Beauty

What's New: Cellulite News
We hate to admit it, but its always lurking...CELLULITE. What woman would want those lumps, bumps, and ripples on their buttocks, hips, or thighs. Regardless of your age, weight, or fitness level you are a candidate. Some women are lucky in that you can barely see it, while others obviously have cottage cheese thighs. If left as is, cells can harden, skin will lose its elasticity, and those dimples become more noticable. Fortunately, there are steps you can take now to help keep cellulite at bay.

THE EXPERTS What do they think?
There is much debate as to what cellulite is. Some doctors say its ordinary fatty tissue that is concentrated betwen the area of the waist and knees. Other experts feel it is a different type of fatty tissue, tissue that has been damaged as a result of certain malfunctions in the body's system. Next is the debate as to how it is caused. Contributing factors include bad diet, sluggish blood and lymphatic circulation, a sedentary lifestyle, or circulation problems.

DIET AND TOXINS You are what you eat
First thing is first, cut out the junk. Try to rid your diet and body of sugars, startches, salt, spices, animal fats, such as butter and dairy products, caffine, carbonated drinks, alcohol, and processed foods. A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low in fat, high in fiber and complex carbohydrates is essential, and much easier for your body to break down and digest. Not only will it promote good health but these types of foods will keep your toxin intake down while helping our body efficiently eliminate the toxins already in your skin. Don't forget to drink about eight glasses of water a day especially since inadequate fluid intake contributes to sluggish circulation and inhibits the elimination of wastes.

EXERCISE Good for you in so many ways
Are you exercising? You can't sit around all day and expect NOT to have cellulite. One of the reasons cellulite can be so evident on a woman's body is lack of muscle tone. This causes the skin to sag, making the lumps are obvious. Exercise also helps eliminate cellulite causing toxins from the body. Daily exercise will improve your circulation, burn fat, and tone the muscles in those problem areas.

SKIN Damage and repair
As we age, our skin loses its elasticity so keeping skin firm and tight for as long as possible will help in the fight against cellulite. While we can't stop the aging process, we can take steps to keep skin healthy. Stay out of the sun when possible since ultraviolet light can accelerate the normal breakdown of collaen and elastin in skin. Use moisturizers and sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or greater when going outdoors to keep skin supple and protected. Don't forget to feed your skin from the inside by eating a nutrition diet, drink plenty of water, and take antioxidant vitamins such as A, C, and E.

CIRCULATION AND MASSAGE Keep things flowing
Massaging troublespots not only relaxes and soothes, it can help stimulate the lymphatic and circulatory systems. The following technique is designed to break down fat, and move wastes and toxins out of the body. For at least three minutes on each leg daily, massage in circular movements, kneading the flesh between thumbs and fingers. Follow with upward sweeping strokes with the flats of your hands. To increase the effectiveness of massage, use essential oils, such as basil, cedarwood, cypress, fennel, juniper, lemon, orange, rosemary, and thyme, or cellulite creams. Skin brushing can increase circulation and help the body eliminate wastes. It can also improving the appearance of your skin. Apply a few drops of a stimulating essential oil to your brush before you begin to increase effectiveness. Begin at your feet and brush skin upwards over thighs, hips, and buttocks with a soft, but firm, natural bristle brush. This can be done daily before you shower.

CREAMS Instant Fix?
Cellulite creams, such as ones containing alpha hydroxy acids, help to reduce and lessen the appearance of cellulite by improving skin elasticity and making it more supple. Some manufacturers claim a combination of natural ingredients work to strengthen, renew, and soften skin. Just remember, these creams only reduce the appearance of cellulite, they don't prevent it from showing up, or make it go away for good. As soon as you stop using cellulite creams your skin returns to its original state. You're not getting rid of your cellulite, just hiding it temporarily.