Holistic Health

The truth about cellulite

 

BANISH YOUR BUMPS WITH A SIMPLE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO ELIMINATING CELLULITE

 

If you suffer with cellulite, you are in good company - it is estimated that up to 95% of women today suffer with this condition. But there is good news. You can significantly reduce that unattractive, dimpled, "orange peel" look which is generally found in the region of the thighs.

Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite, Naturally

The Victorian Garden offers you an excellent Anti Cellulite Body Massage Oil designed to help break down and address the root causes of the build up of Cellulite. This product, combined with the advice given within this article (for “at home” changes that you can make to your lifestyle to keep the dreaded condition away!) will :

 

• Alleviate poor micro circulation& venous flow, speed up your lympathic system and encourage your body to detox waste substances accumulated in the tissues
• Naturally boost fat burning metabolism to break down fat cells
• Help prevent the accumulation of fatty acids in cellulite fat cells, & stop the enlargement of fat cells
• Help the body reabsorb the hardened connective tissue that traps
  this fat, thus giving that dimpled "orange peel" look.
• Improve skin tone, firmness &elasticity

Cellulite can affect you whether you are 16 or 60 and as it can take more than four years to build up, it is obviously not going to disappear overnight! However, I will cheer you up by telling you that as perfect as the various models in magazines may appear to be, there's something human about at least half of them. Although the pictures don't show it, they – like me, and perhaps you – have cellulite. For many years doctors have been arguing about whether cellulite really does exist or whether it is just a fancy name for FAT . Whatever they eventually decide, it's real enough for us women. That DIMPLED lumpy bumpy ORANGE-PEEL skin which most of us are all too familiar with affects women of all shapes and sizes – mostly on the hips, thighs and butt. Cellulite is more a disturbance in the body's natural chemistry- a build-up of TOXIC WASTE in underlying tissues, than simple body fat. The areas where the tissue layer is thicker and spongier (and usually fatter) are the perfect places for cellulite to settle – especially if you're overweight although slim bodies also get it. Cellulite is especially likely to start to appear at the times when hormone levels fluctuate, such as at MENOPAUSE AND PREGNANCY , although it can of course appear at any time.

When it comes to getting rid of this awful stuff, DON'T EXPECT A MIRACLE. Although there is a genetic predisposition to cellulite, the main causes are bad eating habits, lack of exercise and stress – and you must tackle these first. Creams, lotions and oils won't "magic away" cellulite, but they do have tremendous benefits if used in conjunction with a healthy diet, regular exercise and if possible, and regular Aromatherapy body massage to aid circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage. Long term, the problem must be tackled from the inside out .

Here are some useful tips to help you on your way to getting rid of this scourge!

•  Step 1 – EAT, DRINK AND BE HEALTHY

Don't even think of dieting. Crash dieting where your weight yo-yo's up and down can actually be a cause of cellulite and losing weight won't necessarily get rid of it. I have women Marathon running clients amongst my clients and all are stunningly slim, yet they suffer with cellulite. Eating healthily has to become a way of life forever. Cut out all processed food, cut down on red meat, dairy products, fats, sugar and salt. Remember that less fat in your diet means less fat on your body. Substitute ordinary fats with vegetable oils such as olive oil and look for varieties that say "extra Virgin" on the label. Too much salt causes water retention – that bloated feeling – and ultimately, cellulite. Eat more fresh fruits, vegetables and legumes (peas, beans), whole grains and where possible, substitute fish for red meat. Try to “go organic” with everything wherever you can and that includes free range organic meats. Drink loads of pure filtered water every day (carbon filtered Brita water jug is ideal or check out a Johannesburg compay called H2O on the net for their tap filter systems). Never drink tap water. Distilled water is wonderful and is the purest, most natural water on the face of the planet. Many people across the world attribute the healing of serious health problems to their changeover to drinking distilled water. However, you will need to invest in a home distiller - a very worthwhile investment. Lots of pure fresh water is essential to keep everything flowing and allow your body to detoxify. Surprisingly, drinking lots of water helps to eliminate water retention but you should drink little and often rather than gulping down huge quantities in one go. Fresh fruits, and vegetables steamed lightly or eaten raw, help lymphatic drainage and keep your energy levels at a peak and clear up tissue congestion. Because they're in their natural state, or close to it, they retain all their vitamins and are more nutritious. Raw foods also have unique cleansing properties and as well as vitamins and minerals, contain anti-oxidants which heal and repair tissues. Always try to start your meal with something raw.

Make salad dressing with virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice or lime juice instead of vinegar. Above all, don't rush your meals. Try to eat everything slowly and chew thoroughly – you will eat less as a result. Don't skip meals to avoid calories – breakfast and lunch are very important. And don't eat too late in the evening. Try to have your evening meal before 8pm.

The Good Food Guide

Try to include a little of the following in your diet every day to cleanse the system and aid circulation. Raw beetroot, short-grain brown rice, fresh ginger, garlic, celery, kelp or kelp tablets, nuts and seeds (excepting peanuts), herbal teas – rather than the fruit varieties – hot water and lemon.

•  Step 2 – INCREASE YOUR VITAMIN/MINERAL INTAKE

FIRM, SMOOTH SKIN needs a healthy supply of collagen whose enemies are the free radicals (rogue cells) which cause tissue damage.

Free radicals come with high-fat foods, pollution (external and internal) from cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine and drugs, stress and illness. But to the rescue come natural anti-oxidants: beta-carotene (Vitamin A), Vitamin C, Vitamin E and minerals such as selenium and zinc. So make sure that your diet includes these in either food form or nutritional supplements. Highly recommended is Green Barley (preferably a brand which is 100% organic green barley and not mixed with other ingredients) which is a green powder processed from the young leaves of barley; it constitutes a whole food and contains virtually every nutrient that the human body requires for peak function and healing, with the added benefit of strengthening the immune system.

•  Step 3 – TREAT YOUR SKIN – To Look its best and retain its elasticity, our skin needs to be kept active

Regular workouts with dry skin brushing and massage works absolute wonders, by stimulating circulation, encouraging lymphatic drainage and smoothing out cellulite. The skin is our largest organ and is very effective at getting rid of wastes, but we need to keep the circulation going in order to do so. Skin brushing and massage help to flush out excess water, relax muscles and allow the skin to breathe.

To Brush Your Skin…

• Use a natural bristle brush (firm bristles but not too hard) and brush firmly but not too vigorously.
• Start at the soles of the feet brushing from toe to heel, then the top of the foot to the ankle and upwards over the legs, thighs, buttocks and stomach in firm, sweeping strokes.
• Continue to massage all over the body, working towards the heart. Try to use a combination of long, sweeping strokes and small circular motions.
• Pay particular attention to the areas where cellulite is lodged.
• The best time for brushing is just before a morning bath or shower and then again before bedtime. Use a good organic Body Scrub treatment in the bath or shower over the problem areas.

Massage can also be very effective…

A regular, professional Aromatherapy massage will help to get rid of cellulite, but you can do self massage at home. Remember your pastry making techniques and kneading dough?

• With both hands and working upwards from the knee to the butt, alternate with deep kneading and stroking. Always finish with a light, upwards stroke.
• Massage for a few minutes at a time and ideally, try to do it at least twice a day.
• Underwater massage is one of the most therapeutic methods, so try it in the bath before bedtime.
• Swimming is like having an overall water massage. If your local gym also has a jacuzzi or whirlpool, use it to direct jets of water at your problem areas.

Creams and oils do help to make a massage more effective, but don't expect miracles overnight. Certain essential oils are highly effective in helping to eliminate cellulite, but this is only part of the cure.

Get to know your hormones. Take a look at using a natural progesterone cream as most of us women are oestrogen dominant which aggravates cellulite formation. In the battle against Cellulite it is invaluable and if you really want to achieve optimum health then consider a good natural progesterone cream. We need to educate ourselves on our hormones and what can go wrong and to understand that there are risks in taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). The overall health benefits of a good natural Progesterone cream, e.g. NatPro Organic Progesterone cream, are worth investigating. On the Holistic Health page on our web site you will find more information on Cellulite – Natural Progesterone offers you protection against cancer, osteoporosis and diseases caused by hormone imbalances are just a few of the outstanding benefits. Its something every woman should know about !

•  Step 4– Keep Moving

Regular exercise will help to banish cellulite and doesn't have to be a punishing regime.

Toning your muscles is important because the more muscle and less fat you have the higher your metabolism will be for burning off calories. Trying to combine an aerobic exercise – something as simple as brisk walking, swimming or cycling each day – is highly recommended.

•  Step 5 – Learn to Relax

Stress is now recognized as contributing to quite a few modern diseases and like a bad penny, here it is turning up once again as a factor in the cellulite picture.

There's no doubt that stress and tension do cause disturbances in the body, affecting our breathing, circulation, digestion and throwing everything off balance. Combined with a frantic pace of life, it can blow away all our good dietary habits and body toning disciplines and set up a vicious circle which results in cellulite. There's nothing wrong with positive stress such as being happily busy and needed with a demanding job and family life. But, you must aim to control the negative aspects of stress – all those frustrations you can do nothing about, like financial worries, job loss and bereavement, for example.

•  Resolve to take more outdoor exercise, cut out caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes – which are poisonous to your body.

•  Make time for yourself – even if it is only for 15 minutes each day. Escape to your bedroom or a favourite room – shut the door and relax. Sit or lie quietly in a comfortable position with your eyes closed and arms by your side. Imagine somewhere peaceful like a river or country lane or a field of beautiful flowers. Now put all your problems in an imaginary bag and take an imaginary walk leaving the bag on the river bank or by a tree. Breathe slowly with occasional really deep breaths. Let the body feel heavy and relaxed from your toes to your head. Concentrate on each part of the body and tell it to feel limp. After your allotted time, you will feel more peaceful and refreshed.

Finally, there is no doubt that tanned cellulite looks ten times better than pale skin! So exfoliate and moisturize your skin daily until really smooth and if you feel self conscious, then use a natural fake tan product to provide a little camouflage.

Home Massage Technique…

The very act of massage and paying attention to your body on a regular basis will improve those problem areas. If you can afford the time and money, try to have a regular massage with a good aromatherapist and in between times make sure you self massage those problem areas at home.

Should you have any further questions or need any further information on any techniques or products mentioned in this leaflet, please do not hesitate to contact us. Good luck with your cellulite busting and to improved health and to improved health and wellbeing.

With the Compliments of

THE VICTORIAN GARDEN ORGANIC SKINCARE COMPANY

Mrs Lindsay Salthouse
Therapeutic Aromatherapist/Herbalist, ITEC
Registered with Allied Health Professions Council of SA
Member of CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association)
Email – victorian@telkomsa.net

 

Our products are made with love and care by our team of experienced bio chemists well versed in the art of creating Natural and Organic skincare products to international standards.   We are registered with the *CTFA of South Africa (Cosmetic Toiletries and Fragrance Association and The Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa, Our products are approved by Beauty Without Cruelty.
*Note: The Cosmetic, Toiletry & Fragrance Association of South Africa is the industry's voice committed to maintaining the high quality and safety of cosmetic products. The CTFA guides members on the Self-regulatory Codes of Practice & Standards to ensure that the South African cosmetic industry flourishes.

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