Cellulite - Diet Changes that Help in Dealing with it

Cellulite is a skin condition that is characterized by dimpled, lumpy appearance in areas with underlying fat deposits like the thighs and buttocks. However fat, it and by itself, is not the primary cause of the appearance of cellulite. Rather the structure of the overlying skin as well as the underlying connective tissue play a greater role in determining whether the skin will be smooth or marked by that orange-peel look, characteristic of cellulite. Because of many related factors, cellulite cannot be banished by following any single diet – low-fat or otherwise. However bringing about changes in what you eat can go a long way in reducing the unsightly appearance of cellulite.

Reduce intake of fat

Women typically have cellulite because their connective tissue is structured differently from men. That connective tissue allows the fat to expand into the skin, thereby causing that dimpling effect associated with cellulite. Thus more than the deposit of fat, it is the nature of the connective tissue that is responsible for the lumpy appearance. This is the reason why even skinny women can develop cellulite while obese men and children may show no signs of the condition. However even though fat by itself is not responsible for cellulite, a low-fat diet will help in reducing the amount of fat deposits beneath the skin, thus leaving the wavy connective tissues with less scope of forming the wavy structure that appears as cellulite on the outside. So avoid deep-fried, oily foods and those which are high in fats. Here the method of cooking becomes as important as the food itself; for instance while fish may be recommended in an ant-cellulite diet, it is better if your grill or poach the fillets instead of dipping it in batter and frying it. For the same reason also avoid taking animal protein like beef and bacon which are high in fats. Among the dairy products too, go for items which are low in fats like yoghurt and cottage cheese instead of creamy milkshakes or processed cheese.

Follow farm to plate plan

When on anti-cellulite diets, it is best to keep away from refined and processed food products; these include foods made with refined flour, refined sugar and food additives - basically anything that doesn't look natural. This is because most refined and processed foods contain empty calories which do nothing to add nutrition to the body but merely pile up on the calories. Rather go for meals which include lots of fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains. These contain the maximum amounts of vitamins and minerals which are the sources of nutrients helpful in increasing the elasticity of your skin. The same goes for brightly colored vegetables and fruits which contain the highest amount of anti-oxidants. The more elastic your skin is, the better the connective tissues will be able to reduce the lumpy and dimpled appearance characteristic of cellulite.

Meet millionaire men at MillionaireMatch.com.

Include fish and lean meat

However don’t entirely discount protein from your diet when working to get rid of cellulite. This is because proteins contain essential amino acids which are important for building healthy cells and tissues, including the connective tissues that underlie the skin. But instead of going for red meats, settle for lean meats found in poultry since these not only contain less fat but are digested easily. However when it comes to fish, you can go for those which contain fats since these are rich in particular types of oils like omega-3 fatty acids which are important for healthy skin and hair. So make fatty fish like salmon an essential part of your ant-cellulite diet plan.

Drink enough water

Suspect anti-cellulite treatment plans often talk of water being nature’s all-powerful cleanser which has the ability to flush out all sorts of toxins from the body and hence make cellulite disappear. Unfortunately cellulite is not really caused by accumulation of toxins in the body but because the connective tissues underlying the skin cannot hold the fat deposits in a smooth frame. However this does not discount the importance of consuming enough water in order to obtain a generally-healthy looking skin. This is mainly because water helps to prevent dehydration and with it the dry, parched look on the skin. Drinking ample amount of water like two to three liters a day, other than what you are getting from foods and drinks, will ensure that your skin remains hydrated and elastic.

Quit smoking

Among all the organs that smoking can harm directly, is also the skin. Put in the simplest way, smoking restricts the oxygen-rich blood supply to the skin cells, thus reducing its ability to regenerate and build new cells. The result is drier skin, more wrinkles and earlier aging as compared to people who don’t smoke. While quitting smoking in itself will not get rid of cellulite, it will certainly improve the texture and elasticity of skin so that the appearance of cellulite is diminished. On the other hand, the ill effects of smoking on skin will heighten the unsightly look of cellulite and make it look uglier than it actually is.

Avoid alcohol

The immediate effect of alcohol on the skin is to dilate the blood vessels and cause an unhealthy flush on the skin. Other than this it also depletes the body of Vitamin A – an important anti-oxidant – as well as worsens skin conditions like acne. All these conditions can have an aggravating effect on cellulite. Besides all the calories from alcohol are stored as fat and this heavily contributes toward the body's cellulite accumulation. A glass of wine every once in a while won't kill you, but regular alcohol consumption must be put to an end in order to reduce cellulite.

Keep off from extreme diets

No matter how you set about on an anti-cellulite diet, it is best to bring about gradual changes since then you have the most chances of sticking to it. On the other hand, a yo-yo diet is the worst possible way to tackle cellulite. This is because repeated cycles of weight loss and weight gain can play havoc with your skin, depleting it of elasticity and thus making the dimpled appearance associated with cellulite more pronounced.

Finally you need to remember that no single diet or magic plan will make cellulite disappear overnight. Indeed dermatologists believed that it cannot be cured completely, only its appearance can be diminished. In the end it is essential to accompany the right diet with adequate exercises and lifestyle changes in order to treat cellulite effectively.