Cellulite is one of the most common problems that women have in their bodies. These lumpy and bumpy fat deposits that resemble orange peels or cottage cheese are downright unflattering and the thing is, most women are doomed to have it – studies show that 93% of women have it on their body. Cellulite is so stubborn and practically impossible to eliminate completely, even with proper diet and exercise. But it doesn’t mean that you should forget about eating right since consuming the wrong food will just make cellulite worse.
So what foods cause cellulite or make these fatty deposits in your thighs and butt worse? Foods that are rich in sugar and refined carbs, as well as processed food, make the list, which shouldn’t be a surprise since these are bad for the body generally. But since cellulite is stuck in your bottom area and incredibly hard to improve the appearance, it seems that these foods seem to go straight to this part of your body. Avoiding these foods or at least eating them in moderation can help your body avoid developing cellulite and help your thighs look slimmer and firmer.
Although cellulite is a common and harmless skin condition, it’s something that can bother you since its dimpled appearance on the thighs, hips, buttocks, and even abdomen is not very flattering. The condition is most prevalent in women because of their muscle structure and fat distribution compared to men’s. Women’s body fat is typically distributed in the bottom area, where cellulite usually positions itself. The fat cells and connective tissue in women are arranged vertically, so when weight gain happens and fat cells protrude into the skin layer, it gives the appearance of cellulite. In comparison, men’s tissues have a criss-cross structure, hence the resistance to cellulite.
There are other factors that increase one’s chances of having cellulite, aside from gender. There are also hormones, age, genetics, diet, and lifestyle.
Is your diet full of items that are high in fried food? What about sodium, such as soy sauce and processed cheese? Or maybe you're indulging too much in sugary foods or those with lots of refined sugar? How about foods made of refined flour or with refined carbohydrates? If you are guilty of these, your body is vulnerable to storing fat deposits and excess fat that will lead to cellulite formation or cellulite production. Engaging in fad diets will not help either. Although the other factors mentioned above may be the main reason why you got those dimpled thighs, it wouldn’t help to check your diet and moderate your consumption of these items.
Pizza is so convenient and easy to eat, which makes it a staple in most people’s regular meals. But the yummy dose of calcium and protein that comes with each mouth-watering slice also has high sodium content, which can really set off those fatty deposits in your thighs. The two main ingredients, pizza sauce and cheese, are so salty, so they will make your body retain water and exaggerate the dimpled appearance of your skin.
Of course, it’s not realistic to shun pizza in your life permanently. Just limit the number of slices that you eat per sitting and opt for healthier toppings such as veggies and grilled chicken. Don’t gorge on the processed meat toppings such as pepperoni and sausage because these really drive up the pizza’s overall sodium content and make your body's fluid retention worse.
Any type of cheese, including cottage cheese that incidentally looks like the cellulite you totally want to get rid of, is jam-packed with sodium. Again, if you cannot eliminate cheese completely from your diet, just control your portion size and help ease the sodium out by drinking plenty of water afterward.
These high-glycemic-index foods such as rice, potatoes, pasta, and bread are broken down into sugar by your body and can result in inflammation when you have too much of them. Needless to say, this can make your cellulite look worse. You also need to think of the sugar converted when you eat these foods which can accelerate your body’s aging process. Opt for whole-grain bread instead and pasta made from chickpeas and veggies instead of products made with white flour.
Although sugar itself does not contain fat, it is made up of empty calories. This means that eating too many food items containing lots of sugar can reduce the amount of collagen produced by your body, which will result in premature aging and sagging and therefore make your cellulite look worse. Yes, it’s hard to cut off sugar completely, especially since hidden sugar is practically everywhere. What you can do is avoid processed foods and reduce your daily sugar intake by cutting down on desserts, soda, and sweetened yogurt. Remember that the less sugar you have in your diet, the better your skin will look.
Bacon, ham, turkey – these processed meats are so delicious and can fill us up real quick especially when eaten as tasty sandwiches. But they are also high in sodium, which can contribute to cellulite. Do you know that the average serving of processed deli meat contains nearly 800 milligrams of sodium? So when you see your neighborhood sandwich shop pile on the meat in your sandwich, you might want to opt for lower-sodium versions in order to keep your cellulite in check.
It’s hard to totally overhaul the way you eat to combat cellulite, but you can start slow in your anti cellulite diet by substituting the usual food that you eat with these items that are recommended for keeping fatty deposits at bay or at least avoid the ones you already have from making it look worse.
Green tea has been proven to help in weight loss, inhibit fat absorption, aid glucose regulation, and speed up your metabolism. This makes this refreshing drink a great choice for anyone who wants to improve their health. Green tea contains theobromine, an ingredient that stimulates the release of stored fats in the body, along with the caffeine that comes with it. This makes it good for avoiding the dreaded orange peel look. Try drinking three to five cups of green tea a day to reap its health benefits.
Whole grain food items such as brown pasta and brown rice are sources of slow-release energy, which makes them effective in aiding weight loss since eating these keeps you satiated longer. Whole grains are also high in antioxidants, which help your body boot out the toxins that cause cellulite. Eat at least one bowl of whole grains per day in order to feel the effects on your body.
Asparagus contains anti-inflammatory properties which makes it a great food item for reducing bloating while keeping your calories low. It also stimulates blood circulation, which makes it great for flushing out the toxins that contribute to the formation of cellulite. This is why lots of celebrities swear by eating asparagus before appearing on the red carpet as it makes them fit better into their dresses.
Speaking of antioxidants, you can never go wrong with berries. Go ahead and indulge in raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries knowing that these are good for your body. Make your cereal healthier by sprinkling some of these berries in your bowl or add them to your low-fat smoothie.
Not all fats are bad. There is a healthy fat type, the unsaturated fats, that you should actually include in your diet and we’re not talking about cheese, sausage, and other processed fatty foods, which are sources of unhealthy fats, be it trans fat or saturated fat. We’re talking about oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, which contain fatty acid that will help your body metabolize fat, which includes your cellulite.
If you have these in your kitchen, know that these spices can be used more than making your meals taste more delicious. Cayenne pepper boosts your metabolism and helps improve your blood circulation by warming up your body internally, thus increasing your body’s blood flow. Turmeric, meanwhile, also stimulates circulation and battles out toxins with the help of its high antioxidant levels. Not to mention that this golden-yellow spice makes your dishes oh-so-yummy.
Your body could use lots of potent antioxidants such as lycopene, which you can find in watermelon. Aside from being a refreshing fruit dessert, watermelons can also help improve blood circulation, which in turn can help smooth out your cellulite over time. Speaking of lycopene, tomatoes too are rich in those. Combined with its high vitamin C content, tomatoes are great for making the skin firm and taut as it aids your body’s collagen production. Pink grapefruit contains methoxylated bioflavonoids, which are antioxidants that improve blood circulation and correct cell imbalances that can lead to cellulite. It's a good metabolism booster as well.
Bean sprouts are already lauded for their multiple health benefits as they contain a full set of vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, and K), as well as essential folic acid, iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. This makes bean sprouts a great food item for stimulating blood circulation and aid liver functioning, as well as improving the health of the skin. Oh, and they're extremely low in calories too.
Learn more: Foods That Detox the Liver and Remove Cellulite
Aside from a healthy diet and regular exercise, you can eliminate cellulite by getting a quick and effective treatment designed to banish the dreaded orange peel skin from your thighs and butt. Cellulite Treatment Center of New Jersey is a trusted name for the ultimate non-invasive treatment for unwanted cellulite. Call now to schedule your cellulite reduction appointment and achieve the cellulite-free skin you’ve always dreamed of.
