A poor diet, hormonal changes or a sedentary lifestyle can cause you to retain water, but is there anything you can do about it to get your belly looking flatter fast? Start eating. That's right - filling your belly with the right foods can help beat the bloat of water weight. First and foremost, avoid salty foods like olives, crackers, salted nuts and pickles. Many foods have hidden salt - check labels of frozen and canned foods, soy sauce, ketchup, and deli meats carefully before eating.

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You may be surprised to know that sugar may play a part in retaining water - too much of the white stuff can raise insulin levels, which affects the body's ability to excrete sodium. Break a sweat to get rid of even more sodium. Exercise causes sweating, of course, and increased respiration, both of which help the lymphatic system drain fluid from tissues. Dehydration, whether through illness, drinking alcohol or not drinking enough water, can cause the body to preserve any extra fluids. Avoid alcohol, especially if you've been sick.
Flushing extra fluids from your body can be achieved by drinking plenty of plain water - although it seems counterintuitive. If you give the body plenty of fluids, then it'll be less likely to retain them. Stock up on foods that promote digestion and water shedding, like fibrous cereals and breads, brown rice, cabbage, and yogurt. {relatedarticles}Foods that are high in potassium, like bananas, also help the body balance fluids. Magnesium- and calcium-rich foods also aid fluid balance.