The Truth About Cellulite

14-10-08

By Ian Piggott

Ok ladies lets take about the C word. Yes that’s right cellulite! I know, I know I can hear you screaming already but before you freak out and throw this article across the room lets explore this topic a little and find some solutions to this sensitive issue.

First of all what is cellulite? Well cellulite has been widely regarded as a fat disorder for many years. However, recent studies has provided the fitness community with information to show that it is in fact primarily a disease of the circulatory system that deforms the connective tissue.

Cellulite is the term used to describe areas of fat, which are trapped and cause crimpling in the skin. This crimpling is patchy and has been described as to look like orange peel. These areas are often found around the legs, hips and buttocks of the body. During puberty the body produces hormones, including female ones that are responsible for the forming of adipose tissue (fat) and may damage circulation and drainage in the tissues under the skin. However, abnormal changes in tissues can be avoided if hormonal disorders are taken care of in the early stages. Young bodies can defend themselves better; and such disorders in teens are caused mostly by changes in metabolic process and lifestyle.

Therefore are temporary and can be reversed. When we look closely at some of the causes of cellulite then we can start to see what needs to be done in order to reduce and eradicate this unsightly problem. Some of the causes for developing cellulite are:

• Water intake. Water helps the waste system operate, flushing toxins out of the body. Drinking 8 glasses of water a day will be very beneficial to cellulite reduction.

• Diet. Crappy eating habits including junk food, alcohol, caffeine and lots spicy foods contribute to the forming of cellulite due to the high levels of toxins they produce that get trapped in the adipose (fat) tissue of the body.

• Smoking. It is not only bad for the lungs and heart but also the skin. Smoking weakens the skin by causing the constriction of capillaries in the lungs. It further damages the connective tissue that causes the crimping effect of cellulite.

• Obesity. Although thin people can suffer from cellulite, obese people are more at risk of developing cellulite, which is a form of fat after all. In an overweight body, fat accumulation also pushes the cellulite in the subcutaneous layer (fat under the skin) outward and worsens the appearance of cellulite.

• Crash diets. Crash dieting increase the risk of cellulite forming, because the body thinks it's starving. It attempts to consume saturated fats, which help build cellulite, these unhealthy fats block the arteries and get trapped in tissues as well, preventing the body from getting rid of waste and toxins.

• Exercise. A serious lack of exercise is going to give the body a slower metabolism allowing the body to store more fat, adding to the effects of cellulite appearance. It is clear that the cause of cellulite is much more than just saying it is extra fat underneath the skin.

It is worth appreciating that cellulite is a unique and distinctive layer of subcutaneous body fat that is common to females. Although there are numerous treatments and involuntary manipulative techniques that may seem enticing, no research supports their long-term effectiveness. However, studies have shown female athletes, who typically have less body fat than the average woman, seem to have much less cellulite if any at all.

This to me is a very clear indication that that with the correct nutritional intake, exercise programme (cardio and weights), and daily water intake you could dramatically reduce cellulite appearance on the body and even remove all visible signs so that you can show off your legs and hips in those sexy hot pants that you have wanted to get into for ages.

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