Cellulite! What a scary word! This word has women freaking out all over the globe. They are fat dimples that appear usually in the buttocks, thighs, hips, stomach, and even arms. These unflattering dimples can cause a lot of issues because they are impossible to hide, leaving you with low self-esteem and the need to feel covered up. There are many creams and treatments on the market. Some better than others, of course.
Today I want to touch on the subject from within. How can we prevent more cellulite to form? The answer is quite simple … the food that you eat may be a culprit to this as well.
- Pizza - so yummy but so bad at the same time. It may seem like the easy meal that has it all but there is much more than protein and calcium in that slice. Let’s take a closer look, pizza has such a high amount of sodium per slice that can cause water retention in the body that in turn can cause more cellulite to appear. If you are like me and pizza IS your weakness then a good solution is to limit the number of slices, of course, and to also add healthy veggie toppings and grilled chicken instead of those processed meats that are also known to cause cellulite.
- Cheese - most cheeses are high in sodium. Some types more than others but we have found that dairy, in general, is not good to consume when you are concerned about cellulite. Luckily, there are so many alternative options to dairy products such as almond, coconut, and other nuts milk, cheeses, and my personal favorite cashew cheeses.
- Carbonated beverages and sugary drinks - drinking these, in general, are not recommended due to the high amounts of sugar. When you consume sugar, your body goes through a process called glycation, that’s when sugar attaches to proteins and forms damaging molecules. When this happens, it also harms the collagen making the skin dry and reducing skin’s elasticity. It is best to drink plain old H2O.
- Refined Carbohydrates - pasta, rice, potatoes, and all products made with white flour are not recommended. These foods contain a large amount of sugar that is known to cause inflammation as well. A better and healthier option would be whole-grain bread and pasta made from veggies and even chickpeas.
- Processed meats - bacon, ham, and turkey may be very tasty but they are also a big NO when it comes to cellulite prevention. There is nearly 800 mg of sodium in one serving of any of these examples. (this is the normal serving recommendation when you go to a deli, you will get triple this amount if not more). There is no “healthier” option just try to stay away from these.
Let us recap:
- Try to load up on fruits and veggies.
- Drink a lot of water because when you hydrate, your skin will benefit from this the most.
- If you have a sweet tooth like me than a good option when craving sweet is dark chocolate. It is high in antioxidants and fights inflammation.
- Avoid processed and packaged foods. These are packed with sodium that causes water retention and inflammation.
