Cellulite
Orange peel' skin causes a great deal of angst for many women. Cellulite, as the `orange peel' look is more properly known, affects as many as 90 per cent of women, yet it is still regarded with horror, and some people spend a great deal of money trying to get rid of it. Remember the day when newspapers showed close-up, encircled parts of Princess Diana's legs, `exposing' the fact that she had the dreaded cellulite, and - surprise, surprise - was not the flawless woman many had portrayed her as. Yes, the rich and famous do have cellulite, but it is still
something most of us would go to great lengths to smooth out - even though some doctors say it is simply normal storage of fat. Unfortunately, there is no magic solution to this problem, and it is not entirely clear why and how it forms in the first place. What we do know, is that it is not just found in overweight women and that it hardly affects men. Cellulite is most commonly found in the thighs and buttocks, but can appear on the upper arms, the back of the neck and the abdomen. If it is extensive, it can actually make the affected areas feel heavy and tight. It is needn't confused with cellulitis, which is an inflammation of the connective tissue of the skin.
What Causes Cellulite?
Cellulite is actually more of a cosmetic issue than a health condition, although its presence usually indicates some sort of congestion in the body. Simply rubbing on creams or lotions will not make much difference at all - cellulite needs to be seen from the perspective of the whole body, i.e. from the inside. The exchange of nutrients, waste products and other substances between cells depends on how efficiently the cell membranes select what goes through them, as well as on the efficiency of the blood flow and lymph circulation. When the body is sluggish or overloaded - through poor diet or lack of exercise - none of these processes works well. The result is a build-up of toxins between the cells. The healthier your body is, the better it is at clearing toxins and burning up fat. The fluid between your cells drains into the lymphatic system, which filters it at the lymph nodes. The lymph may become overburdened with the toxins and this is a significant contributor to the development of cellulite. Women who have persistent cellulite usually have a tendency to be constipated too - another sign of congestion and poor clearance of waste products from the body. Following a really toxin-free diet intermittently significantly reduces the load on your body and allows it to carry out its internal cleansing routine more efficiently.