Cellulite, another one of the problems just for females! Often, I have wondered why females have to face the problems they do just because they are ‘females.’ Look around yourself. Females face discrimination, inequality and unfair treatment because of their gender in all environments. There has been a slight improvement of course, but you will still see several examples. Take, for instance, a working mom who has to go to her job as well as look after her family. If she tries to complain, everyone says she should quit the job. There is a monthly punishment for ladies too in the form of periods. Cellulite is another problem that appears in 80-90% of women. When you stand in front of a mirror, you might have seen lumps or dimples in the skin around thighs, hips and abdomen. That is cellulite.
Cellulite is not a disease or any defect in the body. It is not harmful either. Many women, especially those who are self-conscious about their appearance, find cellulite unpleasant to look at and prefer to get rid of it. There are cellulite treatments that can help with that. There is also a list of foods that you should avoid if you are looking to get away from cellulite.
What is Cellulite?
Cellulite is the buildup of fat. According to Healthline, it occurs when the skin overlying certain areas of fat is pulled downward’ through tissue bands which results in a wrinkled and rough surface of the skin. Cellulite is more common in females than in males. You will hardly find a man who has cellulite, although there might be some men who have it. Men do not have as high estrogen as females do. This accounts for why cellulite does not affect them. Another reason is the fact that men have testosterone. Testosterone is a hormone that protects the body against the development of cellulite. Lucky you guys!
What Causes Cellulite?
Why cellulite occurs? is a question that has no definite answer even today. There are some factors that scientists and researchers believe might contribute to cellulite formation. Some of these factors are:
- Hormones
- Poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle
- Genetics
- Increased weight and obesity
- Lack of exercise and physical activity
- Pregnancy
What are the worst foods for Cellulite?
There are certain foods that are a no-no if you want to get to avoid cellulite or get rid of it. First of all, if you have cellulite, you can never get rid of it completely. There is no overnight method or quick shortcut to remove it. However, there are several ways to reduce its appearance. Diet plays an important part in cellulite development and appearance on the body. Generally, all foods that contain a high amount of salts and sugars should be avoided if you do not want your cellulite to appear more prominently.
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Canned Soup
I am pretty sure a lot of us use canned soups for dinners. Why? It’s simple! It’s premade and very convenient! Also quite health – Hit a pause. Canned soups are not healthy. They contain large amounts of salts and sugars. Of course one might argue that the broth is very hydrating and nutritious, however, if you consume that much salt (sodium), there is a high chance it will lead to water retention. What’s so bad about water retention, you might ask. Water retention can cause bloating and it worsens cellulite.
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White Bread
White bread and other ‘white products’ such as white potatoes, breakfast cereals, white rice, white flour products are actually what we call refined carbohydrates. These are obviously different than normal, healthy carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates are responsible in producing chemicals that promote inflammation. Therefore, they can make your cellulite worse.
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Cheese
I can already hear you screaming “Nooooooo!” As much as you might love cheese, it is, unfortunately, another food that promotes cellulite. Cottage cheese, in particular, is known for its role in the development of cellulite. Cottage cheese contains a lot of salt. As mentioned above, anything with too much salt can cause water retention which in turn will cause cellulite to appear more prominently. You should know the difference between retaining water and water retention. Retaining water is healthy and works against hydration. Water retention, on the other hand, worsens cellulite.
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Deli meat
I bet you’re wondering what deli meat is in the first place. Deli meat is any cooked meat that is already sliced and prepared for eating in a sandwich or other quick lunches. I did not know what deli meats are either until I looked it up. Surprising how you learn something new every day, huh? We are all aware of how bad processed foods are because of the countless preservatives, additives, artificial and absurd amounts of salts added in them. Deli meat is no better.
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Sodas
Remember the golden rule: Too many salts lead to water retention leading to bloating and cellulite! If you do not believe sodas have high sugar or salts, just read the labels or search research papers online!
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Pizza! Dun dun duuuuun.
Yes, pizza. Bad news for everyone out there, right? Because who doesn’t love a good pizza? Especially a cheesy pizza? Sadly, pizza is another food that contributes to cellulite production. There are many unhealthy fats in pizza. If you make it at home, that’s another story. However, the majority of us get pizzas from restaurants and pizza places. The fats in pizzas can block circulation and slow down oxygen. This can weaken the tissues and they will make the skin appear wrinkled. Eat pizza of course, but you should not eat it in excess.
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Barbeque Sauce
The same golden rule, people. The more the sugar, the higher the sugar levels, the more fat storage hormone released which promotes the appearance of cellulite!
So if you cannot get rid of cellulite entirely, what should you do?
If you want to get rid of cellulite especially if you are in a hurry to, you can always consult a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist. There are several available treatments that can reduce cellulite and take off the excess fat. No treatment can remove cellulite 100% either just like you cannot get rid of it entirely. However, several sessions and treatments can make a really obvious difference.
There are laser treatments that you can pursue. There is also body contouring and therapies (especially carboxytherapy and dry massage) that can greatly reduce cellulite appearance. If you would like to get a dermatologist or plastic surgeon for body contouring, you can through Marhampk!