6 Ways To Prevent And Manage Cellulite
Contributed by Su Lee Chong April 25, 2016
Almost all women have cellulite somewhere on their bodies. It is purely a cosmetic issue rather than a medical one. Cellulite is caused by fat cells bulging into the dermis, which is the middle layer of the skin, pulling the connective tissues, such as collagen and elastin. As a result, ugly dimples or an orange peel appearance show up on the skin.
The risk factors of forming cellulite are:
- Genetic – if your mother has it, you are more likely to develop it, too.
- Hormonal changes during pregnancy.
- Aging – aging causes the body’s connective tissues in the skin to deteriorate, resulting in fat cells to bulge through the skin.
Ultimately, it is a total change in lifestyle that can help get rid of cellulite.
Here are six ways you can prevent and manage cellulite:
1. Maintain Healthy Body Weight
If you are not very active, you should limit your caloric intake to 1200-1500 calories a day. Excess calorie intake will lead to an increase in fat storage in the adipose tissue and will result in the bulging of fat cells. A yo-yo diet will aggravate cellulite appearance.
2. Antioxidants
Antioxidants prevent free radicals from attacking the collagen and elastin, and break them down, thereby, keeping the skin firm and preventing fat cells from bulging out and causing a dimple appearance.
There are many types of antioxidants. A diet high in fruit and vegetables will give you a good amount of antioxidants. Five to seven portions of fruit and vegetables a day is the recommended guideline by the World Health Organization.You can also get good multivitamin supplements to complement your diet. Green tea is an excellent beverage that can provide a good source of antioxidants.
3. Limit Salt Intake
Sodium pulls water into the cells and keeps it there, causing water retention. This is a major cause of cellulite in slender people. The excess fluid gravitates towards the already-swollen fat tissues. Cut your salt intake and drink plenty of water to flush out the salt in the diet.
4. Avoid Toxins And Do Regular Detoxes
Regular detoxes can reduce the pressure on the body’s cleansing systems. Regularly detoxing the liver, and digestive and lymphatic system swill reduce the toxin load and help the lymphatic system circulate better. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, saturated and trans fats, and processed food. They contribute to the toxin load in the body.
5. Water
Drink plenty of water to flush out the toxins and keep the cellulite from forming and building up in the body. The water is also needed to flush out the excess sodium in your diet. Adequate hydration is also important in preventing water retention, which is a cause of cellulite development.
6. Essential Nutrients
Glucosamine is an important supplement to build collagen and elastin, giving firmness to the skin. Essential fatty acids, such as Omega-3, help attract water to dehydrated cells and connective tissues, such as collagen and elastin. Hydrated collagen and elastin prevent the appearance of dimples on the skin. Essential fatty acids also help the body to process and burn fat, reducing the size of the fat cells. Cinnamon increases blood circulation, which helps to eliminate toxin build-up. Sprinkle half a teaspoon onto your oatmeal or cereal.
Cellulite can be very unsightly and it is not easily removed. You can try cosmetic procedures, but the best way to avoid and manage it is through a healthy lifestyle incorporating the advice above.
Visit Look Good Feel Great Always to find out more about Su Lee's work.
This post was first published on Look Good Feel Great Always blog and has been reposted on Executive Lifestyle with the permission of the author.
Edited by Nedda Chaplin
Image credit: Woman on a lounger near the swimming pool from Shutterstock
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