Cellulite is fat that has pushed its way up through your body’s connective tissue to give your skin a bumpy, cottage cheese look. I know, I know, sexy, right? While there aren’t foods that actually fight cellulite, there are certain foods and other dietary changes you can use to prevent fat storage, and also boost collagen production, two things that will help you in the fight against cellulite. Try these simple tips:
Eat salmon, olive oil, and almonds.
These foods contain lots of essential fatty acids which can repair your skin’s tissue. These healthy fats include walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and even dark chocolate. Keeping your skin healthy-looking is key in fighting cellulite, as damaged skin will lead to more bumpiness. You want to keep your skin strong and healthy in this fight!
Drink lots and lots of water.
You’ve heard it a gazillion times but it’s true – if your skin is hydrated, it will look healthier. If you can’t stand drinking water, go for eating foods with a high water content “ grapes, watermelon, cucumbers, and other veggies and fruits. This will also keep you from bloating, an added bonus, as nobody looks good with bloat.
Add some colour to your diet.
Speaking of fruits and veggies, colorful foods in this category will load you up on Vitamin C, a helpful nutrient when it comes to preventing collagen breakdown. (When your collagen breaks down your skin loses its elasticity, which can give you that bumpy look.) Tomatoes, kiwis, oranges and red bell peppers all fight cellulite with a health dose of Vitamin C. And bright fruits and veggies also contain antioxidants to prevent tissue damage (remember, healthy skin is key in this fight!) Think carrots, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, etc.
Eat more whole grains.
Whole grains don’t cause an insulin spike in your body the way refined grains do, so your body doesn’t get that signal to store fat. Stored fat can lead to cellulite, so switch to whole grain from Wonder Bread, quick! An added bonus is that whole grain foods are high in fiber, which will make you feel fuller and less likely to snack. Other whole grain foods that are good sources of fiber include whole-wheat pasta, bran, and oatmeal. To mix it up, some good non-whole grain sources of fiber to help fight cellulite are pears, apples, nuts and raisins.
Avoid inflammation.
Broccoli, peas and beans are among the foods that help prevent the inflammation of connective tissue in your body. When this tissue gets inflamed, it makes cellulite look even worse (if that’s possible.) Avoid food like butter, margarine, and processed cheese to help fight cellulite, too “ these all increase inflammation, and that’s bad.
And one more reason to quit.
Yes, cigarettes are not a food, but if you are a smoker, you should know that smoking damages your small blood vessels and reduces your circulation, two factors that contribute to an increased risk of cellulite.
