First Know Cellulite and Hormones, Second Eat Anti Cellulite Foods

In favor of logic
Bandying on anti-cellulite foods have become the latest instrument to stir up the storm in the teacups (teacups, since people even opting for green tea are often suspicious regarding its benefits on cellulite treatment) and even a single mention of such foods on the cover are enough to triple the circulation of any magazine.

That’s enough to prove the popularity of the topic and just like any widely discussed topics, recommendation on anti cellulite foods are not free from errors. It is because popularity breeds counter-views, rumors and myths; anyone without a fair amount of idea on how to separate between facts and fictions is soon to get fed up with the lack of results.

So apply your deductive logic here; you shall be less likely to get sick and tired from being told what’s going to suit your needs the most.

The truth about cellulite
Above 85% women (from a global perspective) currently deal with cellulite, which has no quick fixes. The only way to give cellulite a hard time is by lowering its build up or by reducing its external manifestation. To understand that statement properly, a little info is required on the biology of cellulite.

Cellulite relates explicitly to an improper fat/muscle ratio, to hormonal imbalances, a disrupted microcirculation and to an impaired lymphatic drainage system. The worst part is, any of these symptoms may initiate the others and together, they work towards generating cellulite.

Women, due to their body constituency (which again depends on their genetic build-up) are more prone towards such disorders; no wonder cellulite finds women its easy victim.

Cellulite buildup: The hormonal triggers
Even before that, we need to know the distribution pattern of fat in a woman’s body, which again, requires knowing a few details on the estrogens i.e. the female steroid sex hormones. We all have some idea about it but it stops at - they are secreted by the ovaries and develop the typical female sexual characteristics. So here’s to a little more detail:

- Estrogens are a class of hormones comprising around 20 to 30 hormones (estriol, estradiol etc.) while Progesterone is a specific hormone.

- Progesterone is found in both men and women.

- All estrogens are not the same; while estriol relates to pregnancy, estradiol relates to the bone structure and so on.

- Estrogens activate the fat-storage mechanism of the body and later, the formation of cellulite; progesterone prepares and maintains the uterus for pregnancy.

Now that the initial dilemma has been removed, let’s move to the adipose tissues.

It’s the basic difference in the adipose tissue structures that stand as the primary cause behind cellulite formation and also explains why women accumulate the loads and not men.

The rather fine and straight septum in the female adipose tissues expands fat deposits towards the surface as opposed to the thicker, resistant grid directing the fat towards the muscles. The fat surfacing from the skin is cellulite; however, there are many a reasons behind why the fat deposits occur.

Firstly, it is due to the thinning of the female skin (it weakens collagen and elastin) that ruptures the septum and pushes the fat upwards to initiate a diminished blood circulation, which is again magnified by the rupturing veins and capillaries.

The leakage makes fat tissues swell and the hardened septum gives rise to the thick adipose tissues. Though a hormonal imbalance is considered the chief culprit, even then, there are many a factors that stand as the causes to it. So before anything else, the hormonal systems need being revamped and that can only be started from within.

Why the anti cellulite foods?
You might have had asked – “Why not HRT?”(Hormone Replacement Therapy) to which, the most applicable answer would be – “None likes to go from the frying pan into the fire.” Albeit a large number of benefits, hormone replacement therapies elevate the risk of endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterine lining), breast cancer, bloating and may worsen venous occlusions, if any are present.

With foods, the body receives the strength to produce the hormones in extra doses; the foods help to get rid of the factors that block the optimum performance of the hormonal system. So, we move forward towards a few of them.

The starting mantra is Low Calories
It is no jargon that anti cellulite foods reduce the size of the fat cells; in fact, these foods curb the calorie intakes for the same volume of high-calorie edibles. So fruits and vegetables sit at the wheels while diet sodas and delicatessen occupy the pillion.

Fiber present in fresh fruits, vegetables and cereals prevent cellulite formation besides reducing its visibility; prepared intelligently, a combination of lemon juice and raw spinach, carrots, red cabbages, cucumber and onions shall taste multiple times delicious than the pizza available across the road.

As for the fruits, when consumed raw and whole, delivers both fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and other nutrients directly into the body, boosting collagen formation, detoxification and the whole of immune system; consider citrus fruits nuts and berries for an optimum, positive outcome.

As for the beverages, opt for green tea (lots of antioxidants to save the blood vessels) and for garnishing, it’s garlic and cinnamon. However, since non-vegetarians must be frowning by now, it’s time to fill up their platter.

Bad news first: Consider red meat as much a poison as alcohol; white meat (chicken, salmon and other oily fishes) must replace them. The high quantities of L-Arginine and Omega fatty acids have been found to fight cellulite tooth-and-nails. Try to get the protein as much as possible from these (or low-fat dairy products), for the full cream ones shall also put back the fat you have burned in this trial by fire.