By Abra Pappa for NutritiousAmerica.com
I am asked more frequently about cellulite in my practice than any other health concern. It is the plea from women everywhere, the curse of generations. “Why me?” I have spent hours in session hearing the cellulite lament.
Thanks to the media’s use of airbrushing we are bombarded with unrealistic images of women with perfectly smooth legs and not an ounce of cellulite. One can feel like they are all alone on cellulite island, like the only woman in the world that has “orange peel” skin (I refuse to liken cellulite to cottage cheese, I refuse!) In this era of “false” perfectionism it is difficult to embrace our imperfect selves, and really, really difficult to embrace our cellulite. I always encourage my clients to release the negative focus on those dimply thighs. It’s amazing how cellulite begins to disappear when you magically stop drawing attention to it. That is a great first step toward feeling better about your and your body, we are all imperfect in the most perfectly beautiful way.
Dr. Oz said that cellulite is mostly genetics. Exercise physiologists say exercise is the best tool to fight cellulite.. These are both true, but there is another side to the story. You can also eat to reduce the appearance. I didn’t say “get rid of cellulite” because this is a course in cellu-lite not cellu-loss. Perfectionism is a myth, so is completely eliminating cellulite. But we can arm ourselves with some tools to look and feel our very best.
Cellu- “LITE” 101
Cellulite is caused by trapped waste, toxins and unmetabolized fat beneath the skin that pushes against the fibrous connective tissue. Eating the following foods can dramatically improve the appearance of cellulite.
1) Cruciferous Vegetables (specifically kale, cabbage, and broccoli). These vegetables contain lecithin, a necessary nutrient that helps to repair tissue damage in skin cells. Eat cruciferous vegetables every day, a few servings per day. Not only will you work to reduce the appearance of cellulite but adding cruciferous vegetable into your everyday diet is a great way to shed a few pounds.
2) Dark Berries (blackberries and blueberries). Due to their high antioxidant content, dark berries are fantastic cellulite busters as they help to fight free radical damage on a cellular level. Throw a handful of blackberries into your morning smoothie, or eat some berries as a mid-afternoon snack. Your dimply thighs will thank you.
3) Goji Berries – One of the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet, this superfood is a true ally to lighten the appearance of cellulite. Goji Berries are jam packed with nutrients and flavanoids that support liver health and cellulite detoxification
4) Eggs – As long as you are choosing organic, free-range, eggs are a great source of lecithin and a wonderful food to support hormonal balance. Having a balanced hormonal system is key as excess estrogen in your system is one of the top factors in cellulite production.
5) Water – I know, I know… water seems like the cure all for everything, but you need to increase detoxification in your system to help your body eliminate, reduce, and certainly prevent cellulite. Water is your best tool of detoxification. You should be consuming half of your body weight in ounces of water every day. So if you weigh 130 pounds you should be drinking at least 65 oz. of water per day.