of water retention caused by sedentary behavior and dehydration.

Sitting still for extended periods can cause muscles to contract, leading to fluid pooling in the feet and legs. Most of the body’s water is located in blood cells, and the Earth’s gravitational pull naturally pulls those cells to the lower extremities.

This problem can also impact people who are sedentary at home or in the workplace. Some forms of travel and workplace environments may make it hard to get up, but doing so for a minute or two every half hour should help alleviate any retention due to inactivity. People who suffer from poor circulation may also retain fluids in the lower extremities.

While traveling or sitting for an extended period, it’s also vital to continually drink water to help reduce bloating and avoid dehydration. DripDrop’s slim packet design makes it easy to bring anywhere, and its precise formula makes it a fast way to hydrate.

Medications

Water retention can be a side effect of medications that treat depression and blood pressure. Over-the-counter pain relievers called NSAIDs can influence the amount of water your body hangs onto, as well as diabetes drugs called thiazolidinediones. If you use any of these medications and are concerned about excess water weight, talk to your medical advisors about possible alternatives.

Menstruation and Birth Control

Thanks to hormone fluctuation, some biological females may retain more water weight the week before their period, with retention peaking on the first day of menstruation. You may notice swelling in the face and extremities, chest tenderness, and a feeling of fullness.

Hormonal birth control can also cause water retention due to changes in hormones. It usually isn’t an extreme change, but you may want to explore other options if it makes you uncomfortable.

Dehydration

Not drinking enough water can cause water weight. If your body hasn’t received enough water, it will hold on to extra fluids until fluid balance is restored through proper water intake. Drinking water to shed water weight may sound counterproductive, but maintaining a healthy hydration level can help your body avoid water retention.

If you feel thirsty, you are likely already experiencing mild dehydration symptoms. Try to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water (equal to 1 liter or half a galleon) every day—more so if you’re doing physical activity or spending time in the heat. DripDrop is a fast way to hydrate, with 3 times the electrolytes in traditional sports drinks and just half the sugar. Packed with delicious flavor and essential electrolytes, DripDrop is formulated to unlock a hydration shortcut that allows your body to absorb water more quickly.

How to Lose Water Weight

Understanding what water weight is can help you identify the cause and determine the best way to lose water weight. It is possible to alleviate bouts of water weight, but you want to do this safely and effectively. Aim for achieving the right fluid balance, which requires drinking plenty of water and consuming essential electrolytes that help your body function. Avoid eating foods with high levels of sodium and carbohydrates.

DripDrop is based on oral rehydration science, which utilizes crucial electrolytes and a precise formula to allow your body to absorb water more quickly. Rebalance your hydration level by adding DripDrop to your water, and continue to drink plenty of water throughout the day and intake necessary electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium.

How To Prevent Water Weight Gain

Usually, prevention comes down to a change in routine or diet.

Exercise addresses three causes of water weight by promoting blood circulation, burning excess glycogen, and causing the body to sweat. A healthy sleep schedule can help control hydration levels and may impact nerves in the kidneys that regulate the balance between water and sodium. Balanced electrolyte levels can help your body balance its water levels. These are just a few lifestyle changes that can positively impact water weight management.

Should You Be Concerned About Water Weight?

Those water levels will always be in flux—once again, the body is 50-to-70% water, and that number will vary day-to-day in every human body. Usually, the cause of excess water retention is a result of habits and routine, which you can replace with healthier practices. However, if you have noted swelling in a specific part of the body or swelling accompanied by pain, these may be signs of medical conditions and you should consult a medical professional.

Stay Hydrated with DripDrop

Maintaining a healthy hydration level throughout the day is essential to feeling your best. DripDrop’s precise formula is designed to be effective and delicious. Available in a variety of tasty flavors, DripDrop uses essential electrolytes such as sodium, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin C to help your body hydrate fast. Compared to traditional sports drinks, DripDrop has half the amount of sugar and three times the electrolytes. DripDrop Zero is a zero-sugar option with the same flavor and hydrating benefits.