The causes of cellulite are many and varied and it affects about 90% of women and a much smaller number of men. I always thought it was to do with being overweight but this is not true. Cellulite can appear in thin women too. It gives the appearance of ‘lumps’ under the skin, mostly on thighs and buttocks and may be caused by the skin losing its elasticity.
As one gets older the skin becomes ‘loose’ and the skin layer becomes thinner, thus causing the contents of the deep skin layer to be redistributed and resulting in the appearance of cellulite.
If there is a large amount of oestrogen in the body, especially in cases of post natal women or those on birth control products, the body’s waste system is unable to cope and this, it is believed, can cause the development of cellulite.
There are many creams and pills on the market, which claim to help lose cellulite, but these can only help if we try to improve our lifestyle.
For instance, a poor diet, which can cause the production of fat and fluid retention, increases the instances of cellulite. A sensible, balanced diet and regular exercise are extremely beneficial not only in decreasing cellulite but also in the improvement of our general health. The connective tissue in the skin is hardened by lack of exercise and this in turn causes cellulite and the appearance of ‘dimples’.
We should also try to reduce our intake of alcohol and coffee and try to keep off processed foods as these produce toxins which get trapped in the fatty tissue and produce cellulite. Toxic waste, fat and water, which the body has failed to eliminate, make up the content of cellulite so it is recommended that we drink plenty of water, which will flush out these toxins and reduce the appearance of cellulite.
A ‘sensible diet’ does not mean a crash diet which can be detrimental to health and can increase the risk of cellulite since the body, starved of food, uses stored saturated fat and this can build up cellulite.
Smoking, which we all know is detrimental to our general health, also damages the connective tissue in the body and causes the dimpled effect in cellulite.
In a lot of cases the production of cellulite in the body is genetic. If, for instance, your mother had cellulite, the chances are you will have it too but all is not lost it is possible to reduce cellulite!
