Rid yourself of cellulite

The tendency to develop cellulite is largely hereditary. It afflicts young and old, men and women alike. It is combination of excess fat, water and extra-cellular waste which gets lodged in the connective tissues of our body. It appears as unsightly, unevenly distributed lumps and pads of fat.

Cellulite is different from the ordinary layer of fat which lies beneath our skin. Unlike cellulite, the evenly distributed fat layer provides insulation and cushioning to the internal organs and is a source of energy.

Where Does Cellulite Appear From? Most women suffer from it at sometime or another. It usually appears on the thighs, buttocks, hips and upper arms. In men, excessive fat deposits are found more often on the abdomen and the upper back, around the shoulders and neck.

What Causes Cellulite? Poor diet, physical maintenance, internal stress and inadequate elimination are the primary causes of cellulite formation. Cellulite is also hormonally related and mild forms of it can affect women before their periods, during pregnancy and during menopause.
a) If your diet lacks adequate calories and nutrients or the food taken is hot and spicy, it results in irritation and aggravation of the digestive and intestinal tract. This produces stress within the body which can be further aggravated by poor elimination.
b) A sedentary work life and lack of physical exercise leads to bad circulation, improper elimination and excessive retention of toxic cellular waste (lactic acid) in our muscles. This promotes the build-up of new cellulite.
c) Excess sodium consumed as common salt leads to water retention. This encourages the formation of cellulite.
d) Stress, nervousness, tension, frustration, shock, anger etc., can bring on a cellulite condition.
Control of Cellulite

Diet - Eating sensibly so as to avoid stress and help the body cleanse itself of all irritating and polluting agents through the process of elimination. The diet should consist of vegetables, fruits, and cereals. A well-balanced and nutritious diet is efficacious in treating cellulite. Consulting a good dietician will help in deciding the correct menu for oneself, foods to be avoided are: spiced meats, highly fatty foods, fried snacks like potato chips, white bread, pastries, excessively salted food, nuts, alcohol and coffee. Milk and its products should also be avoided.

Physical Exercise - A regular and planned exercise programme helps the body to dissolve existing cellulite deposits and prevent the formation of new ones. Regular exercise promotes a sense of well-being as well as reduces the stress and strains of everyday life. It helps in eliminating waste materials within the body which otherwise contribute to lumpy fat. Brisk walking, jogging and swimming promote the healthy development and even distribution of fat. If you do not have time for exercise, walking to and from the place to work may help. The busy executive and sedentary worker should find time to relax and undertake at least half to one hour of walking and spot reducing exercises. A word of caution: One should not work oneself into exhaustion which may be counter-productive.

Autolysis - Autolysis is the process of self-cleaning and self-washing of wastes. Periodically, the body becomes steeped with an accumulation of refuse, sludge, impurities, toxic wastes, debris and mucus. Autolysis is a natural way to get wastes. Controlled fasting is an ancient system for washing and resting the internal organs is an ancient system for washing and resting the organs. Most people prefer a day of raw fruit juice fasting. Some like raw vegetable juice fasting. The power of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids and other valuable detoxificating elements in the juices are able to work without the interference of solid food. Fast only one day per week.

An excellent liver and kidney cleansing routine: Start the day with just plain water or mint tea without sugar or sweetener. Then have a bowlful of detoxificating soup which is made up of zucchini (courgettes), green beans, celery and parsley in equal quantities, boiled together for half an hour. You can have as much soup as you want right through the day and drink as much mint tea, plus a minimum of eight glasses of water. You will feel and look better by the end of the day.

How Aromatherapy Can Help? - A regular (night is preferable) tub bath in comfortably warm water helps steam out the accumulated toxins through the pores in the skin. Add two drops of essential oil of geranium to the bath water. In addition, regular body massages is recommended with two tablespoons of olive oil to which three drops of geranium oil have been added.
by Dr. Blossom Kochhar