What’s the one thing we all have, but can’t stand?  Okay, besides credit card limits?  Yes, that’s right: cellulite. Apparently cellulite is completely normal and the 5% of ladies who don’t have cellulite (in other words, supermodels) are the freaks.  But please don’t let that assertion make you complacent about your dimpled bum and orange peel thighs – for the good of the population with eyesight, you need to do something about it!

Dehydrated skin

A dermatologist in Los Angeles reckons that cellulite, though made up of fat, isn’t caused by fat, but it’s a problem in the skin… dehydrated skin. The premise is that cellulite should be in the very deep layers of the skin and not visible from above. However, the fat cells rise up to just beneath the top layer of skin, or dermis, because the skin is thirsty. So if you don’t want small children to run away screaming when you throw off your sarong at the seaside, it’s best you listen up.

It’s quite a well-known fact that cellulite’s visibility is caused by a breakdown of the connective tissue in the skin, with the breakdown constituting the loss of water, but what causes that breakdown?  Free radicals.  You expose yourself to free radicals when you smoke (actively or passively), inhale pollution, absorb too much sunlight, stress too much or consume a poor diet.  It kind of seems like a quadruple whammy to get cellulite on top of all that!

Rehydrate your skin

Skin rehydration isn’t simply a matter of drinking loads of water until your legs are smooth.  It’s a holistic and healthy approach to dieting, exercise and lifestyle in general.  Now… before you research “affordable medical aids” and go for liposuction (which will only make your cellulite worse), here are some helpful things to include in your reduced-cellulite lifestyle:

• A good diet rich in antioxidants (which fight free radicals), nutrients and vitamins, and includes vitamin C, beta carotene, lycopene, and lecithin (which helps repair connective tissue).
• Ensure you get enough essential fatty acids, which improve tissue hydration.
• Get rid of animal fat, trans fat, poultry skin, and ditch processed meat in your diet.
• Regular massage of your problem areas, as well as regular mild exercise can all help your cellulite-free cause.
• And don’t forget to drink enough water and avoid diuretics like coffee and caffeinated sodas.

The world’s about to get a whole lot more supermodels…

Image courtesy of: www.ageless.co.za