01 Jul How to get rid of water retention in the heat

Just when you want to look your best for the summer, hot and humid weather often means that your ankles become puffy or your tummy feels bloated due to water retention. Hot weather tends to increase fluid retention, so it is a good idea to work out how to get rid of water retention so that the discomfort of a bloated stomach or puffy ankles don’t ruin your summer.

How to get rid of water retention in the summer

Heat causes blood vessels and capillaries to expand and dilate which allows more fluid to fill the spaces between tissues. The resulting bloating, usually in your abdomen, ankles or feet, can be uncomfortable and means you feel less than lovely when you want to relax and have fun in your summer dress or bikini.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take, along with herbal water retention tablets, to reduce the symptoms of water retention caused by the heat.

Think about your diet

Of course, holidays are a great time for treating yourself, but it is essential not to overindulge if you suffer from water retention. Too much exotic food or alcohol place a great deal of pressure on the digestive system and could cause undesirable symptoms such as heartburn and indigestion, as well as causing you to retain fluid.

Sampling local delicacies and authentic cuisine whilst you’re on holiday is one of the delights of visiting another country, but be careful what you choose. As tasty as local foods such as olives, anchovies, pizza, Halloumi cheese or salted fish may be, they are high in sodium, which is a major contributor to fluid retention.

Rather than reaching for olives or other salty snacks, choose foods or drinks that contain natural anti-inflammatories such as ginger, blueberries, parsley, raspberries and cucumber.

When choosing fruits and vegetables, be mindful that some are more likely to cause bloating than others. For example, broccoli, kale and cauliflower are cruciferous vegetables and can cause gas, which could exacerbate the feeling of bloatedness.

Stick to water to reduce fluid retention

Cocktails and fizzy drinks are always appealing in the summer, especially when you’re on holiday, but, alcohol and carbonated beverages will exacerbate or even cause uncomfortable bloating so it’s best to try and stick to plain or naturally-flavoured water. Long flights can dehydrate you very quickly, so make sure you sip water on your journey.

When you’re travelling, it’s easy to forget to drink enough. A great solution is to carry a water bottle with you so that you can always top up on the go.

Use exercise to beat the bloat

When you’re on holiday, you probably want to relax. But although it may be tempting to sit in the shade or lounge on a sunbed all day, exercise is important for reducing localised bloating and improving circulation to help get rid of water retention.

Long periods of being sedentary are particularly bad for swollen feet and ankles, so keep moving to avoid having to squeeze bloated, puffy feet into your sandals in the evening.

When you exercise, you lose more water through sweat and need to replenish your fluids, so make sure you drink plenty of water during and after your workout or run. Exercising in the early morning or evening rather than in the middle of the day will keep you cooler, as will wearing light-coloured and loose-fitting clothing.

Use the landscape to your advantage to help get rid of water retention:

• If you’re on the beach, try swimming every few hours to refresh and keep your circulation pumping. Just remember to always re-apply sun-cream after a swim, or any exercise that makes you perspire, and at least every two hours to protect and keep your skin moisturised.
• If you are on holiday in the countryside, enjoy a walk to soak up the sights and ease fluid retention
• If you are on a city break, think about walking between the sights rather than catching a bus or cab.

When you’re on a plane, you don’t have a lot of room to move, but it is very important to move about when you can. Standing and walking around the plane will help prevent fluid retention building up in your ankles. More importantly, it will keep your circulation moving to help reduce the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

Try a herbal remedy for water retention

HRI Water Balance herbal water retention tablets contain ingredients such as Dandelion root and leaf, Uva-ursi and Buchu leaf designed to help reduce bloating caused by water retention.

If you are interested in finding out news and information about a natural approach to supporting your health, beauty and wellbeing, why not follow HRI Herbal on Facebook @HRIHerbal.