Cellulite is a word that is becoming far too familiar, primarily for women and teenage girls. For those of you lucky enough not to know what cellulite is, it is what produces that unsightly “cottage cheese” appearance commonly seen around the thighs and buttocks areas. There are plenty of cellulite-reducing products out on the market such as body creams, work-out plans, guide books, and even medical procedures that promise to get rid of cellulite. Although these products might be helpful in reducing cellulite, none of them address the actual causes of cellulite. Knowing what cellulite is and why it is are the keys to eliminating cellulite for good.
Before cellulite came into the picture, your skin had elasticity and smoothness. The outer layer of skin was supple because the fatty layer below the skin was strong and therefore smooth. The real problem arrived when the fat cell walls began to weaken, causing them to sag and form dimples below the skin’s surface. Enter cellulite.
So now that we know what cellulite is, what can be done to stop it? Cellulite formation depends on the strength of the fat cells and the thickness of the fat layer below the skin. The first step to removing cellulite is to lose excess fat (this is where the work-out plans and diets would come in handy). The second step, which of course is strengthening the fat cells, is essential because no amount of exercise or weight loss can replace it. How can this be? The weakening of cell walls is a direct result of an EFA (essential fatty acid) deficiency.
Essential fatty acids are the natural building blocks of fat cells. Perhaps the reason for cellulite becoming so prevalent in this day and age is the result of a wide variety of “non-fat” and “bad-fat” foods. Many of the foods we eat contain trans fat and saturated fat (“bad fats”), which turn into useless fat below the skin’s surface. These kinds of fat are not helpful in strengthening cells. On the other hand, non-fat foods are not the solution either, as they provide no source of nourishment to fat cells.
The key to getting rid of cellulite is a diet rich in essential fatty acids, since our bodies cannot produce these nutrients by themselves. EFA’s can be found in foods such as: cold water fish (such as salmon), tree nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc.), avocados, olives and olive oil, flax seed and flax seed oil, and many green leafy vegetables. It is easy to work these delicious and nutritious foods into meals and it is crucial to keeping our skin (and fat cells) nourished and healthy.
As our society becomes more hooked on hydrogenated oils (found in deep-fried foods) and processed foods, the widespread formation of cellulite is inevitable. But now that we are aware of the secret behind cellulite, there is hope that the cycle will be reversed and we can go back to looking and feeling great.
So there you have it, the truth behind cellulite! Comments and questions are welcomed.
