Drinking enough water is the best way to address the problem of excess water retention in the body. When water intake decreases, the body perceives this dehydration as a survival warning and begins to store water. Water is stored outside the cells (in the spaces surrounding them), which is why swelling often appears in the hands, feet, and inner thighs. Diuretics can provide a temporary solution to edema by forcing the body to expel stored water along with some essential nutrients. However, the body recognizes this loss of water as a survival threat and immediately replenishes the lost fluids. As a result, the swelling quickly returns. The best way to overcome the problem of excessive water retention is to provide the body with the ample amount of water it needs. Only then can the body release the accumulated water. If your body is retaining too much water, excessive salt intake may be the culprit, as your body can only tolerate a certain concentration of sodium. Therefore, the more salt you consume, the more water your body retains to dilute the salt concentration. However, flushing out excess salt from the body is actually quite simple—just drink plenty of water, and the kidneys will excrete the excess sodium through urination. Overweight individuals need more water than slimmer people because their larger bodies have a heavier metabolic workload. Since we already know that water is key to converting fat into energy, it’s easy to understand why overweight people need more water.

Water enables muscles to perform their natural function of contracting, helping to maintain proper muscle tone and prevent dehydration. Water also helps prevent the sagging skin that often occurs after weight loss, as it replenishes contracting cells, making the skin appear smooth, healthy, and elastic.

Water helps the body eliminate waste. During weight loss, the body needs to eliminate a large amount of waste. Therefore, the fat that has been metabolized must be excreted. Once again, adequate hydration helps flush waste products out of the body.

By Michael Chiu, MWS, CI
Previously published in Ming Pao Daily News – Updated and Revised in 2026