Getting Rid Of Cellulite The Natural Way

You know what cellulite looks like -"cottage cheese"- but you may not know what it is exactly. As fat cells accumulate and expand beneath skin, they push against tissue, causing an uneven appearance commonly found on the hips, thighs, buttocks and back of arms. But you don't need to stay inside during swimsuit season.  Adding the right foods and drinks to your diet can reduce cellulite.  Eat your way to a smoother-looking body with these nutritious foods:

1. Salmon
Try eating more wild-caught salmon.  It's rich in antioxidants, which break down fat cells in cellulite. The omega-3 fatty acids also in salmon reduce appetite and low-level inflammation and repair and strengthen skin tissue and fibers. This decreases the build-up of toxins inside blood vessels and improves circulation-the waste trapped in the tissues that push against skin filters out.

2. Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds are the new nuts because they contain vitamin E, potassium and zinc, as well as vitamin B6, a super lump-fighter.  Not only does B6 help metabolize proteins that strengthen and repair connective tissue but it's also a natural diuretic, eliminating excess water and bloating that can make cellulite more visible.

3. Chili and Cayenne Peppers 
These peppers' vitamin B6 restores and fortifies connective tissue, making them an excellent weapon in fighting unwanted dimpling.  Research also shows that hot peppers' capsaicin can boost your metabolism by up to 25% for three hours after you eat them.  This makes your body efficiently burn off calories, which aids in fat loss. It also improves blood flow, flushing out toxins and reducing fat deposits under connective cords, lessening the puckered look.

4. Dark Berries 

Blackberries and blueberries enhance collagen production, creating new skin tissue, and that improves skin's tone and texture. But that's not all: These dark berries also contain antioxidants, which break down fat attached to the connective tissue. This allows skin to keep fat beneath it at bay and not push forward and appear lumpy.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar 

Great for mixing into salad dressing and juice, this vinegar's potassium, magnesium and calcium flush out toxins and relieve water retention around the thighs and stomach. The result: reduced bloating and cellulite. Flushing out toxins also helps flush out stress hormones, detox your liver and rebalance estrogen production, which contribute to reducing or reversing cellulite. Plus, apple cider vinegar may also help you lose weight. Less fat means fewer bumps! 

6. Green and Herbal Tea 

The active ingredient Epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, in green, dandelion and ginger teas, speeds up metabolism and increases fat burn. That stops the expansion of fat cells that cause cellulite. Also, tea's small amount of caffeine works with EGCG to flush out toxins and dehydrate fat, which minimizes fat cells pushing against skin and reduces puckering.  So why not coffee? Its higher amounts of caffeine dehydrate you too much, causing your body to hold on to liquids and toxins that expand fat under skin.

7. Olive Oil 
Olive oil provides the body with not-so-heavily-processed monounsaturated fats and polyphenols that keep your thyroid healthy. A properly functioning thyroid boosts metabolism, burns fat and energizes skin-building cells-all things that reduce fat cell expansion and thicken skin to cover dents.  Cook olive oil at low temperatures and drizzle it on fiber-rich vegetables throughout the day for the biggest benefits.

8. Dark Chocolate 
Attention chocoholics! You don't have to sacrifice your favorite sweet for firm skin. Natural cocoa is full of antioxidants, which break down fat in cellulite and improve the function of all cells, including skin-building ones. The caffeine aids in dehydrating fat cells under skin, evening out the surface. Satisfy your sweet tooth with 1 square or ounce of at least 80% dark chocolate per day to metabolize fat and keep skin dimple-free.

9. Hummus 
This popular spread is a low-glycemic food, meaning your body can use it efficiently for energy, resulting in smaller fat cells and a decreased appearance of or prevention of cellulite.  While there's no particular component of hummus that fights cellulite most, the food puts only a small amount of glucose into the blood, causing a minimum insulin release. Since insulin is a fat storage hormone, eating low-glycemic foods prevents fat cells from expanding and forming cellulite.

10. Saffron 
Spice up your meals for a fat-bursting effect.  Saffron contains anti-inflammatory ingredients that discourage fat cell expansion. Just a couple ounces of this ingredient in spice or liquid form can suppress your appetite and increase circulation between tissues. Boosting circulation can reduce cellulite by increasing muscle tone under the skin, eliminating the valleys on the surface and creating a stronger, smoother look.  Sprinkle saffron onto avocado wedges for a healthy snack, or add it to your favorite salad dressing or sauce.

Eating these healthy foods is just a part of the big picture on eliminating cellulite~

Helpful Tips:

*Drink Pure Water:  Water cleanses and flushes the digestive system & toxins out of your body.  Therefore, preventing inflammation and increasing blood flow to your skin.

*Exercise: Calorie-burning cardio will help, but will not decrease the dimples of cellulite alone.  Toning your muscles with "strength training" will help reduce cellulite.

*Sleep: Get plenty of sleep every night.  A sufficient amount of sleep not only helps us get through the day, but can implicitly get rid of cellulite.  Sleep repairs damaged tissues, making our skin look better.

*DIY Cellulite Coffee Scrub:  Read my post for the recipe!



Intuitively yours,
Laurel ♥