Healthy Woman: Dealing with cellulite

On record, you don’t have to be overweight to have cellulite. Cellulite is comprised of toxins and fat that builds up in the body. It can affect women of any size, weight and body structure. There is an ongoing campaign by NIVEA body products to fight cellulite. The program selected curvy reality-show-star Khloe Kardashian for the 2011 ‘NIVEA Good-bye Cellulite, Hello Bikini challenge’. One wonders if it’s just a strategy to sell of NIVEA’s products or it’s true that cellulite is actually discarded after using these enticing products. Cellulite, the lumpy fat bulges that look like dimples or ripples just under the skin around the thighs and buttocks are a serious problem encountered by many women. Cellulite is sometimes difficult to get rid of, even with routine diets and exercises. According to the Founder and Coordinator of Solid Africa Rwanda, Isabella Kamariza, women who have cellulite should exercise frequently. “I have the cellulite but it doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I go swimming once in a while and I comfortably dress up in my swim suit,” Kamariza said. Grace Nyinawumuntu, Head Coach of women football club, AS Kigali, said that if one is determined to get rid of cellulite all they need is to exercise regularly. “The effort we use while exercising, helps to burn the fat that leads to cellulite creation. Sometimes people exercise and take time off without doing any physical exercises for months which causes irregularities in the body,” Nyinawumuntu said. There are basically two types of cellulite. Hard cellulite which often occurs in the bodies of dancers, or athletes and they are hard to get rid of since they are attached directly to the muscle tissue. Soft cellulite occurs in larger areas of the body and but not attached to the muscle. In most cases, hard cellulite is not often visible as soft cellulite. However, if nothing is being done, cellulite can spread to the lymph nodes and blood and lead to life threatening complications, such as toxic shock syndrome. At times cellulite is genetic, it can be transferred from generation to generation. Poor eating habits also contribute to the formation of cellulite. The consumption of several food spices and caffeine produce toxins which get trapped in the fatty tissue form cellulite. Stress is another factor that leads to cellulite formation on the body. If someone is stressed, the muscles become tense. Tension blocks the connective tissue, hence preventing proper waste elimination and purification. Tips on how to reduce cellulite1. Besides Cellulite creams and gels, body wraps and herbal supplements being advertised by most beauty companies to sell their products, drinking a lot of water. The water helps to dilute the excess toxins in the body. Take at least four litres of water per day. 2. Don’t smoke. Smoking contributes to cellulite formation.3. Exercise regularly, physical exercise encourages and accelerates metabolism and burns fats. 4. Try not to stress yourself. Dorau20@yahoo.co.uk