What Is Cellulite?

By Paula Simmons


Many women are at some point in their lives concerned with having cellulite. The most common areas for it is the thighs, and the buttocks. It is possible to eliminate if you learn what causes cellulite. So knowledge is key when discovering how to reduce and eliminate cellulite.

What Exactly Is Cellulite?

We all know what cellulite looks like...it is dimpled look on your thighs and other areas that is almost impossible to get rid of. But what the heck is cellulite.? The medical terms for cellulite is adiposis edematosa, dermopanniculosis deformans, status protrusus cutis, and gynoid lipodystrophy. A less confusing explanation for cellulite is It is just fat. The fat isn't responsible for the lumpy look though, it is pockets of fat that are deep under the skin that push against the underlying connective tissue. When the fat expands it takes up space under the skin, which places a lot of pressure on the connective tissue. The pressure from the fat against the tissue pushes everything against it, creating the dimpled look we all know and love. When there are numerous fat pockets, there are numerous bumps and it just keeps expanding further across the skin.

If you can imagine baking a tray of buns and as they begin to rise the overflow the top of the pan, and they keep expanding and getting larger. There is no where for those buns to go so they press up against each other and literally double in size. You are left with a nice tray of buns which oddly enough looks like the uneven texture of cellulite! This is the same result of the underlying fat pressing up against your skin...it causes the bumpy look we all hate.

When we are younger the connective tissue is nice and smooth and very elastic. But once puberty hits, hormones come into play making your skin stiffer and less elastic. As we age the outer layer weakens making the cellulite more visible. Anyways, however we can explain it still doesn't change the fact that neither you or I like cellulite. Millions are spent each year trying to get rid of it and it affect 85% of women whether they are thin or overweight.

Why Women Have Cellulite More Than Men

A woman has much thinner skin than a man. The epidermis is a lot thicker in a male than a woman, so when a man has fat pressing again the underlying connective tissue, it is met with more resistance.

A major reason why men don't get cellulite and women do is because of the way their fat cells are arrange. A woman's fat cells are in like tubes so once they fill up they keep going out the top, a man's fat cells are arrange in a criss-cross pattern so it is very nearly impossible for the fat cell to fill up and pop out the top. If it does it usually shows up as a big blob of fat.

Underwear that is constrictive will stop the blood flow in the lower areas of your body, causing the cellulite development to speed up. You don't need to resort to big baggy underwear, but loser fitting, or none at all (oh my!) will help get that pesky cellulite fat under control.

What Is The Cause Of Cellulite?

Being a woman is the major reason for developing cellulite for the reasons already stated. Men generally do not suffer from having cellulite. But there are a couple other reason. Diet: Having a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, with lean protein and good fats will greatly improve your skin. A poor diet stresses the body and the skin causing failure of some type. Lymph Glands: The lymphatic drainage system is meant to remove excess fluid and waste from our tissues. Waste products begin to accumulate in the tissue if there has been damage. Hormones: Cellulite usually begins developing when a young girl reaches puberty and her hormones begin to fluctuate. This can be the case at any other time in a woman's life when there are changes in hormones, such as pregnancy and menopause. Genetics: Look at your mom or grandmother and see if they had cellulite. If they did chances are you will develop it. There are other factors at play here such as if you have a slow metabolism, poor circulation and how the fat in your body is distributed.

How to Prevent Cellulite

Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the most important things you can do to begin reducing cellulite. Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, along with lean protein and good fats will begin the process of removing toxins from your body. These toxins are stored in the fat cells, and they expands as more toxins are added. So a good diet is crucial. Having a glass of hot water with fresh lemon juice in it first thing in the morning will cleanse your liver. Plenty of water throughout the day will continue to flush toxins out of your body. Exercise is important as well, sweating removes toxins and helps keep our bodies toned. You really are what you eat, your diet account for 80% of how you look with exercise only accounting for 20 %.




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