Fat won't melt, won't rub off and won't peel out. Even if you do achieve part of these tasks, the sagging skin remains and the years show. Cellulite is to be blamed for this. Ninety per cent of 'thin' women have cellulite too!
The French call it 'peu d'orange' because cellulite gives a typical 'orange peel' look to the skin on certain parts of the body as compared to the normal contours. Generally, the areas affected are hips, thighs and arms.
Two types of cellulite
'Cheesy' fat deposits in the body as part of two different mechanisms.
In the first case, thick layers of fat look lumpy because strands of connective tissue lose elasticity and shrink with age. The overlying skin contracts and loses lubrication. This gives the skin a dimpled feel and effect. Main reason for this is that majority of women gradually start to lose muscle strength and size with age.
Men too suffer from cellulite. Many adults therefore, look and feel thin overall but have cheesy-looking flab in some areas of the body.
In the second case, cellulite forms because of congestion of the layer of connective tissue. Because of sluggish body functions and constipation, toxins are not flushed out and harden and fat builds up around these deposits.
Other factors which lead to cellulite build-up are poor nutrition and lack of regular exercise. Spending long hours sitting at work without any breaks piles up cellulite really fast.
Treating cellulite
Cellulite-busting requires a combination treatment. You can go for the following solutions for cellulite-scraping:
• Adopt a restricted sodium diet to counteract water retention. But sodium is essential to life and no one should start a low-sodium diet without medical supervision.
• Go for aromatherapy using essential oils for application on affected areas to check cellulite and improve blood circulation. Therapists usually use lavender, rose geranium or rosemary extracts for sessions at least twice a week.
• Body brushing using commercially available body brush of good quality for improving the lymphatic system is very effective against cellulite.
• Consistent but a non-strenuous exercise program should be adopted.
New-tech diet pills
Incidentally, the latest diet pills also offer solutions for healthier skin and stronger hair along with weight loss. Manufacturers are now using green tea extracts, herbal extracts from cactus and a combination of vitamins and minerals in diet supplements. These also include collagen which is known for improving skin elasticity and reducing wrinkles.
Some supplements also use alpha-lipoic acid and silica which protect skin cells. Ginseng has become a popular ingredient in diet pills. Ginseng, along with green tea, has been used for thousands of years in the East for enhancing longevity and youthfulness. Both these herbal products are now becoming extremely popular in the west for their health benefits.
Precautions
No dietary supplements or pills should be taken without proper verification of the manufacturer's credibility and medical advice. Any kind of side-effects must immediately be examined. You must also check the ingredients being used in the supplements you intend to eat. Losing weight is essential for overall health.
Dump the fat but not the beauty and charm.