Cellulite is a complicated “condition” to address – specifically because it is completely normal – especially for women.
Most of us know what cellulite looks like but are not clear as to exactly what it is. Cellulite is the term used to describe pockets of fat beneath the skin that push through the connective tissues surrounding them. Typically, these pockets of fat cause an uneven “dimpling” of the skin (the look we all know and “love”).
Unfortunately, cellulite is found in 90% of post-adolescent women, in the areas of the thighs, hips, booty, and belly.
Common factors causing cellulite formation include hormonal factors, genetic factors and dietary and lifestyle factors (the only ones we truly have direct control over). It is, however, a combination of all the above that create cellulite and the resulting dimpled appearance.
Read more about the hormonal and genetic factors that cause cellulite here (it is a very thorough explanation and worth the read if you want to dig into it a little deeper). The rest of this article will address what we can control – our dietary and lifestyle choices.
DIETARY AND LIFESTYLE FACTORS
To combat the appearance of cellulite, eating a healthy, well-balanced diet goes without saying. Maintaining a consistent weight (within a reasonable range for your height and frame) is also important at minimizing the appearance of cellulite (drastic weight fluctuations destroy your metabolism and make the whole process of reducing cellulite that much harder). Specific recommendations include:
Reduce processed and high-sugar foods that can lead to the accumulation of toxins and fat in the body
Increase your fiber intake (again, helps eliminate toxins)
Make sure to drink plenty of water – aim for 9 cups of water per day – to flush toxins and improve overall body function (I am making this one my priority)
Reduce or eliminate dairy from your diet (easier said than done, I know) – but the reason goes back to those pesky hormonal factors. Read more here.
Strength and cardio exercise are equally important. If you don’t incorporate movement into your day – start. If you don’t exercise regularly – start. You don’t have to kill yourself – just taking a 30-60 minute daily walk is a great for overall well-being.
I want to make specific comments regarding strength training and its impact on controlling the appearance of cellulite. Once again, it goes back to the hormonal factors impacting the development of cellulite. Strength training elicits more testosterone production, so performing more weight type workouts, instead of focusing solely (or primarily) on cardio, could also be another way for women and in rarer cases men, to reverse the estrogen levels and thus the cellulite reaction in their bodies. Something to think about.
Being intentional about what you eat and drink and how you exercise your body goes a long way to minimize the appearance of cellulite. So will what you put on your skin. However, topical treatments are a hotly debated (and marketed) topic.
Please note that topical treatments will NOT ELIMINATE the appearance of cellulite. Targeted skin care ingredients, however, will helpreduce its appearance as will massage (boosts circulation and lymphatic drainage). This is where Essentially Haitos and its Booty-ful Collection come in.
Our primary ingredients and their reasons for inclusion in the Booty-ful product line are described on the individual product pages – except for the Red Clover, Cocoa and Green Tea herbal blend. That needs a more detailed explanation and we supply it here (it’s a bit technical – but very thorough – and comes directly from the lab that produces the blend).
"This herbal blend is a biofermented botanical blend containing three natural herbs, Red Clover, Cocoa, and Green Tea. Each plant product contains various phytochemicals that play specific roles in the ability to help decrease the appearance of cellulite. Each plant is fermented with the bacteria Lactobacillus lactis. After the fermentation process is carried out the extract blend is put through a high sheer process to further isolate the active components.
Red Clover (Trifolium pretense), a close relative to soy, is rich in isoflavones also known as phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogenic compounds may be utilized by the body in two different manners, depending upon what level of endogenous estrogen exists. If estrogen levels are low, as in the case of menopausal women, phytoestrogenic compounds will function to fill in or bind to the now empty estrogen receptor sites thus providing a weak proestrogenic effect. In the case of cellulite, it is the over-saturation of estrogen that may be responsible for cellulite production. In this instance, phytoestrogenic compounds will bind to the estrogen receptor sites and emit a weaker estrogenic effect than would the endogenous estrogens had they been able to bind. It is this competitive inhibitory action that may potentially decrease the formation of cellulite.
The Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) plant is also rich in phytoestrogenic compounds as well as the xanthine alkaloid, theobromine. Caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline, are naturally occurring xanthines. Because of their close chemical structures, each of these xanthines function in very similar fashions.
Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) is well known for its antioxidant properties as well as its caffeine and theophylline content. This combination of xanthine alkaloids from cocoa and green tea, functions to increase microcirculation and fat metabolism. These substances are known to inhibit the enzyme phosphodiesterase while also providing beta-adrenergic stimulation.
As these beta-adrenergic receptor sites are stimulated, fat that is stored in the form of triglycerides can be metabolized into free fatty acids and glycerol helping to decrease the amount of adipose tissue found in problem areas of the body as cellulite."
Conclusion
Cellulite is a fact of life for up to 90% of women. That certainly doesn’t mean we have to like it or accept it – but it does mean we have to take matters into our own hands if it bothers us enough.
Eat a clean, healthy diet (as best as you can),
Exercise regularly and incorporate strength training into your routine (which includes body-weight movements), and
Use quality topical skin care products containing ingredients shown to reduce the appearance of the dreaded cellulite dimples – and take your time massaging them in.
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