The bane of just about every woman’s existence. It doesn’t seem to discriminate whether your short or tall, voluptuous or slim. At some stage at least 80 to 90 percent of women have experienced the dreaded hail damage that is cellulite. Although it is only a cosmetic disorder, it can be disturbing and frustrating for many women and for a very small portion of men. A huge amount of money is spent on potions, treatments and procedures to combat this problem, usually to no avail, alternative medicine can help, let me explain how!
Some of the areas most commonly affected by cellulite are:
- Buttocks
- thighs
- Lower abdomen
- Upper arms
If you are unsure as to whether you have cellulite or not you can conduct a simple pinch test. There are considered to be four stages of cellulite they are:
- Stage 0- The normal state, where the skin is smooth. When the skin is pinched there is no characteristic pitting or bulging.
- Stage 1- When standing or lying the skin surface is smooth. when the area is pinched there is obvious pitting and bulging. Please note that this is normal for most women, in many instances reaching this stage is optimum.
- Stage 2- When lying down the skin is smooth however on standing the pitting and bulging is obvious on the skins surface.
- Stage 3- The pitting and bulging is obvious when lying down and standing.
Some of the symptoms associated with cellulite include; tenderness of the skin especially when pinched, pressed or during vigorous massage, as well as a feeling of heaviness and tightness in the affected areas.
You may ask yourself why me? Well we are going to try and keep this real simple, there hasn’t been a lot of research into cellulite and there is much speculation. In women the subcutaneous tissue consists of a layer of standing fat cell chambers that are quite big, this layer of fat is supported by connective tissue, it is important to note that this connective tissue that contains the layers of fat is largely made up of collage and elastin fibers, which for many does not provide enough support. In comparison men have a thinner layer of fat and their connective tissue is thought to be arranged in a crisscrossed manner providing extra support for the fat making it less likely that the fat will bulge out of place.
Also key to note in cellulite is the role of estrogen, the female sex hormone. One of the functions of estrogen in the body is the breakdown of collagen in the cervix at the time of delivery. This is a process that starts at puberty and continues until after menopause. So if the breakdown of collagen is a basic function of estrogen then what happens when the collagen that makes up the connective tissue that supports the fat chambers is weakened by estrogen? You get a bulging and pitting of the fat that occurs in cellulite. Even worse once fat begins to bulge there is more area for it to expand so fat cells become bigger, estrogen stimulates the formation of new fat cells and fat is know to make estrogen, it is an evil cycle.
Things to avoid
- Although women of all sizes can suffer from the condition, if you are overweight and have cellulite it is a good idea to assess your diet and see if there are some adjustments that you can make by reducing simple carbohydrates like white bread, rice, pasta and sugary foods. Reduce or eliminate foods high in saturated fats, take-out, deep fried, keep in mind that meat is high in saturated fat.
- Stress, there is a relationship between the hormones released during periods of stress its effects on the reproductive hormones and the storage of fat, stress is also linked to poor eating habits and so a good stress management plan is beneficial.
- Treatments that involve suction, rolling and pressure devices, there is no evidence that these treatments are useful and they may actually worsen the condition by further weakening the support structure.
- Liposuction may have only a temporary result for some people and may worsen the condition in the long run as the tissues may become further damaged during treatment.
- Spending large amounts of money on false claims and promises, ensure you ask lots of questions before handing over your money for any treatment, and educate yourself on what they are offering before going ahead with anything.
Things that may help
- Topical herbal treatments such as caffeine, and Coleus forscholii, have been researched as being useful in the treatment of cellulite, it is important to note that in order for these herbs to be effective they need to reach the fatty layers underneath the skin, this may be achieved using good preparations in wraps. I would also recommend the internal use of Coleus forscholii under the guidance of a health practitioner.
- Fucus vesiculosus- also know as bladderwrack is a seaweed with a high iodine content and may stimulate thyroid function, although it has not been well researched for it’s use in cellulite it does have an action of soothing, softening and toning the tissue when used topically.
- Centella asiatica- also known as gotu kola as an oral extract is also useful as it enhances tissue integrity, supporting the connective tissue that is often compromised in cellulite. It also improves blood flow through the affected limbs.
- Lymph drainage treatment may be useful for reducing fluid in the affected area. It should be noted that there is often a congestion of fluid that accompanies cellulite as the lymph system struggles to absorb excess fluid from the area. However having this treated will not solve the cellulite.
- Dry body brushing- great to do before having a shower as it also aids in increasing circulation to the area as well as aiding with fluid retention, remember it should be done using strokes towards the heart using a mild to light pressure.
- Vitamin C is helpful as it supports collagen in the body and can aid in preventing the further breakdown of the connective tissue supporting the fat chambers.
- Increase the intake of bioflavonoids in particular proanthocyanidins as they block the enzymes that are responsible for breaking down collagen. Proanthocyanidins are responsible for the blue or purple color of fruits and vegetables they are found in grapes, blueberries, cherries, surprisingly chocolate, I would recommend a good quality dark chocolate.
- Exercise is also helpful as it increases circulation to affected areas bringing nutrients, as well as burning excess calories therefore reducing excess fat storage and the contraction of the muscles during exercise supports the flow of fluid through the lymphatic system. 20-30 minutes of aerobic exercise four to five days a week is great, this may include walking, jogging, swimming, a dynamic yoga class, anything that gets your heart rate up.
- Finally the inclusion of soy in the diet may be particularly helpful for those with cellulite, as estrogen is thought to be a large contributing factor and soy is a phytoestrogen it has the ability to reduce the damaging affects of estrogen on collagen.