There are thousands of anti-cellulite creams on the market and hundreds more are launched every year.

The availability of so many brands claiming anti-cellulite capabilities only confirms one thing: there is no quick fix and no magic cure for cellulite.

Cellulite is a lifestyle problem and therefore making certain changes to your lifestyle is the most effective way to get rid of it.

Toxic chemicals are the biggest offenders; contained in many commercial anti-cellulite creams, they only add to the problem, as your body needs to flush toxins to get rid of the orange peel appearance of cellulite.

Ready made creams have made us lazy, but it’s time to get back in the driving seat.

Cellulite is the body’s way of protecting itself from the toxins it has accumulated.

Fat cells love toxins and they actually collect them and deposit them in places like our thighs, bums and arms to keep them away from our organs where they could do more damage.

It’s a very clever body mechanic, however the unsightly orange peel skin that results can be embarrassing.

Despite being in an age of instant gratification, there is no overnight remedy for cellulite.

We just have to accept that.

BUT, changes to your lifestyle that include daily dietary and skin care/ body care changes CAN reduce the appearance of cellulite over time.

If you reduce the toxins you take into your body and help your body to flush them out, you’re in good shape!

Drinking more water, dry body brushing, salt scrub treatments and aromatherapy massage are effective measures as part of a broader treatment strategy to get rid of cellulite.

We are made of 70% water, and therefore it is vital for us to drink enough water to enable all of our systems to function at optimum levels.

Water carries oxygen and nutrients to our cells and plays a very important role of removing waste from the body. It moves toxins out of the body more quickly, which is ideal when you want to get rid of cellulite.

You can also mix together 30ml organic juniper or cypress hydrosol (the distillate from the production of the essential oils) with 1.5 litres of water and drink throughout the day.

Suzanne Catty, in her book Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy, recommends preparing and drinking this daily over a three week period. Take a week off and then repeat. This is capable of flushing out serious toxins to help you get rid of cellulite.

2. Dry body brushing

Dry body brushing is a great way to stimulate our organs of detoxification as it provides an internal massage.

It can help to stimulate the skin, gut, kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes and the lymphatic system.

Dry brushing your whole body in a circular motion from the feet up towards the heart can be very effective if done on a daily basis. It shakes up all those toxic fat cells and helps to detoxify the whole body, so there is no need to focus only on the parts affected by cellulite.

Cellulite is symptomatic of your whole body needing to detox.

3. Daily salt scrub 

Using salt in its natural state is as nature intended: full of minerals like potassium which will help balance your body. It is excellent for your skin – very cleansing and nutrient rich – and a great way to give your skin a daily massage and loosen all those toxic fat cells.

There are many organic salt scrubs available on the market but it’s great to make your own.

Making your own means you can add some highly effective essential oils which help to detoxify your body. See Kitchen Sink Beauty: Cellulite Buster for a great salt scrub recipe.

4. Massage with essential oils

Regular aromatherapy massage using oils like:

• cypress
• geranium
• fennel
• grapefruit
• lemon
• black pepper

can help to break down those toxic fat cells. Essential oils detoxify, balance your hormones and stimulate your lymphatic and circulatory systems. They are very effective at flushing toxins through your system and helping you to get rid of cellulite.

Cellulite is NOT the end of the world

Cellulite is a good indicator of how healthy and sustainable your lifestyle is.

Living a pure life, minimizing your toxic intake and helping your body to flush out the toxins is a great way to get rid of and prevent cellulite.

Following the above strategy as part of a daily lifestyle commitment over the long term can help you minimise the appearance of cellulite AND prevent it from occuring in your body.

REMEMBER: Cellulite is your protection!  So, worst case scenario, be thankful that your body has such a clever mechanism to protect itself

Sources:

Grant, Suzi. Alternative Ageing, London: Penguin Books, 2006

Catty, Suzanne. Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy, Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 2001.