Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The Truth about Cellulite

Most of us are familiar with the rippled or dimpled skin on some parts of our bodies...the dreaded cellulite!  Usually it occurs on the legs or butt, especially in women.  So why the heck is it even there?  First of all it is fat storage, but the difference comes with the underlying connective tissue and the overlying skin.  Men tend to have less cellulite because the connective tissue under the fat is actually laid down in a different pattern than women.  Men have more of a mesh pattern creating a smoother surface,  where women's connective tissue is laid down in a parallel fashion.  This parallel arrangement can shift and move creating indents.  Paired with the fact that women tend to have a thinner top layer of skin than men, cellulite is more pronounced.  
So, naturally, the next question is, how do you get rid of it?  Unfortunately, for most people it will never completely go away.  The best way to lessen the appearance of cellulite is diet and exercise (sorry, no magical treatment here).  The less body fat you have the less storage you will have.  Staying hydrated and eating a clean diet is the next best way to fight it.  When you consume clean food and drink like fresh fruits and vegetables, the less water you will retain.  Sugar is a big culprit.  When you consume sugar (which also includes alcohol) your body sees it as a toxin and your cells surround themselves in a water casing for protection.  This is the bloat you feel.  This bloating of your cells also emphasizes the look of cellulite.  Of course there are all those treatments out there that are said to get rid of cellulite or smooth skin.  I've seen everything from lotions to lasers.  The truth is that those are expensive cover ups that don't last or do nothing at all.
So the next time you think about consuming that whole bag of M&Ms, think about what it's going to do to the rest of your body.  What's more important:  that craving or feeling good about yourself in swimsuit?

No comments:

Post a Comment