|
Females have a unique layer of fatty tissue under the skin which
consists of little chambers separated by vertical walls of tissue. Water
retention, excess weight or a sedentary lifestyle can weaken the top of these
"fat-cells" so that they buckle and fold. These smaller compartments then break
up and cluster under the skin which in turn changes the appearance of the skin.
The skin on the hips, thighs and buttocks then appears lumpy, containing dips,
ripples and dimples. Some refer to it as a dimpled "orange peel" effect.
In a nutshell then, cellulite is lumpy, unevenly distributed fatty tissue which
is found mainly in fatty areas between the waist and the knees.
How common is the problem?
Some believe as many as 90% of women are affected to some degree
by cellulite. It even forms in the young during puberty but due to the skin on
young women being more supple it is not noticeable. Not only overweight women
but even slim women can have deposits of cellulite on their buttocks, hip and
thighs.
Why does cellulite affect women and not men?
Fat cells in the male body are shaped differently and fat is
stored differently. Females have a unique structure under the skin consisting of
small chambers separated by vertical walls of tissue.
Why is it viewed as a problem?
Because many women regard these lumpy areas of skin as
unsightly! It makes them feel uncomfortable or embarrassed when these
areas are visible to others.
Some feel their sex appeal is affected.
How is it caused?
Good blood circulation is essential for the elimination of toxic
wastes in the body which otherwise get lodged in fat cells. Poor
microcirculation can cause damage to the fat tissue.
Blood and lymphatic vessels then leak fluid into surrounding tissue causing
congestion which in turn causes swelling, prevents nutrients reaching the
tissue, and affects the drainage of toxins. Connective tissue then becomes
damaged so they eventually scar, causing stretch marks and trapping fat cells.
In summary, anything in one's lifestyle causing poor blood circulation
contributes to the problem including poor diet, sedentary lifestyle and poor
blood and lymphatic circulation.
What strategies can help deal with it?
-
Diet and exercise are key factors.
-
Drinking plenty of water helps cleanse the system by
flushing out toxins from the body.
-
Reducing the amount of fat consuming in the daily diet can
help.
-
Fibre rich foods including fruit, vegetables and wholegrain
cereals help greatly in eliminating wastes from the
-
body and should therefore be a prominent part of the daily
diet.
-
Salt can cause the body to retain water so it is wise to
avoid foods that contain a lot of sodium.
-
Regular exercise including walking and swimming can do much
to keep the body in good shape.
-
In addition, there are products available which can help.
See below.
What is the solution?
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|
