Retaining Water? Drink More Water!

I think by now, everyone knows that drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water a day is the healthy amount to keep our organs functioning properly. But as a woman, I know that sometimes water may seem to be the enemy when it’s “that time of the month.” I don’t know about you, but it seems that whenever I have an event where I can wear my favorite little, black dress, I’m retaining so much water that I just want to wear sweat pants and call it a night! But in actuality, water is essential in combating, well… water!

Water retention may be magnified during PMS due to excess sodium in our diets (thanks to cravings) and hormonal changes. Another big cause may be dehydration. You’re not drinking enough water! When our bodies don’t receive enough water, it kicks in a survival mechanism to retain what it already has. (Remember, your body doesn’t know you have an abundance of running water. It still thinks you live in a cave and scavenge for food and drink). This “survival mode” of water retention leads to swelling and bloating.

On the flip-side, when you’re drinking water more regularly, your body allows itself to flush out fluids quicker and more frequently because it’s replacing it with a fresh batch. It makes sense, right? The more there is to go around, the sooner it can turn to…ahem… waste.

Having a constant flow of fluids throughout your day promotes better function of your body and its weight-management. Making it a habit in your health and fitness program will prevent the teeter-totter of the scale and your clothes from miraculously shrinking!