Typically showing up when you’re between 25 and 35, cellulite gives you that trademark cottage cheese-like bumpiness. And it isn’t the preserve of those who are overweight or just women. Even 10 percent of men are affected by it.1 The result of fat depositing in little pockets beneath the layer of the skin in the thigh, hip, or buttock region, cellulite causes the skin to dimple.
Poor circulation and structural changes to your connective tissue and fat cells can bring on this change. If the collagen fibers responsible for maintaining the structure of your skin and connecting skin to the fat break down, stretch, or even pull too tight, it can make the fat cells bulge. Since everyone has some amount of fat in their body – even those who are thin – pretty much anyone could end up with cellulite.2 While there’s no way to magic away all the cellulite, you can certainly do some things to help cleanse your body inside and out and tackle your cellulite problem. Try these natural remedies to see some improvements!
1. Cut Refined Carb And Fat Intake
Diet actually plays a very important role when it comes to developing cellulite. Specifically, certain foods can make it better or worse. If you have a fondness for refined carbohydrates or fatty foods and consume either or both of these in large quantities, you could be in trouble. These foods can cause something called hyperinsulinemia, which in turn causes your body to increase fat formation or lipogenesis.3
2. Say No To Salt And Preservatives
When your body has a lot of salt or preservatives inside, it tends to retain water to compensate and keep the balance of electrolytes in the body. This results in swelling, especially in your legs and other areas prone to developing cellulite.4
3. Go On An Anti-Inflammatory Diet
You also need to fight what’s causing inflammation in your body – so watch what you eat if you want to beat cellulite.5 Include more anti-inflammatory foods in your diet and cut out the ones that cause inflammation and you should start to see results over time.
Foods that cause inflammation can make your cellulite worse, so here is a list of the worst offenders:
- Sugar in sodas, candy, sweets, chocolate, desserts, or regular sugar added to milkshakes, fresh juices, coffee and tea to sweeten them.6
- Saturated fats in fatty animal protein, lard, and butter.7
- Refined carbohydrates8
- Trans fats from fried foods, fast food, mass-produced baked goods, frozen pizza, and other processed and packaged foods.9
- High fructose corn syrup used in packaged and processed foods.10
Foods that can fight inflammation include:
- Olive oil11
- Pomegranate juice12
- Ginger13
- Onions 14
- Green leafy vegetables15
- Fatty fish16
- Walnuts17
- Turmeric 18
- Cinnamon 19
4. Spot Allergens That Worsen Cellulite
Besides known inflammatory foods, there are certain foods that are healthy for the population at large but can be problematic for some individuals. Allergens. If you are allergic to certain foods and have them anyway, they can aggravate your cellulite.20 If you’re not sure what you are allergic to, skip the most common allergy triggers like wheat, dairy, and nuts.
5. Drink Water And Stay Hydrated
It may seem like a simple thing, but staying adequately hydrated is an important way to fight cellulite.21 So while you’re also fixing your diet, be sure to give your body the fluids it needs either in the form of plain water or through freshly squeezed vegetable or fruit juices.
6. Get A Massage To Stimulate Circulation
Massages can help stimulate blood circulation in the body. When this happens, your tissue metabolism and nutrient supply are optimal – both of which are good for reducing chances of developing cellulite. Certain massages, of course, are better than others. What you need to be aware of though, is that “fat removal” massages do not effect permanent changes. A deep massage helps remove excess fluid and improve dermis connective tissue, but only for the short-term. So the dimpling may reduce but unless you keep up a healthy diet and exercise as well as other measures to ward off cellulite, it may soon reappear.22
Connective Tissue Manipulation or CTM
CTM helps rev up that circulation by working on your soft tissues. The therapist uses their finger pads to make the top layer of skin move on the layer underneath. This stretches your connective tissue and stimulates collagen remodeling. Circulatory function also improves through this method of massage.23 Research has found that it can help reduce regional fat values in test subjects with cellulite, though more research needs to be done to study the exact impact on cellulite.24
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Another massage technique that could help those with cellulite is the manual lymphatic drainage technique. It helped thin down subcutaneous fat in test subjects with cellulite and reduced thigh fat thickness and circumference in one study. On it, own it may not aid weight loss but could complement your other efforts like exercise or a healthy diet.25
7. Try Hydrotherapy To Beat Cellulite
Water therapy or balneotherapy can be tailored to beat cellulite. Medicated and mineral enriched waters can be used as part of anti-cellulite treatment. Whirlpools or air bubbles help boost your circulation by gently massaging the legs.26 By some accounts, this kind of hydrotherapy helps makes the skin more firm, supple, and smooth and aids capillary dilation.
8. Stay Active And Keep A Healthy Weight
Ensure you fit in time for exercise every day. Aerobic exercises will keep your circulation going and weight or resistance training can help you build muscle. And as a U.S. National Library of Medicine feature on Cellulite explains, exercising regularly and ensuring you have well-toned muscles and strong bones are important in your battle against cellulite. In addition, try and keep a steady healthy weight and avoid any yo-yo dieting because this could actually make your cellulite worse!27
References
