subject: Water retention is common, especially among women [print this page] In other word, the most appropriate way to describe water retention is that it's a condition that happens when our body does not have enough resource, which is water. When our body doesn't have enough water, the message is transmitted to the brain, and the brain will automatically make the body retain water, so that we could survive. To avoid water retention, we need to drink enough water every day and avoid consuming too much sodium and food that contains too much acid. It is essential for us to control both of our water and sodium intake.