Howdy All . . . As promised in the last blog, I will begin a new series discussing natural ways to rid the body of cellulite. Despite it being a bone-numbing 25 degrees here at home in coastal Maine today - colder when you add in the terrible windchill - it is time for me, and for the rest of you in warmer climates, to address that lumpy, bumpy, unsightly cellulite that has developed over the winter on your thighs, and other areas - before it becomes swimsuit and shorts season - and you get caught, exposed and jiggly, as if you've smeared marmalade on your parts!! No one wants to see that!
What exactly is cellulite? Cellulite is the dimpled, lumpy skin that most often appears on the thighs, hips, buttocks, and stomach. Reminds some of an orange-peel or cottage cheese appearance. Enticing, eh? Cellulite is not a type of fat, but rather a result of the relationship between skin and the fat layer beneath it. It affects women more than men because women tend to have more subcutaneous fat and slightly thinner skin . . . isn't that sad? Life's never fair, is it? Anyway . . . Causes: If you were to ask 10 different skin care and body care experts, ranging from dermatologists to estheticians to massage therapists, to state the causes of cellulite, you'd get 10 different answers.
Here are some of the answers I received upon interview:
1. There's no such thing as cellulite. It's just plain old fat. The cause is simply a lack of exercise and overeating.
2. It's a result of stagnant circulation in various areas between the torso and the knees.
3. Cellulite is a type of fat that traps extra water beneath the skin's surface, causing a puckered appearance.
4. Cellulite is caused by toxins in the diet, such as artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and additives, which the body stores in fat cells - as it doesn't recognize these ingredients as real food. It doesn't know what to do with them nor how to process them.
5. The appearance of cellulite is more apparent when the underlying muscle is untoned and flabby. In an athletic body, the visible dimpling of the fat layer, if evident at all, is minimal.
6. Cellulite is one of the side-effects of a constipated colon and insufficient water intake, resulting in an over accumulation of toxins. When toxins are not being released through the proper channels - the skin, kidneys, liver, and colon - they are stored in the fat tissue, isolated from the body and out of harm's way.
7. Cellulite is a combination of fat, water, and wastes trapped beneath the skin in pockets within the connective fiber bands that hold the skin in place. As the amount of these materials increases, the pockets bulge, causing the familiar cottage-cheese effect. All of these "causes" of cellulite ring true to a certain degree. Cellulite does consist of fatty tissue, water, and toxins, and the degree to which it affects you depends on the types of food you consume as well as the amount and type of exercise you get - and genetics - sorry to say. Although it can be difficult to eradicate completely, there are ways to at least minimize its appearance.
In the next blog, I discuss natural ways to help prevent cellulite's development and aid in the elimination of this unsightly problem, if you've got it already. Stay tuned! Also, if you have any tips that have been successful for you, then by all means, send them to me and I'll post them in a future blog!! Be well . . .
NOTE: This article was written by Stephanie Tourles, lic. esthetician. The content was adapted from material in one of her many books, "Naturally Healthy Skin", Storey Publishing, 1999. The information is true and complete to the best of her knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Ms. Tourles. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only