How To Get Rid Of Cellulite
It's getting to be a fact of life for all of us. We're getting older and some of the changes are things we probably wanted to avoid. We all want to look sleek and tight like a teenager but looking in the mirror you might start to notice some changes in your body you don't like. Some 90% of American women have cellulite and it afflicts most women over the age of 25. Those who have it, hate it and they've found out that the bumpy look of cellulite can be hard to erase. Getting rid of cellulite turns into something of a hot topic for those who have it.
So, if everybody's got it and nobody wants it, where does it come from? Three factors play the biggest role in developing cellulite: poor diet, excess weight and not enough exercise. The connective tissue starts to pull down on the fat under the skin causing bulges. The worse your muscle tone is and the more fat you have and, the more noticeable the effect. This is why exercise and keeping your weight down are so important to preventing it in the first place.
Once you have it, how do you get rid of it? The best ways to really reduce cellulite is exercise and portion control in your diet. A balanced, fat free diet with loads of fiber, fruits and vegetables and only wholegrain bread is essential. If in doubt about what you should eat, avoid almost all "white foods". These foods are white rice, bread and pasta made from white flour, salt and sugar. These white foods either don't have any fiber or the fiber has been removed by processing. High fiber foods are critical to losing weight. Here's why. As food breaks down, the body produces insulin to deal with the sugars introduced into the bloodstream. Fiber slows down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream slowing down the production of insulin. Too much glucose all at once causes insulin to be dumped into the bloodstream triggering the fat storage process. This is why eating a whole orange is much better for you than just drinking a glass of orange juice.
Eating a healthy diet is important and there are some foods that can be especially helpful in getting rid of cellulite. When fat pushes down into the deeper layers of the skin it gets embedded with the fibers that give the skin its flexibility. These dermal cells, made of the proteins collagen and elastin, now have that orange-peel look we know as cellulite. Some foods are known to help keep the dermal cells healthy. Eggs, soy, peanuts, spinach and apples are all known for providing lecithin which is especially good for maintaining the health of dermal cells. Fruits and vegetables are critical because they provide high levels of anti-oxidants which rid the skin cells of damaging free radicals caused by poor diet, sun and pollution. Critically important are the essential fats we get from oily fish. These omega-3 fatty acids reduce the inflammation that increases dermal cell damage and enhances the appearance of cellulite.
Poor circulation can be one of the causes of cellulite. A daily massage of the affected area can be a big help. You can do this in the shower with a bath brush while exfoliating your skin at the same time. Another idea is to use a body wrap. Seaweed, coffee grounds, aloe vera or even mud are first spread evenly on the skin and then wrapped with plastic wrap. Leave on for an hour and then rinse off in the bathtub while massaging the area. Wearing pantyhose can also help to reduce cellulite because they help to increase circulation.
If you get on a program of daily exercise and a healthy diet you will start to see your cellulite going away slowly but surely. But remember, diet alone isn't enough. You must also get your daily exercise. This includes cardiovascular exercise like jogging or Pilates and strength training exercises to improve all-over muscle tone. In just a few weeks, you will start to see a noticeable reduction in cellulite. Remember, don't try to do it all at once. Start out slow and do a little bit more every day. Take every opportunity you can to get your heart pumping. Take a walk, skip the elevator and park your car far away. Every little thing you can do to tone muscle and burn calories will help to make a difference.
So, if everybody's got it and nobody wants it, where does it come from? Three factors play the biggest role in developing cellulite: poor diet, excess weight and not enough exercise. The connective tissue starts to pull down on the fat under the skin causing bulges. The worse your muscle tone is and the more fat you have and, the more noticeable the effect. This is why exercise and keeping your weight down are so important to preventing it in the first place.
Once you have it, how do you get rid of it? The best ways to really reduce cellulite is exercise and portion control in your diet. A balanced, fat free diet with loads of fiber, fruits and vegetables and only wholegrain bread is essential. If in doubt about what you should eat, avoid almost all "white foods". These foods are white rice, bread and pasta made from white flour, salt and sugar. These white foods either don't have any fiber or the fiber has been removed by processing. High fiber foods are critical to losing weight. Here's why. As food breaks down, the body produces insulin to deal with the sugars introduced into the bloodstream. Fiber slows down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream slowing down the production of insulin. Too much glucose all at once causes insulin to be dumped into the bloodstream triggering the fat storage process. This is why eating a whole orange is much better for you than just drinking a glass of orange juice.
Eating a healthy diet is important and there are some foods that can be especially helpful in getting rid of cellulite. When fat pushes down into the deeper layers of the skin it gets embedded with the fibers that give the skin its flexibility. These dermal cells, made of the proteins collagen and elastin, now have that orange-peel look we know as cellulite. Some foods are known to help keep the dermal cells healthy. Eggs, soy, peanuts, spinach and apples are all known for providing lecithin which is especially good for maintaining the health of dermal cells. Fruits and vegetables are critical because they provide high levels of anti-oxidants which rid the skin cells of damaging free radicals caused by poor diet, sun and pollution. Critically important are the essential fats we get from oily fish. These omega-3 fatty acids reduce the inflammation that increases dermal cell damage and enhances the appearance of cellulite.
Poor circulation can be one of the causes of cellulite. A daily massage of the affected area can be a big help. You can do this in the shower with a bath brush while exfoliating your skin at the same time. Another idea is to use a body wrap. Seaweed, coffee grounds, aloe vera or even mud are first spread evenly on the skin and then wrapped with plastic wrap. Leave on for an hour and then rinse off in the bathtub while massaging the area. Wearing pantyhose can also help to reduce cellulite because they help to increase circulation.
If you get on a program of daily exercise and a healthy diet you will start to see your cellulite going away slowly but surely. But remember, diet alone isn't enough. You must also get your daily exercise. This includes cardiovascular exercise like jogging or Pilates and strength training exercises to improve all-over muscle tone. In just a few weeks, you will start to see a noticeable reduction in cellulite. Remember, don't try to do it all at once. Start out slow and do a little bit more every day. Take every opportunity you can to get your heart pumping. Take a walk, skip the elevator and park your car far away. Every little thing you can do to tone muscle and burn calories will help to make a difference.