Will Drinking Water Reduce Protein in Urine?

Proteinuria, or protein in the urine, is sometimes a sign of a serious health condition, such as kidney disease. It can also be a side effect of less serious issues like dehydration or result from strenuous exercise. 

The treatments for proteinuria depend on the reason for the condition. There are some types of proteinuria for which drinking more water is helpful. Other cases of proteinuria are caused by underlying health conditions that require more complex management. 

If a test shows elevated protein levels in your urine, drinking water and balancing your fluid levels may help. 

How To Lower Protein Levels With Hydration

Most cases of proteinuria are benign, and doctors might refer to them as transient proteinuria. In these cases, the protein in your urine is due to a stressor or illness. Some common causes of transient proteinuria include [1, 2]:

• Fever
• Acute illness
• Intense exercise
• Dehydration
• Emotional upset or stress
• Inflammatory processes
• Exposure to extreme cold 

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In all of these situations, the increased protein in the urine is directly connected to the underlying condition. Protein levels typically return to normal once you recover from the illness or activity that has caused proteinuria. 

Drinking more water may be helpful when you have a transient increase in protein in the urine. Proper hydration is the first line of treatment for dehydration. Hydration is also extremely helpful in recovering from illness, fever, or exertion. Drinking water can improve digestion, which is one way to remove excess protein from the body, aid blood circulation, and regulate body temperature. 

Drinking plenty of water, along with rest, proper nutrition, and other measures to aid recovery from exertion or illness, can help resolve transient proteinuria.