Cellulite Reduction Tips
Cellulite is said to affect around 90% of women at some point in their lives, and the causes are still being researched. What we do know is that it consists of fat cells that have become trapped within fibres of inflexible supporting tissue. Tissues become inflexible due to poor supplies of oxygen and blood, and once trapped fat cells give a lumpy or ‘orange-peel’ appearance to the skin in the affected area.
The occurrence of cellulite is thought to be influenced by hormone levels, diet (and toxin intake), lifestyle and genetic factors. We have a few great tips on how to reduce cellulite significantly, but unfortunately there is still no miracle cure.
Toxins and diet
It is generally agreed that ridding your body of toxins such as alcohol, cigarette smoke and caffeine will have a positive effect on the appearance of cellulite. This is because they can cause restrictions in blood supply, worsening the condition. Likewise, your intake of salt and highly processed foods should be cut to a minimum. Salt often causes bloating and fluid retention, further exasperating the problem, while highly processed foods often contain all kinds of additives (including salt) that may have a negative impact on skin tone. Drinking plenty of water (preferably bottled or filtered) and increasing your wholegrain intake will help you to prevent water retention and flush toxins away.
Other favourite anti-cellulite diet tips;
– Avoid saturated fat and increase your intake of lean meats and fish, pulses, fruit and vegetables.
– Add onions to your everyday diet, they help to release water from skin cells.
– Start every day with a glass of warm water and fresh lemon juice. This is a very effective way of flushing toxins from the body.
Lifestyle and exercise
Diet alone is not enough to combat cellulite. Lowering your body fat through exercise and improving tone through massage, body brushing and various products and treatments can substantially improve the appearance of your problem areas.
There are several salon treatments designed to break down fat deposits and there are even specialist tights and underwear on the market that work on the same principle. Those that focus on heating and massaging the fat in affected areas can improve skin tone if used regularly. These products and treatments work by breaking down or ‘melting’ fat back into the bloodstream where it can then be processed by the body and excreted. You could also try ‘power plate’ workouts as part of your fitness programme.
Of course you don’t need to go to the salon to test the effectiveness of manipulating and stimulating the skin – self-massage and body brushing are great alternatives. These techniques can be made a part of your daily routine quite easily and are inexpensive to try.
The key to reducing cellulite is to combine the above approaches and to stick with it for at least 4-6 weeks if you want to see results.
