HealWithFood.org's Guide to Fighting Cellulite   ( Home | Diet | Foods | Recipes )

Cellulite Causes: What Makes Cellulite Worse?

While there are no truly effective treatments that would make all the cellulite bumps and lumps vanish for good, you can try to influence some of the causes of cellulite and attenuate possibly aggravating factors. Factors that are known to make cellulite worse include:

Weakened connective tissue. When the connective tissue is weak, the fat lying beneath the skin can easily bulge out and appear as cellulite on the surface of the skin. Therefore, promoting re-growth of healthy connective tissue is key to any anti-cellulite program.
Excess estrogen. Excessive levels of estrogen in the body can deposit fat in the hips, thighs, buttocks and lower abdomen, and weaken the connective tissue. This, combined with poor circulation, can lead to weakening of the connective tissue and protrusion of the subcutaneous fat, which appears as cellulite. Estrogen can further aggravate the appearance of cellulite due to its ability to elevate the levels of aldosterone, a hormone that increases water retention and bloating. Additionally, an increase in estrogen levels has been associated with weight gain.
Water retention. Reducing water retention is key to fighting cellulite. Excess fluid in the body encourages the filling up of cellulite prone tissues with more water, which in turn increases swelling in these areas and thus visibility of cellulite.
Weak lymphatic system and/or excess toxins. A properly functioning lymphatic system clears waste and toxins from all tissues of the body. When the lymphatic drainage is poor, excess toxins are deposited in the cells under the skin. A build up of these toxins can cause fluid retention and reduced blood circulation, which can lead to fat accumulation, stretching of the connective tissue and, ultimately, more pronounced appearance of cellulite.
Excess body weight. Cellulite is essentially fat, water and toxins trapped under the skin, and it is not surprising that losing excess body fat may reduce the appearance of cellulite. However, being overweight does not automatically cause cellulite: there are plenty of slim women who have cellulite.

To learn how diet affects the above-listed cellulite-aggravating factors, check out our Guide to Treating Cellulite With Food.