cellulite: the facts
Cellulite is a fancy name for dimpled skin that, if you’re lucky, will resemble the texture of orange peel. If you’re not so fortunate, you may wonder who glued the cottage cheese to your behind. The good news is, you don’t have to worry about cellulite any more: The Healthy Skin Diet, a new book by nutritionist Karen Fischer, has advice on achieving gorgeous skin all over.
For some, cellulite can be impossible to shift. Remember, it’s your self-confidence that ultimately makes you attractive, because you will stand taller and come across as relaxed. Cellulite won’t disappear overnight, or even in a week or two. It takes time, effort and truckloads of patience. Great results may be seen in two to six months, or earlier than this if your cellulite is mild. Before starting any treatment, exercise or diet program, be sure to consult your docto
What is cellulite?
Cellulite is found in the fatty layers of your skin, but it is not “typical” body fat or unique to overweight people – slim women get it too. It is commonly found on the thighs, hips, bottom and stomach, and afflicts women more often than men. Males have a genetic tendency for stronger connective tissue in the body’s dermis layer, whereas females are more likely to have irregular connective tissue immediately below the skin, making us more prone to getting disorderly connective tissue fibres that lose flexibility and movement, similar to when an old swimsuit loses its elasticity and no longer fits snugly. This tissue weakness allows the fatty layer to protrude into the dermis, which makes the skin look lumpy. Cellulite occurs in varying degrees in as many as 85 per cent of women.
What can cause cellulite?
• Genetics and hormones.
• Poor circulation.
• A sedentary lifestyle.
• Diets high in dairy products and sugar.
• Environmental pollution, chemicals, toxins.
• Nutritional deficiencies.
• Stress, as it burns up valuable nutrients otherwise used to repair connective tissue.
What are toxins?
“Toxin” is a general term for a substance that has no positive use in the body, such as chemicals from cleaning products, pesticides, artificial food additives and the pollution you’ve inhaled. Toxins are also waste products generated by your cells. Your body has several ways of removing toxins, including the lymphatic and blood circulatory systems and sweating. Since cellulite can be caused by fluid and toxins becoming trapped in the subcutaneous layer of the skin, you can help to reverse this accumulation by reducing your toxin load. The first thing you can do is swap your chemical cleaners for natural ones and cut down on packaged “goodies” such as chips, biscuits and soft drinks. Other toxins that can contribute to cellulite formation include: pesticide residues found on fruit and vegies, and artificial additives such as preservatives, pollution and cigarette smoke.
Skin firming drink
This fibre-rich drink helps to promote proper collagen formation and firm skin as it contains protein, glucosamine, copper, zinc and vitamin C. Lecithin and omega-3 are essential for cell membrane health.
Serves 1
Preparation 3 minutes
1 frozen banana (peel and chop before freezing)
1 cup (250 ml) calcium-fortified soy milk
10 blueberries (or frozen raspberries)
Glucosamine complex supplement (choose one that also contains copper, zinc and vitamin C and follow the dosage recommended by the manufacturer)
1 tbsp ground linseeds or flaxseed oil
1-2 tbsp lecithin granules (GMO-free soy)
2 dashes ground cinnamon
Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until mixture is smooth. Drink immediately.
Model’s cellulite treatment
This remedy was often talked about within the modelling industry in the 1990s, but it’s only a temporary skin tightener and may only work on the genetically blessed. The natural compounds in coffee are said to marginally tighten the skin; seaweed is also considered to have a toning effect when applied to the skin.
¼ cup warm, used ground coffee (preferably organic) or organic instant coffee
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil (can infuse it with rosemary or birch oil)
4 soaked kombu (seaweed) strips
Cling wrap
Method: Mix coffee and oil in a glass bowl. Line the floor or shower with newspaper (some of the coffee mixture is bound to fall off) then massage the mixture in a circular motion over cellulite-affected areas for one minute. Wrap the area with kombu, wash hands, then apply cling wrap around each affected area to hold the mixture in place. Leave on for 10 minutes, then have a shower to rinse off. Repeat this once a day for at least two weeks as results take two to four weeks to appear.
This is an edited extract from The Healthy Skin Diet by Karen Fischer ($36.95, Exisle Publishing). Available at bookstores or exislepublishing.com
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