- Cellulite, yes that dreaded word that we all women seem to fear. But what is cellulite? Everyone has their own description and many doctors don't believe it exists but us ladies know better! It's there for everyone to see sitting in our thighs and bottom.
- Where does it come from?
Cellulite is a combination of factors. The first thing that seems to set it off is a sluggish circulation, which can be caused by lack of exercise and a build-up of toxins. Firstly, toxins build up in the bloodstream, which then becomes lodged in the fat cells. This causes the capillaries to dilate and allows plasma to seep out. This puts considerable strain on the lymphatic system as it is unable to drain the cell fluid away and the whole area gradually becomes stagnant. This gives the affected areas the orange peel effect on the surface of the skin which is exacerbated over time as the fat cells harden.
The lymphatic system The lymphatic system produces most of the white blood cells and antibodies that cleanses the body fluids. It also drains excess fluids and toxins from the body's tissue. Its other main function is to digest fat and transport nutrients around the body. The lymphatic system works by the pressure of breathing and muscular movements rather than from the blood that is pumped around by the heart. The level of fitness or activity of a person determines the effectiveness of the lymphatic system. Which leads us onto the importance of exercise. We should all stretch and walk daily which we tend to do in our average life. But when you have a problem like cellulite you obviously need to do more exercise such as swimming, jogging, aerobic activity or weight-training.* These extra exercises help to burn stored fat which can reduce the harmful toxins and help with cellulite.
* Remember that before you or your clients start any new exercise regimes, seek personal advice from a fitness consultant.
What causes toxins?
Toxins are caused by bad eating habits. Modern day packaged or processed food is normally high in fat and sugars. When these are broken down by your metabolism much of the product is surplus to your requirements and this is then stored in the body and turns into fat.
Dieting and bingeing is another way to cause toxic build-up as well as certain intolerance's to food. The most common intolerance is dairy products or fats, chocolate, refined sugar, caffeine, and wheat-based products such as bread and pasta. The best way to check if you have intolerance to any of these foods is to make a list of all your regular intakes. Start with the foods you crave the most and cut them completely out of your diet for four weeks, then see how your body responds and the way you feel. If there is no difference then try to remove one of the other products on the list. You must keep a daily diary of this trial. Make notes whenever you feel sluggish or different and keep notes of all the food you eat. Remove from your diet the foods from the previous day that seem to have a negative effect on yourself. It is a long process but well worth it. There are certain clinics that offer a blood test to diagnose what food intolerance's you might have but it is not clear how accurate the results are.
So it is very important to have a well-balanced diet. Make sure you include fresh fruit, vegetables, brown bread, rice and pasta. A well balanced diet does not mean cutting out all fats or sugars but keeping the main part of the food you consume as natural fresh ingredients and eating average size portions. Three meals a day with snacking in-between is not a problem as long as the snacks are fruit.
Detox
It is a good idea to Detox the body once or twice a year.* But do not use this as a way of losing weight; consider it as a spring clean for the body. Once you have corrected your bad eating habits there will be no reason for you to Detox. If you are considering a Detox there are many books and articles on the Internet on the subject; bear in mind that it has a very similar effect to fasting as Detox diets normally consist of fruit and water. You can Detox externally and internally; steam rooms or saunas will help to Detox the body by elimination through the sweat glands.
* Detoxing the body should only be taken under advisement of a specialist.
Hormones
A number of people say that a hormone imbalance can cause cellulite. The hormone imbalance can be a pre cursor for cellulite. Hormone imbalance can stem from an incorrect diet to birth control pills and also HRT. There are times like puberty pregnancy or menopause when hormones can be naturally out of sync, but should right themselves once they have found their correct levels.
Stress
Yes, stress also contributes to cellulite. Anything that stops the body from functioning on a balanced level will contribute to cellulite as well as poor circulation and constipation. So learn to let go of problems that you cannot change and try to relax more, consider taking up relaxation classes if you find it hard to relax yourself. It is very important to find a balance lifestyle with a good sleeping pattern.
