Water retention supplements are used for weight loss and to promote a leaner, more muscular physique. Also known as edema, or fluid retention, water retention refers to excessive build up of fluid in the circulatory system, body tissues, or cavities in the body. The human body consists of up to 70% water, which exists inside and outside our body’s cells. Regular water levels are achieved by a complex system of hormones and prostaglandins, which can become dysfunctional due to several factors: kidney disease, poor diet, too much sodium, among others.

Excess fluid is a common problem which gives people a heavier and softer appearance. Diuretic supplements reduce fluid, swelling and regulate water balance. Diuretic supplements are often used by bodybuilders to provide a leaner and more muscular appearance and are a very popular weight loss product.

A common cause of water retention is issues surrounding the capillaries. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels through which nutrient, vitamin and oxygen-rich fluids, known as interstitial fluid, continuously pass. Interstitial fluid nourishes cells and eventually makes its way back to the capillaries. If pressure in the capillaries changes, or if the capillaries become too leaky, excess liquid will be released into the tissue spaces between cells, resulting in swelling and waterlogging (water retention).

A network of vessels throughout the body, known as the lymphatic system, is responsible for draining fluid from tissues and emptying it back into the bloodstream. Water retention is a common occurrence when too much fluid is released and the lymphatic system becomes overwhelmed, which can affect the rate at which fluid is returned back to the bloodstream. When this happens fluid will remain in the tissues, causing swelling in various parts of the body, particularly the abdomen, ankles, legs and feet.

Water retention difficulties can also occur due to heart problems. If the heart is not functioning at a normal capacity there will be a change in blood pressure, which often results in considerable water retention.