blood? All these were uncomfortable and probably dumb questions. I knew I would never learn
exactly what had entered my bloodstream and, hopefully, had been filtered out by my liver.
We know it as orange peel syndrome, cottage cheese skin, and the mattress phenomenon. Medical
names for cellulite include adiposis ede-matosa, dermopanniculosis deformans, status protrusus
cutis, and gynoid lipodystrophy. Don’t confuse relatively harmless cellulite with the infectious
disease cellulitis, when inflammation damages the underlying connective tissues of the skin.
Doctors are not entirely clear on what causes cellulite. Some say that cellulite is caused by
weakened supportive collagen and elastin tissue and protruding fat cells. Others blame hormones,
rapid weight loss, excessive water retention, and sluggish lymph flow. All we know is that cellulite
plagues both the toned buttocks of supermodels and flabby tummies of new moms. Cellulite can
appear on the upper arms, the back of the neck, and around the knees.
Like acne, cellulite is not an isolated cosmetic problem. It sends us a message that our body
systems are not functioning properly, possibly due to hormonal shifts or toxin buildup. In any case,
cellulite has to be addressed from inside and outside at the same time. Massaging creams will not
make much of a difference at all.
I have to admit that a few years ago there wasn’t a single cellulite cream in stores that I hadn’t
tried. Cooling, warming, tightening, smoothing, exfoliating, massaging lotions, even Nicoderm-like
patches—I used them all diligently, with little to no result. I am a witness that there is no cure in a
bottle for cellulite. At the same time, rigorous dieting and weekly detox alone won’t get rid of
cellulite either. Cellulite is not made of toxins or fat accumulating under skin, so flushing fat without
paying attention to the efficiency of blood flow and lymph circulation won’t get you anywhere.
After spending untold money on cellulite creams and spa procedures, I have put together a natural,
green plan that is easy to follow and involves no hormone-disrupting chemicals.
Improve lymph flow. The fluid between your cells is filtered by the lymphatic system, and when
the body gets congested, this process doesn’t work well. As a result, the lymph system gets
overloaded with toxins. To improve lymph flow, perform a dry skin brushing every day or at least
every other day. You can also invest in roller massagers with wooden or metal heads that physically
propel fluids in cellulite-affected areas. Contrast showers (alternating cold and warmwater as you
shower) do wonders for blood flow—you will see a healthy glow on your face immediately!
Improve bowel function. I noticed that many women who get cellulite also tend to have
constipation. This is a clear sign of congestion and poor removal of waste products from the body. By
adopting a toxin-free, organic diet and making regular Green Beauty Detox a habit (see Chapter 16),
you will reduce the toxin load on your elimination system and help your cells exchange nutrients,
clear toxins, and burn fat more efficiently.
Avoid water retention. Alcohol, saturated fats, and excessive amounts of salt all increase the
swelling of skin tissue surrounding fat cells. Wearing tight clothes and sitting or standing in the same
position for long periods of time have also been shown to contribute to cellulite. Drinking proper
amounts of water (the proverbial eight glasses a day) helps fight excessive water pressure in the skin.
Wou drink more, but you pee more too.
Burn the fat. Enlarged fat cells make the connective tissue weaken and eventually burst under
pressure, creating an uneven, bumpy texture. Exercising and eating a healthy diet will reduce the fat
buildup under your skin, as well as improve blood and lymph flow. Woga and Pilates are especially
good at promoting healthy fluid exchange in your skin.