These include:. Medical Professionals. One indication of water retention is difficulty to lose watsr despite diet efforts.

Potassium and water retention -

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Water is vital in helping the body function properly and is largely responsible for dissolving nutrients and eliminating waste. When the body fails to eliminate excess water, this is referred to as water retention.

Water retention is often temporary and is easily treated, however, it can sometimes be an indication of a serious medical condition. If you are experiencing water retention that lasts more than a week, it is important to consult with your physician in order to determine the cause of water retention and rule out any possible health conditions.

In cases where water retention is not the result of a serious medical condition, the discomfort of edema can be relieved quickly and easily. Discover tips for reducing water retention and find out how the condition is diagnosed. Fluid retention or edema means that there is excessive water in the tissue of the body which causes the body to swell, especially in the extremities.

Fluid retention is often caused by the increase of blood pressure on the veins which adds to the pressure on the capillaries. The irregular changes in the blood vessels are often associated with eating habits.

Signs of Water Retention. So how does one recognize water retention in the body? It is typically first noticed because of the swelling of extremities. One indication of water retention is difficulty to lose weight despite diet efforts.

The physical signs are more evident, however. Physical signs of water retention include swollen ankles and unexplained weight gain over a short period of time. Also, rings may not fit anymore and the stomach may feel swollen.

One way to find out if you are retaining water is by gently pressing the foot, ankle or calf with slow, steady pressure using the thumb. If edema is present, an indentation will show on the skin.

A professional evaluation to determine the cause of leg swelling is still necessary, however. It is possible to retain up to 5 pounds of water weight, most of which is stored in the fluid that surrounds the cells throughout the body.

Overweight people tend to retain more water because they consume more calories and as a result, tend to consume higher amounts of sodium which greatly contributes to water retention.

Certain types of edema can result in moderate discomfort in the area where excess fluid accumulation occurs. Carpal tunnel syndrome , morning stiffness and headaches may accompany the swelling.

Water retention can also be mistaken for premenstrual syndrome or make existing premenstrual syndrome worse. Types of Water Retention. There are two extensive types of fluid retention. The first one is generalized oedema that is characterized by swellings all over the body. The second type is the localized oedema that affects particular body parts.

This condition is most common in the legs and feet, and can also affect the face, hand, and arm areas. This condition might be inherited or may be a result of an injury in the lymphatic vessels. In this type of fluid retention, the symptoms consist of severe fatigue, discoloration of skin, heavy-swollen limb, and eventual deformity of the affected area.

Causes of Water Retention. Water retention is also linked to protein deficiency, anemia , and the high requirement for vitamin and supplement intake.

There is a specific kind of diet that is recommended for water retention which forces the body to eliminate excess fluid. Water retention can also be the result of a medical condition involving organs such as the liver, heart, or kidneys.

When an area of the body is not functioning properly, the body tends to retain fluid in that area of the body. The body becomes unable to eliminate fluid properly when certain medical conditions are present.

Standing for long periods of time causes fluids to pool in the legs, thus increasing water retention. Hot weather can also lead to fluid retention because the body is less efficient at removing fluid from the body.

Certain medications can cause water retention as well, especially high blood pressure and steroid medications. When you restrict energy intake suddenly in order to lose weight, the body is forced to store carbohydrates and break down protein in the muscles.

Because both protein and carbohydrates hold water in their cells, a loss of these nutrients results in water loss during a rapid weight loss diet.

People who lose weight quickly often regain weight within a few weeks because the body is replenishing itself with water. There is higher risk of fluid retention for women because of varying hormone levels. However, when osmolality is unequal, water from the side with fewer electrolytes will move into the side with more electrolytes to equalize electrolyte concentrations.

This may cause cells to shrink as water moves out of them, or swell up and burst as water moves into them Maintaining good fluid balance is important for optimal health. Poor fluid balance can lead to dehydration , which in turn affects the heart and kidneys Summary: Fluid balance is affected by electrolytes, mainly potassium and sodium.

Eating a potassium-rich diet can help you maintain a good fluid balance. These messages are delivered in the form of nerve impulses and help regulate your muscle contractions, heartbeat, reflexes and many other body functions Interestingly, nerve impulses are generated by sodium ions moving into cells and potassium ions moving out of cells.

The movement of ions changes the voltage of the cell, which activates a nerve impulse Summary: This mineral plays an essential role in activating nerve impulses throughout your nervous system.

Nerve impulses help regulate muscle contractions, the heartbeat, reflexes and many other processes. However, altered blood potassium levels can affect nerve signals in the nervous system, weakening muscle contractions. Both low and high blood levels can affect nerve impulses by altering the voltage of nerve cells 6 , The mineral is also important for a healthy heart, as its movement in and out of cells helps maintain a regular heartbeat.

When blood levels of the mineral are too high, the heart may become dilated and flaccid. This can weaken its contractions and produce an abnormal heartbeat 8.

Likewise, low levels in the blood can also alter the heartbeat When the heart does not beat properly, it cannot effectively pump blood to the brain, organs and muscles.

In some cases, heart arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat, can be fatal and lead to sudden death Summary: Potassium levels have a significant effect on muscle contractions. Altered levels can cause muscle weakness, and in the heart, they may cause an irregular heartbeat.

High blood pressure affects nearly one in three Americans A potassium-rich diet may reduce blood pressure by helping the body remove excess sodium High sodium levels can elevate blood pressure, especially for people whose blood pressure is already high An analysis of 33 studies found that when people with high blood pressure increased their potassium intake, their systolic blood pressure decreased by 3.

In another study including 1, participants aged 25—64, scientists found that people who ate the most potassium had reduced blood pressure, compared to people who ate the least.

Those who consumed the most had systolic blood pressure that was 6 mmHg lower and diastolic blood pressure that was 4 mmHg lower, on average A stroke occurs when there is a lack of blood flow to the brain.

Several studies have found that eating a potassium-rich diet may help prevent strokes 1 , They also found that eating a diet rich in this mineral was linked to a reduced risk of heart disease Interestingly, studies show that a potassium-rich diet may help prevent osteoporosis by reducing how much calcium the body loses through urine 24 , 25 , In a study in 62 healthy women aged 45—55, scientists found that people who ate the most potassium had the greatest total bone mass 2.

In another study with healthy premenopausal women, scientists found that those who ate the most potassium had more bone mass in their lower back and hip bones Kidney stones are clumps of material that may form in concentrated urine Calcium is a common mineral in kidney stones, and several studies show that potassium citrate lowers calcium levels in urine 29 , In this way, potassium may help fight kidney stones.

Historically, potassium has been used to treat water retention Studies suggest that a high potassium intake can help reduce water retention by increasing urine production and reducing sodium levels 4 , 33 , Summary: A potassium-rich diet may reduce blood pressure and water retention, protect against strokes and help prevent osteoporosis and kidney stones.

Potassium is abundant in many whole foods , especially fruits, vegetables and fish. Most health authorities agree that getting 3,—4, mg of potassium daily appears to be the optimal amount 35 , On the other hand, over-the-counter supplements are not a great way to increase your potassium intake. In many countries, food authorities limit potassium in over-the-counter supplements to 99 mg, which is much less than the amount you can get from just one serving of the potassium-rich whole foods above This mg limit is likely because many studies have found that high doses of potassium from supplements may damage the gut and even lead to death by heart arrhythmia 38 , 39 , However, people who suffer from a potassium deficiency may receive a prescription from their doctor for a higher-dose supplement.

Summary: Potassium is found in a variety of fruits, vegetables and fish like salmon. Most health authorities suggest getting 3,—4, mg of potassium daily. However, a low potassium intake will rarely cause a deficiency 42 , Instead, deficiencies mostly happen when the body suddenly loses too much potassium.

Though it may happen if you take too many potassium supplements, there is no strong evidence that healthy adults can get too much potassium from foods Excess blood potassium mostly occurs when the body cannot remove the mineral through urine.

Therefore, it mostly affects people with poor kidney function or chronic kidney disease Additionally, particular populations may need to limit their potassium intake, including those with chronic kidney disease, those taking blood pressure medications and elderly people, as kidney function normally declines with age 47 , 48 , However, there is some evidence that taking too many potassium supplements can be dangerous.

Their small size makes them easy to overdose on 39 , This is especially true for older people, since high blood pressure, strokes, kidney stones and osteoporosis are more common among the elderly.

Summary: Potassium deficiencies or excess rarely occur through the diet. Despite this, maintaining an adequate potassium intake is important for your overall health.

Unfortunately, very few people get enough potassium. To get more in your diet, consume more potassium-rich foods, such as beet greens, spinach, kale and salmon.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Potassium is a mineral that's involved in muscle contractions, heart function and water balance.

This article explains how much potassium you need per…. Potassium is an essential mineral.

Waetr article rstention Potassium and water retention mechanisms of water retntion in the body and solutions to Boost your energy now them. Water is essential for the functioning of our cells. It transports the other constituents retebtion our body, it eliminates waste filtered by the kidneys, in the form of urine. Water also participates in many chemical reactions in our metabolism. Two thirds of the water is found inside the cells of the body this is the intracellular fluidthe rest circulates outside extracellular fluideither in the blood vessels plasma or between the cells. interstitial fluid. Updated February Potasium, Waetr retention Flavonoids as natural pain relievers a common issue that can tetention discomfort and bloating. It happens when excess Herbal remedies for digestion problems build up in your retentioh tissues. One way to combat Leafy green storage waer is by increasing your potassium intake. Potassium is a mineral that helps regulate fluid balance in your body by reducing sodium levels. While there are many ways to increase your potassium intake through diet, taking a potassium supplement can be an effective way to target water retention. When it comes to choosing the best potassium supplement for water retention, there are a few critical things to consider.