Cellulite is ugly, disgusting and unfortunately, a fact of life. Nearly eighty percent of women are affected by cellulite. It is commonly and incorrectly associated with obesity. In fact, cellulite can actually affect women of all types of physical conditions.
Cellulite develops when the areas of the body that store fat become clogged. What occurs is almost like a traffic jam. The fat gets jammed up and causes the skin to develop a dimpled, rippled effect. Cellulite is most likely to appear around the hip, thigh and buttocks area.
No one is absolutely certain how cellulite develops. There are even those who claim that cellulite doesn’t even exist, but we know that’s not true, right Ladies? Some people theorize that cellulite is a hereditary problem, while others claim it is environmental, linked to the consumption of processed foods or stress. What they all agree on though is that there is no way to completely eliminate cellulite. You can only reduce its appearance.
There are two different types of cellulite, hard and soft. Hard cellulite attaches to the muscle and is more difficult to see. Soft cellulite is more common. Soft cellulite sags from the body and is more visible.
So if you have cellulite (and the chances are that you do) how do you reduce the appearance? Here are a few tips.
Drink more liquids, and we don’t mean of the soda and coffee variety. You should be drinking at least eight glasses of water and other non caffeinated drinks a day.
Quit smoking. Not only will these decreases the appearance of cellulite; it will help you be healthier over all.
Relax. Stress can contribute to a build up of toxins in the body. Treat your self to a massage or a luxurious bath at least once a week.
Eat right. Junk food and processed foods are thought to contribute to cellulite.
Exercise. Exercise helps on two different fronts. It can help relieve stress and helps to break down the fat deposits that make up cellulite.
Body brushing. This is the process of using a natural hair brush, such as horsehair, to dry brush the leg, thigh and buttocks area. The brushing is done in long, circular motions. Body brushing helps to break down the cellulite and give the skin a smoother appearance.
As we said, nothing can completely eliminate cellulite, but you can do quite a bit to reduce its appearance.