Cellulite is the dimpled accumulation of stored fat on our thighs and buttocks caused by a sluggish lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a secondary circulatory system underneath the skin that rids the body of toxic wastes, bacteria, and dead cells. By cleansing the liver and lymphatic system, you help rid the body of fatty deposits—the key to diminishing cellulite.
Another cause of cellulite is loose or weakening skin and connective tissues that are unable to keep the fat tissues contained within their compartments. As the fat tissues or deposits escape through weakened connective strands, they create the dimply, pebbly effect known as cellulite. So strengthening the skin and muscles is a great preventive measure for cellulite. Foods containing protein help to firm up muscles that can keep fat stores in place and reduce the dimpled effect of cellulite.
Since I struggle with cellulite, here is one of my favorite tips for diminishing it:
Body brushing
Body brushing (also known as dry brushing) is done with a natural boar-bristle brush, which can be found in health food stores, Whole Foods, or Trader Joe’s. Dry brushing on a regular basis lightens the burden on the liver by helping to remove excess waste in the body. Dry brushing stimulates the lymphatic system, which is a secondary circulatory system underneath the skin that rids the body of toxic wastes, bacteria, and dead cells. By body brushing, you move the toxins along and out of the body for elimination. By brushing the body from head to toe with the dry brush, focusing on the lymphatic drainage regions, like behind the knee, you’ll improve the efficiency of the whole lymphatic system.
Firm, gentle brush strokes across the skin will improve your blood circulation, clean out clogged pores, and enable your body to remove toxins faster. Body brushing removes dead skin layers and encourages cell renewal for smoother skin. If the liver is the fat-burning organ, then the lymph system can be called a fat-processing system. So cleansing the liver and lymphatic system are key to weight loss and diminishing cellulite.
To effectively use the body brush, first remove your clothes. Begin brushing the soles of the feet. Next, brush from the ankles to the calves, concentrating on the area behind the knees, using long upward, firm strokes toward the heart. Then brush from the knees to the groin, the thighs, and the buttocks. If you’re a woman, make circular strokes around your thighs and buttocks to help mobilize fat stores, such as cellulite. (Dry brushing actually helps to diminish cellulite.) Then brush the torso, avoiding the breasts. Finally, make long strokes from the wrists to the shoulders and underarms. The entire process should take no more than three to five minutes and will leave your skin feeling totally invigorated. The best times to brush are in the morning before showering or at night before you go to bed.
Body brushing is a great detoxification method that can help eliminate toxins from your body and diminish cellulite.
JJ Smith (www.JJSmithOnline.com) is a nutritionist and certified weight-management specialist who has been featured on The Montel Williams Show, The Jamie Foxx Show and on the NBC, FOX, CBS and CW networks. Her advice has also been featured in the pages of Glamour, Essence, and Ladies Home Journal. Since reclaiming her health, losing weight, and discovering a “second youth” in her forties, bestselling author JJ Smith has become the voice of inspiration to women who want to lose weight, be healthy, and get their sexy back! JJ may be contacted by email at info@jjsmithonline.com and on Twitter: jjsmithonline and Facebook Page: RealTalkJJ