Cellulite is a term used to describe the encrustation of fat cells by the body’s waste products. The effects of the calcified waste products building around the fat cells restricts metabolism, the metabolism is also restricted during hormone fluctuations as the cells swell and increase in water content. This basically means the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the cell and waste from the cell is inhibited.
The cells weaken, connective tissue breaks down and the fat cells push through into the Dermis resulting in an orange peel effect on the Epidermis.
What cause cellulite?
Medical evidence suggests that the prime cause of cellulite is hormonal. The hormonal fluctuations that occur during the normal course of life are thought to be triggers. This includes: puberty, monthly menstruating, pregnancy, HTR and oral contraceptives.
Other proven causes are free radical damages which can cause a break down in the cell wall allowing leakage from the cell, this can cause inflammation and Oedema in the tissue. The cell is 80% water and 20% protein, water is oxygen, oxygen is energy and essential to life, if the cell dehydrates it depletes in energy and mitotic activity is restricted the tissue then becomes slack and congested with toxic waste. In several cases this could mean a breakdown in the immune system.
Contributing factors to congested tissue and free radical damage will be anything which inhibits the body in its attempt to rid itself of waste products:
This include:
not drinking enough water- the fountain of life
Sun exposure
Smoking
Drinking alcohol
Coffee
Poor diet
Not enough exercise
Additives in food
Chemicals in products
Medication
Prolonged illness
Stress
Lack of daily bowl movements
There are three types of cellulite:
1) Oedema(water)
2) Adipose(fatty)
3) Fibrous (hardened tissue)
1 ) Oedematous: looks puffy and feels spongy the touch
Commonly found in people suffering water retention, taking HRT, or standing a lot at their work place.
The lymphatic system does not have a pump or prime mover like the heart, therefore this person needs to drink more water and take more exercise to assist the body draining the waste.
Diet should consist of low salt/ sodium and high potassium. Natural diuretics such as celery, watercress, parsley, fresh fruit and vegetables, preferably raw also help.
2) Adipose: soft to the touch and visible as large dimples
Adipose cellulite is normally found on someone who has a slow metabolism or is slightly overweight; their adiposities will have a reasonable amount of fat droplets stored within them. This person is not necessarily overweight all over, but may hold excess fat in a particular area such as waist, thighs or buttocks.
Walking along the floor on the buttocks will help break down the fat globules, also exercise at 40% - 60% of the maximum heart rate to help burn off the fat.
3) Fibrous: firm to the touch and looks less severe than it actually is.
Fibrous cellulite is normally found on someone with good muscle tone who has or is exercising on a regular basis. If one exercise beyond the body’s natural ability to dispose of excess by products from metabolism, then lactic acid toxins and the other waste can hang in the system and harden around the fat cells.
If the exercise is causing aching the next day then the body has over metabolized. More moderate exercise with stretching rather then cardiovascular would help. Fibrous is the most difficult cellulite to shift.
Cellulite is laid down over a period of time and has four stages of progression.
In the normal healthy cellulite free condition the adipose cell is allowed to function properly and both the blood and lymph circulate freely. The air we breathe and the foods we eat are metabolised by the cell; their function is to separate the nutrients and oxygen from the waste. The blood flow will then transport the nutrients and oxygen to feed and nourish the body while the lymphatic system transports the waste to the nearest draining node.
Stage 1
In the first stage of cellulite the permeability of the capillary walls changes. This causes the plasma to leak into the interstitial fluid where it accumulates and stagnates between the adipocyte cells. This causes them to become dissociated and disorganised or what we know as free radical.
Stage 2
In the second stage of the cellulite the network of the fine reticular fibers or connective tissue starts to multiply and thicken causing obstruction of the microcirculation. Metabolic wastes and nutrients are then not sufficiently exchanges between the circulatory system and the adipocyte cells.
Stage 3
By this time the adipocyte cells have become encrusted with metabolic wastes. They will now begin to harden and significantly slow down the metabolism.
They start to cluster together and become encapsulated in the fibres of the surrounding connective tissue, thus forming micro-nodules and becoming separated from the rest of the functioning tissue. As the cells merge to form micro-nodes they can trap the nerve endings that serve them.
Stage 4
This is the most server stage and can be felt as hard granules when palpated. Groups of micro-nodules now begin to merge forming macro-nodes in the connective tissue.
At this stage the cellulite can become very painful to the touch and bruise easily due to the inhibited circularity system. This person is likely to have broken capillaries.