Sunday, February 24, 2013

What The Heck Is Cellulite?

By Kimberly Black


If you have ever been concerned with having cellulite you are not alone. Most women tend to have cellulite on their butt, thigh and calves. Finding out what causes cellulite is great because then you can take the appropriate measures to begin getting rid of it. Cellulite does not mean you are fat, there are many thin people who have it as well.

What Exactly Is Cellulite?

We all know what cellulite looks like...it is dimpled look on your thighs and other areas that is almost impossible to get rid of. But what the heck is cellulite.? The medical terms for cellulite is adiposis edematosa, dermopanniculosis deformans, status protrusus cutis, and gynoid lipodystrophy. A less confusing explanation for cellulite is It is just fat. The fat isn't responsible for the lumpy look though, it is pockets of fat that are deep under the skin that push against the underlying connective tissue. When the fat expands it takes up space under the skin, which places a lot of pressure on the connective tissue. The pressure from the fat against the tissue pushes everything against it, creating the dimpled look we all know and love. When there are numerous fat pockets, there are numerous bumps and it just keeps expanding further across the skin.

Have you even baked a tray of cinnamon buns? You set them in a round pan probably around 6-8 and you let them cook. They begin to expand further and further until they are so tightly wedged into that pan they have no where to go but up. This is exactly what cellulite does, it is pressing up again the upper layer of our skin and causing the dimpled look.

A young person has more elasticity to their skin so it remains smooth. As you reach puberty and beyond, hormones come into play which results in your skin becoming much stiffer and less elastic. And then as we age further the outer layer of skin weakens making the cellulite much more noticeable. But knowing what cellulite is doesn't make it any better! There are millions of dollar spent each year on products trying to get rid of cellulite, and whether you are thin or not it still affects 85 percent of women.

Why Women Have Cellulite More Than Men

A man's skin is generally much tougher than a woman's skin. The epidermis in the male is thicker , so when the pocket of fat begins to press again the skin, there isn't much change in the connective tissue. Unlike the woman who has thinner skin.

Another reason is because male and female skin is different. The female fat cells sit within side by side rows, so when the fat expands it is pushed upwards, like squeezing icing out of a tube. It just pops out at the top. A male's fat cells are contained in a criss-crossed pattern. The space inside each criss cross is much smaller, so it doesn't pop out the top in the same way. A man will tend to create a big blob of fat if it does penetrate the connective tissue.

Wearing tight underwear constricts the blood flow in your lower half. This causes cellulite to develop much quicker. You don't have to go so far as big baggy underwear but something that is a little loser and allows blood flow will go a long way in reducing cellulite.

What Causes Cellulite?

Being a woman is the major reason for developing cellulite for the reasons already stated. Men generally do not suffer from having cellulite. But there are a couple other reason. Diet: Having a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, with lean protein and good fats will greatly improve your skin. A poor diet stresses the body and the skin causing failure of some type. Lymph Glands: The lymphatic drainage system is meant to remove excess fluid and waste from our tissues. Waste products begin to accumulate in the tissue if there has been damage. Hormones: Cellulite usually begins developing when a young girl reaches puberty and her hormones begin to fluctuate. This can be the case at any other time in a woman's life when there are changes in hormones, such as pregnancy and menopause. Genetics: Look at your mom or grandmother and see if they had cellulite. If they did chances are you will develop it. There are other factors at play here such as if you have a slow metabolism, poor circulation and how the fat in your body is distributed.

Prevention of Cellulite

A healthy diet is the first step in preventing or getting rid of cellulite. Fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein and good fats will help you remove the toxins from your body. Toxins are stored in fat cells, which expands the fat cell causing the cellulite. Stop smoking, not just to get rid of cellulite, but for better general health. Start the day with a glass of hot water mixed with the juice of one lemon, this cleanses the liver, and continue to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Your diet accounts for 80% of how you look. Exercise and genetics play a small but important role as well.




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