Cellulite - In Pursuit Of The Perfect Body
by Michael Russell
It's estimated that between 80 and 90 percent of women have cellulite. Occasionally it affects men too, especially it they are overweight, but women are much more prone to it. Cellulite is usually associated with being overweight. The truth is it can also affect thin people, since all of us have a thin layer of fat just under the surface of our skin. It often comforts women, knowing that famous movie stars and models also have to battle cellulite.
Cellulite is defined as lumps of fat pushing up against the connective tissue under our skin. Because the fat is trapped in little pockets in the fibrous tissue, it is very resistant to diets and exercising and can be almost impossible to get rid of entirely.
In many cases, cellulite is result of not taking care of the body properly or an unhealthy lifestyle. Which is why it's so hard for active people who work out and don't smoke or drink alcohol to understand why they are affected by it. The answer is that it is also hereditary, so it's often hard to know if it's your "fault" or not. If it is hereditary, it will usually make its appearance at an early age, possibly as soon as 14.
If it's not hereditary, the main culprits behind cellulite are:
- Estrogen contained in birth control pills and naturally produced by the female body.
- A sluggish circulatory system or a disturbance in it, for example after a bad injury.
- Not drinking enough water, which flushes toxins from the body. It is recommended to drink at least 7 glasses a day.
- Drinking alcohol and caffeine and eating spicy foods.
- Medication such as sleeping pills, diet pills and diuretics.
- Stress and tension.
- Smoking.
- Crash diets or yo-yo dieting.
- Lack of exercise.
Cellulite normally affects the buttocks, hips and thighs, but can also occur on the upper arm, belly and neck. It depends on where each woman tends to store consumed fat. The amount of cellulite showing depends on the thickness of each individual's skin, the thinner the skin, the more the cellulite will become apparent. This is one of the reasons that it also affects thin people. As people age, their skin becomes thinner and if they have left the cellulite untreated or if a lifestyle change does not occur, it does get worse.
To minimize cellulite, a healthy lifestyle is the first step. Many people opt to not make any changes at all and prefer to spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars putting their hope in some cream that will do the magic trick. As with diet pills, one needs to put some effort into getting a result.
A healthy lifestyle includes a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables and other food high in fiber. Avoid constant weight gain and loss the so-called yo-yo dieting. As mentioned above, drinking a lot of fluids helps flush toxins out of the body. If water "bores" you, drink unsweetened tea or juice. To tone and strengthen the body, you need to exercise on a regular basis. And last but not least, avoid the intake of toxins into your body, such as fast food, alcohol and tobacco.
Cellulite is not fatal and won't leave any lasting damage to the body, but in a world obsessed with having a perfect body, it can seriously affect the self-esteem of the person who has cellulite. However, until that magic cream or pill comes along, you will have to put some effort into getting rid of it.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Cellulite
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
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