Cellulite brush up

Personal trainer and holistic health coach Linka Crosby provides this timely refresher on cellulite’s causes and treatments.

Cellulite is a French word that has been adopted by many alternative practitioners and beauty therapists, as well as the general public, because there is no word in the English language to describe those lumpy fat deposits which collect and form bulges on the female anatomy, especially on the thighs, buttocks and upper arms. These deposits have the appearance of orange peel and pucker when squeezed, rolled and pressed. They also feel cold to the touch and appear whiter then other areas of the skin.

In the early stages of accumulation, cellulite will be soft because of the presence of fluid, but over time it will become progressively harder and grainy feeling; making it even more difficult to lose (although it is never impossible).

CELLULITE INDICATES THAT the body is in a toxic condition and, if left untreated, the toxicity could lead to more serious conditions like permanent water retention or arthritis—cellulite is a warning sign that the body needs a thorough detoxification and cleanse. This ideally means eating pure organic fruit and vegetables, aiming for at least 50-to-90 per cent raw with clean
purified water daily, eating super foods, grass-fed organic meats, daily exercise, eliminating junk foods…the list of holistic health recommendations goes on and on.

Taking all of this into consideration there is no wonder that we need to be advising our clients to take a closer look at what chemicals and additives are actually in our foods, and striving towards healthier options. As we consume artificial foods, the more clogged up we become and in some cases the artificial substances may not be eliminated by the body at all but stay as accumulated waste material in the system. When pure, natural foods are eaten, the large intestine and liver are extremely efficient at getting rid of wastes quickly, so by eating more natural organic foods, the quicker the digestive system breaks it down.

The skin is responsible for a quarter of the body’s detoxification every day and therefore plays a vital role in ridding the body of toxins and impurities, especially accumulated waste products.

A TRADITIONAL TREATMENT that assists the skin in its cleansing processes is dry skin brushing. Among other benefits, it stimulates the lymphatic system and increases blood circulation, contributing to healthier muscle tone and better distribution of fat deposits. Regular dry brushing can help rid the body of toxins such as uric acid, as well as exfoliate dead skin cells.

Spa therapies should incorporate dry brushing prior to a body wrap or a massage, which helps increase the detoxifying quotient of the treatment, as well as prescribe for homecare.