water retention?

[Moonwalker]

Hey guys i just joined this board today, and have been reading about this water retention. Can someone briefly explain it to me? A lot of time my stomach seems to protrude out shortly after eating means.. maybe any hour or so. Is this from water retention? If so.. are there any medications to take that would get rid of the water? I guess maybe a laxative or something? Thanks. :)

[kingb123]

I'm Curious too

[tpr475]

I can't give you a scientific reason but just what I notice with myself so I am sure someone else will give a better answer but...with me if I do not drink water my body seems to try to hold liquids. I think it is the "we must be in the wilderness survival mode" you body kicks into. If you drink a great deal of water your body knows you have a plentiful supply of water so it will not hold as much. I went from drinking soda pop and milk to drinking 5 33.3 ounce bottles of tap water overnight. That second day I lost 3 pounds. I think it is due to the excess water. My body decided that there was enough water to let go of some of it. With that in mind I would add more water to your diet and stay away from anything to flush it out.

P.S.-If you cheat and grab a bunch of carbs, they take all that water and hold it in you so you gain a lot of weight back. I learned that the hard way.

[gilibel]

Yes, drinking lots and lots of water is the best remedy for water retention. Also, be aware of too salty foods, as sodium holds/binds the water in the tissues. As for belly getting bigger after meals, it could also be bloat. Water and some exercise will help that too.

Serious water retention/oedema/edema shows differently. Like a semihard "shell" around the body (often around legs/ankles/feet) where pressing in a fingertip will leave a mark for a while. I have suffered from that and that is NOT very pleasant.

As for diuretics/laxative medicine, I would not recommend any of it if it's just about a general feeling of bloat after dinner. Rather a cup of hot herbal tea (preferably peppermint - good for digestion, or dandelion - mild diuretic effect) would help doing the trick. Laxatives are hard for the body, dehydrating and would play havoc with the system if used regularly. That would be the last resort if one is seriously constipated.

:)

/gil

Ps. Here's a great tips&trix thread for newbies, btw. I seem to put it in all my postings today... lol.

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=94619