4 natural ways to help get rid of cellulite
4 natural ways to help get rid of cellulite
Dimples, be gone.
By Julia Giampietro • 4 years ago • BEAUTY, HEALTH & FITNESS
So here’s the thing – cellulite is totally normal – but that doesn’t make it any less annoying. And what’s even more so is that cellulite doesn’t discriminate, affecting woman of all ages and body types (yep, even those who a super lean!). In fact, it is estimated that about 80 to 90 percent of women over the age of 25 have cellulite to some degree.
The bad news is that there’s no quick fix or miracle cure; battling genes, hormones and whatever else your body decides to do without your permission is no easy feat. The good news is that there are a few things you can do on a daily basis to help keep those dreaded dimples away – starting off with shifting your focus to good nutrition, regular exercise and a simple skincare regimen.
Unfortunately for us, cellulite is more common in women because of the way our fat, muscle and connective tissues are distributed (connective tissue fibres in women run vertically opposed to diagonally in men). This structural form enhances the appearance of cellulite, however with the right type of exercise, you can help reduce this by making the surface look tighter, firmer and smoother – especially in problem areas like the butt and thighs.
“Although we might think that fat loss will do the trick, what we actually need is strength training to tone and define the muscles,” says BUF Girls Trainer, Cassey Maynard. “Try and incorporate strength training into your exercise routines at least three times per week. My favourite moves to help target cellulite are deadlifts, reverse to lateral lunge, elevated hip raise and plie squat to calf raise. You need to make sure you work the entire lower body by including different movement patterns.”
“When it comes to cellulite and nutrition, hydration is my number one tip,” advises nutritionist, Jessica Sepel. “Aim for two litres of water each day. Reduce your salt intake (as salt dehydrates the cells in the body, which can form the appearance of cellulite) and swap from fine salt to Himalayan salt.”
“Think very carefully about your caffeine and alcohol intake, as well as your consumption of refined sugar, refined carbs and trans-fats found in processed foods. These all load the liver and your liver is your largest fat burning organ. Cellulite can also be a sign of a toxic build up so a cleanse like my 3-Day JSHealth Reboot can make a huge difference.”
The skin – being our largest organ – is responsible for the excretion of one third of our body’s toxins, so it makes sense to highlight this as part of our long-term cellulite-busting strategy.
Best described as a form of exfoliation sans water, dry body brushing works to break down and release any trapped toxins, increase blood circulation and stimulate lymph flow which all contribute to improved skin texture and in turn, reduces the appearance of cellulite.
New to dry body brushing? Best done in the morning for about 3-5 minutes before you hop in the shower, use a natural-bristle brush to gently yet firmly stroke the surface of the skin in an upward sweeping motion towards the heart, as this is the direction in which the lymphatic system flows.
As a natural exfoliator, ground coffee works to remove dead skin cells and improve overall circulation thanks to not only the properties found in coffee but the actual circular motion used to massage the granules into the skin.
“During topical application, caffeine is absorbed through the hair follicles,” states coffee-based skincare brand, frank body. “These shunt routes are responsible for the fast delivery of topically applied substances (via the follicular transport route) which promotes blood flow, a well-known combatant of cellulite.”
In addition to this, “the oils used in frank body’s caffeinated range also work to create a thin protective barrier that prevents water loss. Unlike alcohols and silicone based substances, oils do not evaporate and are slowly absorbed by the skin.” It is recommended that a coffee scrub is used in the shower at least twice a week, followed by a coffee-based body moisturiser.
Image: iStock
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celluliteself lovewellbeingbodywellnessskincarebeautyhealth
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