What is Cellulite? 

Scientists suggest that 8 out of 10 women will have cellulite to varying degrees at some point in their lives, regardless of their weight, diet & exercise. So you are not alone!

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 causes 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, HRT and oral contraceptives. 

Other proven causes are free radical damage 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 severe cases this could also mean a breakdown in the immune system.

Contributing Factors include:

Congested tissue and free radical damage can be the result of anything which inhibits the body in its attempt to rid itself of waste products:

• 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
• Not enough exercise
• Lack of daily bowel movements

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 cellulite the network of fine reticular fibers or connective tissue starts to multiply and thicken causing obstruction of the microcirculation. Metabolic wastes and nutrients are then not sufficiently exchanged 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 fibers 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-nodules they can trap the nerve endings that serve them.

Stage 4
This is the most sever stage and can be felt as hard granules when palpated. Groups of micro-nodules now begin to merge forming macro-nodules 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.

Go to part 2