Cellulite is a mixture of trapped fat, toxins and water that affects females of all shapes and cultures after puberty. It is believed genetic predisposition plays a role in cellulite, but there are other important factors too.
Cellulite usually accumulates on the legs, hips, thighs, sometimes even the abdomen and arms. Most of us just learn to live with these unsightly marks, but the good news is that there a few tips that may help.
The following methods and tips can help by avoiding the accumulation of toxins in your body and increasing circulation to expel these poisons. They break down into three areas - your hormones, diet and lymphatic system.
Cellulite And Your Hormones
The 'how' and 'why' of cellulite is not completely understood but researchers suspect physical and emotional stress is a major contributor.
Stress causes increased levels of a hormone called "catecholamine". Elevated amounts of this hormone are thought to cause pronounced cellulite.
If you are in a stressful job or going though a tough time in your life, try to create a balance by participating in calming activities. Yoga, meditation, even enjoyable hobbies like pottery and knitting can help to work through these stressful times. In extreme cases consider seeking professional mental help.
Birth Control Pills
The extra Estrogen from these pills causes the body to store fat and retain water, two of the crucial ingredients for producing cellulite.
Cellulite And Your Diet
A great place to start in the fight against cellulite is your diet. These tips will not only help you to avoid cellulite but will also improve overall health.
Increase Water Consumption
Keeping yourself hydrated ensures that toxins and waste are continuously flushed out of your system. These toxins are thought to be the major culprits in cellulite productions, so this should make a real difference.
You should aim to drink around 8 glasses of water a day to keep your metabolism revved up and ensure that at least some of that fat will not stick around.
Avoid coffee
That means all caffeinated beverages, sodas and energy drinks. It is believed that caffeine constricts blood vessels, therefore constraining blood and oxygen circulation to cells. While we're on the subject of unhealthy habits, cigarettes do much the same thing.
Alcohol
Alcohol's toxicity is a burden to your system. In addition to being toxic itself, it also stops your body from efficiently processing other toxins.
Processed Food
Processed food is full of preservatives, sweeteners and salt. These all add toxic waste to your body which is partly responsibly for cellulite.
Bad Fats
Limit bad fats from animal products and fried foods. Replace these bad fats with good fats found in flax, hemp seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, olive oil, avocados, salmon, mackerel and herring.
Cellulite And Your Lymphatic System
Mesotherapy
Some women swear by it and others think it's a waste of time and money. Mesotherapy is a popular procedure where a solution is injected into the mesoderm, the middle layer of skin. The solution then disperses cellulite by increasing circulation and lymphatic drainage.
The Mesotherapy solution typically contains pharmaceutical drugs, vitamins, natural plant extracts and homeopathic medicines. The proportions, or even ingredients, are not standardized so it is tough to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.
Skin Brushing
This is a technique used in many Asian spas to eliminate toxins by stimulating the lymphatic system. The idea is that firm but gentle brush strokes across the skin will improve your blood circulation, clean out clogged pores and enable your body to remove toxins faster.
Start the skin brushing with the soles of your feet, using slow, gentle, circular movements. Move up your body all the time brushing towards your chest but be careful to avoid areas where your skin is particularly sensitive.
Cellulite Creams
Cellulite cream users claim to notice positive results. Ingredients such as caffeine temporarily improve the appearance of cellulite by dehydrating and tightening the skin. Retinol is also used as creams to stimulate collagen production which gives skin its firmness and strength.
Publications: Febstore