CELLULITE
Natural Strategies For Fighting Cellulite
The only people who "don’t believe in cellulite" are people
--- mostly men --- who don’t
have any!
Cellulite isn’t "just fat" — it is fat that has undergone a
"mattress effect" due to the underlying landscape of connective
tissue. It occurs far more frequently in women than in men and is
influences by female hormones. When seen
in men, cellulite suggests a possible androgen (male hormone)
deficiency or estrogen excess.
Cellulite is not due only to overweight, since normal weight people
can have cellulite and many fat people do not. However, excess weight
amplifies the appearance of cellulite in most cellulite-prone people.
Cellulite is thought to be a "multi-factorial" condition.
Factors that contribute to the development of cellulite include:
- Female hormones, especially estrogen
- Collagen fiber break-down (as occurs with age and nutrient
deficiencies)
- Poor venous and lymphatic circulation
- Overweight
Although believed by many to be largely a cosmetic problem, cellulite tissue often
feels heavy or tight and is often tender when massaged. (NOTE: DO
NOT confuse this with "cellulitis," a serious inflammation or
infection of connective tissue. There is no underlying infection in
cellulite).
Books and tabloid articles have been written about "cellulite cures" and diet changes,
although there is little substantiation for this in the medical
literature
apart from overall weight loss.
DIET AND LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS
- Maintain a normal weight. Excess body fat alone does
not cause cellulite, but it does increase estrogen levels. Excess body fat
typically makes
cellulite more noticeable. For weight loss help, try
The Super Fast Diet.
-
Exercise: regular aerobic exercise
with weight training for specific
problem areas may be helpful. Exercise is known to improve estrogen
balance and assist with weight (fat) loss. Spot exercises for
lifting the glutes (butt) and hips may help reduce the appearance of
cellulite on thighs.
- Massage: daily self-massage of cellulite tissue, using
the hands with a "kneading" motion. Massage helps break up the
problematic connective tissue and improve venous and lymphatic
circulation.
Special percussion massage therapy may be particularly helpful.
PRIMARY SUPPORT
Maxi Multi:
3 caps, 3 times per day with meals. Optimal (not minimal) doses of
antioxidants & bioflavonoids are particularly important for
strengthening blood vessels, reducing inflammation and decreasing
free radicals. Vitamin C is crucial to collagen formation.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT (Internal)
-
Maxi Flavones:1 cap,
1-2 times per day with meals. High potency antioxidant / flavonoid
herbs to strengthen blood vessels, decrease inflammation and improve
liver function (which in turn helps hormone balance).
-
Conjugated
Linoleic Acid (CLA): 4-5 caps per day with meals.
CLA has been shown to decrease body fat, increase lean muscle tissue
and assist with cellulite improvement.
- Gotu kola (Centella asiatica): 1
cap, 3 times per day with meals. (Target dose: 90 mg triterpenes per
day)
- Horse chestnut (Aesculus
hippocastanum): 1 cap, 3 times per day with meals. (Target dose:30-
60mg escin per day).
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT (Topical)
Topical preparations containing caffeine, xanthines and
related thermogenic substances, and
glycyrrhetinic acid (from licorice) may have benefit.
TESTS: Males with cellulite should have a
male hormone profile test performed.
When seen in men, cellulite is highly suggestive of a male hormone
deficiency and/or an excess of estrogens.
________________________________________________________________
References
1.) Querleux B, Cornillon C, Jolivet O, Bittoun J. Anatomy
and physiology of subcutaneous adipose tissue by in vivo magnetic resonance
imaging and spectroscopy: relationships with sex and
presence of cellulite. Skin Res Technol. 2002 May;8(2):118-24.
2.) Rosenbaum M, Prieto V, Hellmer J, Boschmann M, Krueger J, Leibel RL, Ship
AG. An exploratory investigation of the morphology and biochemistry of
cellulite. Plast Reconstr Surg.
1998 Jun;101(7):1934-9.
3.) Piérard GE, Nizet JL, Piérard-Franchimont C. Cellulite: from standing fat
herniation to hypodermal stretch marks. Am J Dermatopathol. 2000
Feb;22(1):34-7.
4.) Mirrashed F, Sharp JC, Krause V, Morgan J, Tomanek B. Pilot study of
dermal and subcutaneous fat structures by MRI in individuals who differ in
gender, BMI, and cellulite grading. Skin Res Technol. 2004 Aug;10(3):161-8.
5.) Pavicic T, Borelli C, Korting HC. Cellulite--the greatest skin problem in
healthy people? An approach. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2006 Oct;4(10):861-70.
6.) Quatresooz P, Xhauflaire-Uhoda E, Piérard-Franchimont C, Piérard GE.
Cellulite histopathology and related mechanobiology. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2006
Jun;28(3):207-10.
7.) Piérard GE. Commentary on cellulite: skin mechanobiology and the
waist-to-hip ratio.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2005 Sep;4(3):151-2.
8.) Rotunda AM, Avram MM, Avram AS.Cellulite: Is there a role for injectables?
J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2005 Dec;7(3-4):147-54.
9.) A. V. Rawlings. Cellulite and its treatment. Int J. of Cosmetic
Science. 2006 Feb; 28(3):175-190.
10.) Velasco M.V.,Tano C.T.,Machado-Santelli G., Consiglieri V.O., et al.
Effects of caffeine and siloxanetriol alginate caffeine, as anticellulite
agents, on fatty tissue: histological evaluation.
J. Cosmetic Derm. 2008 Jan; 7(1):23-29.
11.) Lupi O., Semenovitch I., Treu C., Bottino D., Bouskela E.
Evaluation of the effects of caffeine in the microcirculation and edema on
thighs and buttocks using the orthogonal polarization
spectral imaging and clinical parameters. J. Cosmetic Derm. 2007 May; 6(2):
102-107.
12.) Smalls LK, Hicks M, Passeretti D, Gersin K, Kitzmiller WJ, Bakhsh A,
Wickett RR, Whitestone J, Visscher MO. Effect of weight loss on cellulite:
gynoid lypodystrophy.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2006
Aug;118(2):510-6.
13.) Distante F, Bacci PA, Carrera M. Efficacy of a multifunctional plant
complex in the treatment of the so-called 'cellulite': clinical and instrumental
evaluation. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2006 Jun;28(3):191-206.
14.) Rona C, Carrera M, Berardesca E.Testing anticellulite products.Int J
Cosmet Sci. 2006 Jun;28(3):169-73.
15.) Armanini D, Nacamulli D, Francini-Pesenti F, Battagin G, Ragazzi E, Fiore
C. Glycyrrhetinic acid, the active principle of licorice, can reduce the
thickness of subcutaneous thigh fat through topical application. Steroids.
2005 Jul;70(8):538-42.
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