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Cellulite may seem so inevitable or so difficult to get rid of that I am sure the word provokes more apathy than cringes these days. There is such an abundance of creams, gels, lotions and potions on the market that most of us have purchased in hope and discarded in disappointment that I suspect this is a topic that many have a very jaded attitude towards. I have to admit that I did not expect to learn anything new upon researching this article but that I have actually walked away pleasantly surprised and resolute to make a few small changes. For example, did you know that chewing your food properly could help prevent a build up cellulite? Or that chemical preservatives, hormonal imbalances and constipation cause cellulite? I bet you also did not know that grapefruit is also a very effective treatment for cellulite?Although the notion that prevention is better than cure is certainly true when it comes to cellulite there are steps you can take to minimise it and to ensure that you don’t build up more. But first let’s start by understanding what it is and where it comes from. Cellulite is known in the medical community as localised lipdystrophy – meaning misshapen fat in specific areas of the body. Recent research has shown it has less to do with the fat cells however, and more to do with the connective tissue that shapes the fat and keeps it in place. This means that cellulite is not a fat disorder but in fact a disease of the circulatory system or hormonal system that can deform the connective tissue.

Connective tissue is made up of fibres and acts as an anchor between the muscles and the skin. It also forms the chambers that hold the body fat beneath the skin. In brief; poor circulation causes a build up of highly damaging free radicals in the tissues under the skin. This leads to weaker circulation and the growth of thick fibres in the wrong places. This in turn, prevents the fat from being properly absorbed into the blood and causes it to swell with excess fluids, thus stretching the connective tissues and leaving the lumpy irregular appearance.

More women tend to have cellulite than men because they have a vertical pattern of collagen in the underlying layer that holds the fat cells, and so when the fat cells become very large it can bulge out of the chambers and appear as cellulite. In men, the pattern of collagen is in a tighter diagonal pattern, and they have thicker skin, so there is less bulging of the individual fat cells.

There are four identified different types of cellulite. These are the slight cellulite, compact cellulite, loose cellulite and the last is painful cellulite. The slight cellulite is only visible once the skin is contracted or pinched and is not visible while standing. The compact cellulite is the ones that are visible even while standing but it does not cause any pain. The loose cellulite is present but cannot be seen while the person is standing because of the water retention in the hypodermis and the dermis. And lastly, the painful cellulite is a type of cellulite that is painful and tender if pinched or contracted.

To properly treat cellulite one needs to prevent and cure deformed connective tissues. The tips below should help you strengthen your connective tissue, improve circulation, balance your estrogen levels, detoxify your system and improve your health in general.

Reduce your Oestrogen Levels

An excess of oestrogen in women is believed to cause the weakening of the connective tissue that allows the fat to bulge up into the skin.

• If you are using birth control pills for contraception, you may want to ask your doctor for a lower-estrogen dose formula or a non-hormonal form, such as an IUD.
• Oestrogen is present in almost all types of food that we eat. View foods that contain oestrogen and foods that inhibit oestrogen.
• Perform daily physical exercise which reduces oestrogen production and stress and also reduces stagnation.
• Perform cleansing and strengthening of the liver in order to eliminate oestrogen more efficiently.
• Pesticides sprayed on fruits or vegetables are another source of oestrogen (xenoestrogens). Eat organic food or if organically-grown vegetables or fruits are unavailable, you can use a fruit & vegetable wash.
• Use organic skincare as studies have indicated that synthetic ingredients such a parabens found in most commercial toiletries mimic oestrogen and cause imbalance.
• Eat more fibre-rich foods (whole grains, legumes, and berries) as fibre increases the rate at which oestrogen is excreted from the body.

Increase Your Intake of Anti-oxidants

Free radicals interrupt circulation, impairing the function of the cells that manage the structure of the connective tissue. As you may know anti-oxidants fight the free radical process.

• Anti-oxidants are most abundantly available in fresh herbs, fruit and vegetables, particularly during the hours immediately after they have been harvested and when they have been organically grown.
• Vitamins C (found in oranges, strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes and peas) and E as well as beta-carotene (the building block for vitamin A) contain a high proportion of anti-oxidants.
• Organically grown food not only contains more anti-oxidants but is free of pesticides, insecticides, hormones and artificial flavourants that will reduce the number of toxins being absorbed into your body.

Sources of excess free radicals within our bodies, responsible for cellulite, are:

Rosemary has amazing anti-oxidant properties and is also very effective at increasing and stimulating circulation due to its rubefacient properties.

Soil Rosemary Essential Oil

Trevarno Rosemary Ointment

• High intensity exercise (OK in short bursts, dangerous when straining)
• Bacterial and viral infections (our immune system sprays them with free radicals)
• Allergic reactions (e.g. immune reaction to pollen, dander, house dust)
• Insufficient deep rest (too little or poor quality sleep)
• Emotional and physical stress (body needs 6 to 8 week recovery period)
• Partially digested foods (swallowed before completely reduced to a paste)
• Overeating (causes dangerous chemicals to be absorbed into the blood)
• Poor elimination (causes build-up of free radicals that are absorbed by body)
• Estrogen and other hormone imbalances

Sources of excess free radicals outside our bodies, responsible for cellulite, are:

• Processed foods (junk foods and foods treated with chemicals, heat or radiation)
• Old food (frozen and canned as well reheated leftovers)
• Burnt foods (particularly barbecued and grilled or broiled)
• Animal products especially red meat
• Cigarette smoke (active and passive)
• Alcohol and coffee
• Preservatives (skincare and food)
• Pesticides (Insecticides, insect repellants, poisons)
• Herbicides
• Household cleaners, paints, glues, fire proofing agents, furniture polish, etc.
• Vehicle exhaust fumes
• Industrial pollution
• Chlorinated water (drinking water and swimming pools)
• Too much sun (when sunburn causes peeling and pain)

Improve Your Circulation

You can add Black Pepper Essential Oil to your bath to stimulate circulation.Soil Black Pepper Essential Oil

Regular exercise is necessary for the improvement of cellulite. Not only does it help reduce the appearance of cellulite by burning the fatty acids that are causing the cellulite. It also improves circulation and helps to remove toxin-filled wastes away from the skin.

• Loosen Up. Get out of the habit of crossing your legs, knees and ankles. This reduces circulation and increases swelling. Try to keep moving regularly, neither sitting nor standing for long periods.
• Stand up straight. A good posture, not only makes you look slimmer, but will also improve your breathing, which results in better circulation. Try manual therapy or bodywork techniques like Rolfing, massage and the Alexander Technique, if you want to correct your posture, realign your body and improve the overall functioning of your body.
• Many experts believe that the stimulant caffeine (found in coffee, tea, chocolate and fizzy drinks) has a direct and negative effect on lymph flow and blood circulation, because it causes small blood vessels to constrict. This cuts down the amount of essential skin nutrients and oxygen that reach the tissues and hampers effective cell metabolism, resulting in a build-up of waste products. The solution? Get rid of this harmful excess toxicity by detoxing and cutting down on coffee, alcohol, foods with lots of chemical additives and over-processed foods. This will also help you lose weight.

Detoxify

• Waste pockets exist because your body is being bombarded with more toxins than it can cope with and eliminate every day.
• Massage, particularly the kind that improves lymph flow, is very good for reducing the appearance of cellulite. It improves the removal of metabolic wastes and toxins from the interstitial tissues around the adipose tissues, and gives the skin a smoother appearance.
• Saunas are a great way to help your body sweat out unwanted toxins.
• Avoid taking synthetic medicine when you can as headache tablets and other pills put extra strain on your liver and kidneys.
• Afraid of needles? You shouldn’t be, because acupuncture is a great way to unblock the body’s energy and clear out any unwanted toxins. Acupuncturists help the body to heal itself and restore balance. This, accompanied by a diet change and an exercise regime, will help eliminate toxins from congested systems.
• Body wraps or scrubs, both professional and homemade can improve the appearance of cellulite. Body wraps and scrubs use a combination of minerals and herbs that stimulate the fat cells to release their contents and they absorb toxins from the skin and reduce swelling. They will often contain stimulant herbs like kelp or algae that stimulate the fat burning process in the cells, cosmetic clays that will remove toxins and wastes from the pores, and horsetail and horse chestnut that reduce edema (swelling) and provide minerals for
  strengthening the skin.
• Improve digestion. What most people do not know is that good digestion is the single biggest factor in maintaining good health. Research into the digestive process has shown that every one of our digestive processes depends upon our food being completely ground up and thoroughly mixed with the saliva. When partially chewed food reaches the large intestines, the clumps of unprocessed food attract unfriendly bacteria and provide a rich medium for them to multiply. These toxic residues that are not eliminated by the liver are then sent to the fat cells under the skin where they can be held in the fat to protect the body from damage.
• Eat more apples. Apples are not very acidic whilst toxins are, so apples tend to balance their pH. The pectin in apples, is a soluble type of fibre that assists in detoxifying the digestive tract by making you go to the toilet more often. Pears, bananas, citrus fruits, carrots and cabbage all contain pectin.
• Lemon twist. Start the day off refreshed and revitalised by drinking a glass of hot water with a squeeze of lemon. This will kick-start your liver.

Dry Skin Brushing

Learn to dry brush your skin at least twice every day – upon rising and before going to bed. Skin brushing provides many benefits in the treatment of cellulite. First of all, it’s “exercise” for your skin, and strengthens the underlying dermis and pattern of collagen in the subcutaneous layer. It stimulates the growth and repair of the tissues by increasing blood flow to the area. It also helps remove toxins and metabolic wastes out of the interstitial fluids surrounding the tissues for disposal. Dry brushing is good for you skin all over, but if you are suffering from spider or varicose veins, brushing these areas vigorously several times every day, first in a circular motion and then upwards towards the colon, can improve the appearance of cellulite.