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MyFitnessPal Community

Water retention: For some of us, it's a pain in the....

AlexandraCarlyle

I woke up this morning, and found myself 4.5lbs heavier.
Now, while this was a momentary shock to me, I decided to not let the numbers on the scales faze me, because I immediately knew such an increase could only really be down to water retention.
Then, looking at what I ate yesterday, it pretty much confirmed my suspicion.
A lot of cottage cheese, and some high-salt pickled sausages with onion (Utopenci. They're a Czech speciality).

I dislike taking prescribed medications at the best of times, or even over-the-counter remedies, so I've been doing a little diligent research, and have come up with some home-made remedies that are not beyond anyone's reach.

Mare's tail (apparently just as good, if not better,m than some medical/pharma-diuretics available).
Hawthorn leaves. (Brilliant! My neighbour's shrub overhangs my garden! On it!)
Dandelion leaves (who hasn't got these..?!)
Nettles (yup. But better when they're younger, not the old, really stubborn nasty leaves....)
Plantain leaves (I'm not talking about this, I mean, this. My garden is full of it. There's also a lanceolate variety with much narrower leaves, which is just as good.)
Ginger (I eat it regularly)
Parsley. (ditto....)

I've been drinking copious amounts of plantain-leaf tea. It's nearly half-past six in the evening.
I'm 3lbs lighter.

As backup....

All these plants/herbs are within easy reach. I pick copious amounts and dry them, and brew them as necessary.
My husband is convinced I'm a witch.

He may be right, in a way. Once-upon-a-few-centuries ago, I might well have been called so....

Hope this helps.

Replies

dasher602014

Thanks! I woke up today 2lbs heavier and since I was only 3 lbs down from where I was two weeks ago when I lowered my carbs to be 30 grams daily, this took my wins away. I too ate salt yesterday. Back bacon roast, regular bacon and some cheese sauce on my cauli. Sigh.

I am just drinking copious amounts of water. But you are right, all of these are under my feet or available easily. I would be right with you as a witch. I will have to look up mare's tail, the rest I know.

So for tea, you just boil the stuff in water and drink the hot water infusion?

GaleHawkins

I had a gain like that overnight after loading up on grapes, one apple and one banana the same day about a week ago. I was back to normal today. This time there was no serious ankle sweating like before a year or two ago. Per blood test my IR is gone and had my first sub 100 (88) fasting blood sugar reading in May. It seems my general health is starting to return after having been in a state of nutritional ketosis for most of the past three years.

My supplement list continues to grow and needs to be updated but do not show it to your husband unless you think it will make your list look more normal.

https://ketolivewell.com/supplements/

I did add a blog on Keto for seizure control for adults for a family member to see if that might be of interest.

nvmomketo

I can go up or down by a few pounds in one day too. I try to ignore it. It isn't fat so it doesn't really matter.

TBH, salt intake doesn't really affect my water weight by much. Food, weather (heat), activity, and autoimmune flare-ups affect it more. I only tend to worry about it if I have some sort of event that I want to be smaller for.

AlexandraCarlyle

Yes, @nvmomketo, my dietary lapse (for want of a better description) has coincided with a seasonal heatwave. At least, it feels like a heatwave. The temperatures are actually only normal and expected for this time of year, but for the past few years, our weather has been up the Swanee.... So the heat has doubtless played a major part in this....

Awesome list, @GaleHawkins !

Adi4Fitness

I found success in not reraining water since i started doing this every day.
1. Begin the day with eating asparagus in your first meal
2. Drink enough water atleast 8 glasses in a day.
3. Drink green tea before bed

dasher602014

Yes, it is hot here. So maybe not salt.

I will add green tea tonight. Thanks

nvmomketo

AlexandraCarlyle wrote: »

Yes, @nvmomketo, my dietary lapse (for want of a better description) has coincided with a seasonal heatwave. At least, it feels like a heatwave. The temperatures are actually only normal and expected for this time of year, but for the past few years, our weather has been up the Swanee.... So the heat has doubtless played a major part in this....

Awesome list, @GaleHawkins !

That's one benefit of living near the mountains in Canada, we don't get a lot of heat waves. LOL It got up to 65F today. LOL

2t9nty

I drink a gallon of my electrolyte mix every day plus a lot of coffee. Hydration is not an issue for me I claim. I do have some ups and downs on the scales, but I only claim weight loss if I have kept it off for a week. That helps with the trend and eliminates the blips. It has been in the 90's here during the day. With a couple of layers of vestments on Sunday, I can work up a sweat, so the fluid intake is a health issue on a couple of scores.

Having said that about official weight, I have been under my doctor's "moonshot" goal for weight for 2 days in a row. It looks as if I will be under that goal for my July appt.

AlexandraCarlyle

Adi4Fitness wrote: »

I found success in not reraining water since i started doing this every day.
1. Begin the day with eating asparagus in your first meal
2. Drink enough water atleast 8 glasses in a day.
3. Drink green tea before bed

I'm drinking Mare's tail tea, interspersed with hawthorn, plantain and dandelion. The flavour differences are intriguing....

I'm still a couple of pounds heavier than I 'should' be, but I'm not sweating it.
Or rather, I am. But compensating skilfully.

If you see what I mean....

@nvmomketo, steady now.... let's not over-do it!!

Sabine_Stroehm

Adi4Fitness wrote: »

I found success in not reraining water since i started doing this every day.
1. Begin the day with eating asparagus in your first meal
2. Drink enough water atleast 8 glasses in a day.
3. Drink green tea before bed

Green tea doesn't keep you up?

Sabine_Stroehm

Thanks for this thread. Something about MY menopausal transition makes me a water retaining fool.

Adi4Fitness

Sabine_Stroehm wrote: »

Adi4Fitness wrote: »

I found success in not reraining water since i started doing this every day.
1. Begin the day with eating asparagus in your first meal
2. Drink enough water atleast 8 glasses in a day.
3. Drink green tea before bed

Green tea doesn't keep you up?

Nope it helps me wake up energised after a tiring work day.

EggToni

There is a packaged organic green tea with hibiscus I regularly drink. Coincidentally, I haven't seen my lovely kankles return even with the high sodium intake. I tried the dandelion tea, but found it too bitter for my taste. Impressed with brewing concoctions, Alexandra.

AlexandraCarlyle

The mare's tail tea is an acquired taste, but it really does the job. I drink it at what I would call 'half strength': I brew a pot, then just pour half a cup and top up with plain boiled water.... But I drink two of those.....

kpk54

Decaf Green Tea is available.

dasher602014

Could I have the latin name for the mare's tail that you are using? There seems to be a number of plants that carry that common name.

Thanks

Sabine_Stroehm

kpk54 wrote: »

Decaf Green Tea is available.

Indeed. And that's a good reminder.

AlexandraCarlyle

dasher602014 wrote: »

Could I have the latin name for the mare's tail that you are using? There seems to be a number of plants that carry that common name.

Thanks

Hi @dasher602014 it's called Equisetum arvense , known as the Field Horsetail.... But I am reliably informed that all horsetail is effective....This is just the best one....

ETA: Found this...

and cutting to the chase:

E. arvense produced a diuretic effect as assessed with FB measurements. This effect was comparable to that of hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg) and was superior to that of placebo (starch).

E. arvense did not exert significant effects on the urinary excretion of electrolytes and catabolites, and it was deemed safe for oral use. No alterations were observed in the liver, kidney, or hematological function tests, and the reported adverse reactions were mild and infrequent.

Future studies are required to elucidate the mechanism of the diuretic action of E. arvense and the other possible pharmacological actions of this phytomedicine.

lpina2mi

me too! I see in my fingers. I was planning on drinking CALM (powdered magnesium supplement that address water retention, as well as tight muscles) tonight, because I will be home tomorrow, making the loose bowel effect easily managed.

I have been eating salty potato chips regularly. Michigan is having it's first heat wave and the rain keeps on blowing over out town. On the upside, I have been keeping hydrated with lots of water.

dasher602014

@y part that drops when you are removing it, seems to root?

I am so all over this!

Thanks

http://www.avogel.ca/en/plant-encyclopedia/equisetum-arvense.php

Found this reference too.

http://www.therighttea.com/horsetail-tea.html

AlexandraCarlyle

I'm trying to wrap my head round this bit...

E. arvense is identified by the first internodule on the plant’s branchlet, which is longer than the sheath on the shoot.

Apparently, it should more correctly read 'internode' not internodule....

By this, I think it means that the space on the stem, between the ascending branches, is longer than the branch itself....Maybe?

I dunno, I got my horsetail online....

ETA, oh hang on.... I just read it again...

So the length on the first internode on the lateral BRANCHLET - is longer than the space between one branchlet and the one above it, on the main stem.... I think I got that right.....

AlexandraCarlyle

This image is a good one...

If you look at the spiky shoots radiating outwards, and see where the first 'join' is, it's clearly longer than the portion of the stem from where the branchlet joins the main stem, to the top of the sheath - which it the dark bit that looks like a crown, going round the stem....

Am I making any sense...?

(Actually, the picture itself is a good a help as any to identify the darned thing!!

)

lpina2mi

Thanks! Didn't know about hibicus. There is a new kombucha flavor, hibicus-ginger.
Also, thanks for the horsetail photo. Now I know how what that plant is that grows in the back-dune area of Lake Michigan eastern coastline.

dasher602014

Maybe I will buy online or in the store so as not to poison myself. But it is growing in every available space in my unweeded garden.

AlexandraCarlyle

Get it identified by a local university with a biology lab. Or throw caution to the four winds and live a little.

Give it a go....

What could possibly go wrong...?!

Adi4Fitness

*sigh* looks like No amount of anti water retention magic is going to defeat excess sodium quickly....my water retention remedies only seems to work on normal days without excess sodium.

AlexandraCarlyle

AlexandraCarlyle wrote: »

Get it identified by a local university with a biology lab. Or throw caution to the four winds and live a little.

Give it a go....

What could possibly go wrong...?!

Well, I tried brewing the shoots I have growing at the bottom of my garden. I'm not sure it worked, but I did pass a lot, about an hour later.
A lot.
And I was a lb lighter that evening, even after eating dinner....

melluc2

@AlexandraCarlyle Braver than me...lol

KnitOrMiss

Please remember that there are also other medical reasons for water retention, particularly if it is the hands and legs... An underactive thyroid shows up in water retention that starts out of the blue or goes on for days without much change. The last time I mentioned to my endocrinologist and primary doc that a few days before I'd notice some swelling my legs, you'd have though I'd mention something work panicking over...as they both reacted with quite a significant concern.

I have to be very careful to keep my sodium up high enough or I'll retain water like crazy. I've also found supplementing potassium makes me dump magnesium, which makes me in turn dump even more sodium...which equates to more water retained as my body tries to hold on to what resources it can.

Sodium is critical to a number of bodily processes, so please be very sure to address any underlying issues before using diuretics, as they can have bad effects on potassium levels in the body...which can cause literally deadly side effects.

Also, note that heart issue related edema often takes decades before it develops...with very limited exception... Also, there is only one type of genetic high blood pressure that reacts negatively to sodium - most respond well. In our former "Standard American Diet" or modern food consumption, it's the pairings of excess sodium alongside the dangerous combo of high fat and high carb that elicits the sodium warnings we all hear.

Excess carbohydrate consumption or eating inflammatory (FOR YOU) foods are far more likely to result in fluid retention - as well as intense workouts - water is retain to process carbs out of the body, water is retained to combat inflammation, and water is retained to heal and strengthen muscles that have been worked out...

AlexandraCarlyle

Thanks so much for these caveats, @KnitOrMiss ... Being a bit of a technical doofus, I am not very good at self-analysis, or understanding why certain stuff happens....I am completely uncertain that I have taken in enough sodium during the day (I have stopped looking at my macros, because I'm happy with inatke and at gauging what I'm eating) but I eat a lot of sauerkraut and kimchi, and loving it.... However, I think other foods aren't helping... I have pickled sausages and Utopenci which I'm utterly addicted to.... (They're pickled preserved sausages with onion and chilli - a Czech speciality!) so I'm unsure how to compensate. I'm already drinking around 2.5 litres of water a day, including 750ml of electrolyte fluid... I take one calcium/magnesium tab a day, together with my habitual folic acid (I'm thalassemic) and I add a half teaspoonful of bicarb of soda and cream of tartar (potassium) to the water too...

I'm feeling absolutely fine, although I'm perspiring a lot, but my intake is good.

There are tons of mixed opinions though, on how much water people should be drinking... it's confusing reading....