Fight Cellulite with True Lemon! And Other Tips

Contents: Even lean people can have cellulite.
How to dump the dimples.
Cellulite-fighting exercises.
Drinking and eating to banish the bumps.
When all else fails.


It's swimsuit season! Time to reckon with the enemy of shorts-wearers and public bathers around the world: cellulite. So what can we do to smooth that unwelcome cottage cheese look on our legs, bottoms and stomachs?

Cellulite is all about fat. But even lean people can have cellulite.

That dimpled skin we call cellulite happens when fat cells push up and out between the fibrous cords that tie skin to muscles. Cellulite runs in families but being inactive, or stressed, or using hormonal contraceptives also increases the chances. And cellulite becomes more common as we age and skin loses elasticity.

How to dump the dimples.

There is no way to prevent getting cellulite. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons "though there are a number of different ways to treat cellulite, there is no sure-fire cure, because cellulite can be caused by a variety of factors, including skin thickness and hormones."

While plastic surgery is an extreme and not always successful option, experts agree that losing weight through healthy diet and regular exercise is probably the best cellulite treatment. And some experts say adding lemon to your water may help smooth out your skin!

Dr. Nicholas Perricone, MD, dermatologist and founder of the ‘Inflammation Theory of Aging’ and author of three New York Times #1 best sellers, writes that to “help your body fight cellulite, drink plenty of pure, non-carbonated spring water throughout the day (eight to 10 full glasses). You will enjoy an extra benefit if you add a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Lemon is rich in bioflavonoids and vitamin C (anti-inflammatory anti-oxidants), and acts as a natural diuretic to help the body shed excess water. Lemon is also a natural detoxifying agent, and many experts believe detoxifying the body helps eliminate the lumpy and bumpy appearance of cellulite.”

And in "15 Ways to Fight, Fix and Minimize Cellulite" fitness expert Nicole Straff gives a host of suggestions to help banish the bumps – including drinking lots of water with lemon! Here are some of her recommendations:

1) Cellulite-fighting exercises

• Roll on foam rollers 20 minutes per day to help break up fat tissue and cellulite by moving blood through fat and muscle fibers.
• Lift Weights. Try squats and leg presses.
• Boost Circulation. Keep blood circulation moving with 10-minute stretch breaks every hour.
• Do Cardio. 40 to 60 minutes six days a week, targeting areas with cellulite.

2) Drinking and eating to help banish the bumps

Drink 8-10 glasses of water with or lemon (or convenient True Lemon!) and green tea per day. Green tea contains chemicals that boost stress-relieving hormones and regulates appetite and cravings. And according to Straff’s article, mixing water with lemon can help your body metabolize fat stores. 

3) Eat skin-friendly foods.

Bright fruits such as mango and papaya have antioxidants thought to prevent tissue damage. Broccoli, peas and lima beans help fight inflammation of the connective tissue. Dark berries, such as blueberries and blackberries, also help boost the antioxidant level in the body and stimulate collagen production that may lessen cellulite. Sulfur-rich foods such as green and black olives, cucumbers and celery also boost collagen production, as do vegetables rich in vitamin A, like raw carrots, cantaloupe and sweet potatoes.

Repair skin with salmon, walnuts, almonds and olive oil that are rich in essential fatty acids. Soy products, like soymilk and cheese, contain genistein that has collagen-boosting power as well as stopping breakdown of skin fibers.

4) When all else fails …

If your cellulite really bothers you, try camouflage! A spray tan for the beach will go a long way toward minimizing the appearance of cellulite.

Sources:
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Dr. Perricone's Skin Science Update
Mayo Clinic
That’s Fit.com

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