Cellulite hides a thousand causes, including bad eating habits. While it is true that “we are what we eat,” this is inevitably reflected in the appearance of our skin that can show signs of this blemish from a young age. But what are the foods that help us reduce or eliminate cellulite? What are the foods that instead favor its appearance? Continue reading this article to discover all the secrets about nutrition and cellulite.

Top 10 Anti-Cellulite Foods

Cellulite is undermined where there are lymphatic and blood circulation defects, i.e. on the legs, buttocks, but also arms and belly. In the initial stages of cellulite we will notice swelling, water retention and the typical orange peel skin busts that will be evident only by compressing the affected part. Later, as the cellulite is aggravated, crossing well 4 stages, it will be more and more visible, regardless if we will press the affected part or if we will change position. But let's not despair: the process is not so rapid and only the last stage, the most serious, is irreversible. Diet in the fight against cellulite is of paramount importance: the right supply of nutrients will allow to eliminate slags and toxins, protect blood vessels and allow to burn more fat, operating from the inside a detox, toning and slimming effect. So let's start with drawing up the ranking of 10 best anti-cellulite foods :

• 1. Oranges, lemons and grapefruits : Citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, nutritious by the well-known antioxidant action, anti-aging, which also has the property of increasing the production of collagen. Collagen is essential to create the connective tissue of the skin, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels and therefore in fighting the imperfections of cellulite related to a greater permeability of blood vessels. Lemon is perhaps the simplest and oldest remedy, but also the most effective, to purify our body, accelerate fat metabolism and fight water retention: we try to take hot water and lemon every morning to get the maximum benefits;
• 2. Peppers: Perhaps not everyone knows, but peppers contain 155 mg of vitamin C, if eaten raw (116 mg if cooked), that is, almost triple the oranges. Very low in calories (31 per 100g), but rich in mineral salts and vitamins, peppers must therefore not be missing in our diet against cellulite;
• 3. Salmon, Tuna & Co: Oily fish is a rich source of Omega 3 series fatty acids. These “good” fats are important to improve the fluidity and stability of cell membranes and thus exchanges to and from the outside of the cell. They also counteract the low-grade inflammation that localizes on the areas affected by cellulite. We take 2-3 portions a week of salmon, tuna, cod, herring, etc. Preferring simple cooking methods such as baked or steamed;
• 4. Flaxseed: Flax seeds are among the best plant sources of Omega 3. They also contain lignans, phytoestrogens which have the property of balancing the hormonal structure and therefore help fight cellulite. It is certain that female hormones, estrogen, play a decisive role in the appearance of cellulite (which is why men with cellulite are a rare “species”). We add flax seeds to yogurt, smoothies, soups and salads;
• 5. Tea matcha: Matcha tea is a variety of green tea that contains antioxidant substances, catechins, up to 137 times more than ordinary green tea. Like all types of tea, matcha tea also contains theine which similarly to another xanthine, caffeine, possesses diuretic and fat burning properties;
• 6. Chilli: The active ingredient of chilli is capsaicin, a natural chemical compound capable of contributing to the reduction of cellulite through two actions: it accelerates the metabolism by promoting the use of fats and extinguishes intestinal inflammation, contributing to a better assimilation of nutrients. Used instead of salt, chilli, like other spices, can help us not to exceed with sodium consumption, ultimately contributing to the reduction of water retention;
• 7. Broccoli: This wonderful vegetable is rich in vitamin C, but also in sulforaphane which increases the metabolism of indole-3-carbinol which in turn favors the elimination of estrogen by-products through the urine. As already mentioned the balance of female hormones is important for the fight against cellulite. The sulforaphane of broccoli is largely destroyed by cooking, so to get the most benefits from these vegetables we should consume them raw in salads or steamed. In case of thyroid disorders it is not recommended to consume raw vegetables belonging to the cruciferous family such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage & co;
• 8. Dark green leafy vegetables: Dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, chicory, chard, etc. Besides being rich in the very useful vitamin C, they are an important source of magnesium. Magnesium helps to keep the skin young and healthy, supports the health of the gastro-intestinal tract, ensuring the perfect functioning of the fat metabolism. Fibers that satiate and a low calorie content, make dark green leafy vegetables the ideal food if in addition to eliminating cellulite we want to lose a few kg too many;
• 9. Avocado: Avocado is a fruit with very unique characteristics. Rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, fiber and vitamin And it is a true elixir of beauty and well-being that helps us eliminate toxins and balance glucose levels, thus preventing nervous hunger attacks;
• 10. Asparagus: Sources of fiber, folic acid, Vitamin A, C, E and group B, asparagus helps us to fight cellulite imperfections thanks to their diuretic, detoxifying and antioxidant properties.

To complete our anti-cellulite diet, we also take: 1.5 l of water per day; whole grains, perhaps in combination with legumes, to obtain a complete amino acid picture; extra virgin olive oil as a raw condiment; little lean meat, chicken or eggs; a high consumption of fruit and vegetables (5 servings per day); a handful of dried fruits (30g per day).

Diet, nutrition and cellulite: foods to avoid

There are also foods that favor the appearance of cellulite, as a consequence of accumulation of toxins in the tissues, water retention, inflammation, poor circulation and digestion. Everything that burdens our body is in fact the enemy of our beauty, but even before our health. The foods to avoid in the fight against cellulite are as follows:

• Sweets and sugars: Sweets are usually too high in fat and sugar, so it would be better to avoid them or treat them no more than once a week. We avoid the excess of sugars, even those hidden in unsuspected products (always check the labels) responsible for water retention and accumulations of fat especially at the abdominal level;
• Salami, processed meat: Although it cannot be generalized (canned meat and some "light" cured meats are very low in terms of calories), cured meats and processed meats are commonly very fat and too rich in sodium, responsible for water retention, antechamber of cellulite;
• Cheeses: The same reasons for cured meats and processed meats apply to cheeses. Let's allow ourselves no more than 30g per day, choosing from the leaner ones such as cottage cheese or cottage cheese. Low-fat yogurt without added sugar is instead a very healthy and useful choice to fight nervous hunger and cellulite;
• Ultra-processed food or junk food: These products no longer possess anything of the nutritional characteristics of the materials of origin and to be more palatable they are added with various flavors and additives. It is not for nothing that they are called junk food, or junk food, full of empty calories that bring nothing healthy to our body, but only saturated and trans fats, sugars and sodium. But how do we recognize them? Simple: we are wary of pre-packaged products with lists of ingredients that are too long and complicated and that bring sugar or more or less mysterious acronyms back to the top as the main ingredient;
• Fried and fast food: Even here you can't make a bundle of all the grass. A fried "healthy" homemade with ingredients that we know well (like the famous "grandmother's meatballs") are a small sin of gluttony to grant us (otherwise the grandmother is offended!), But not more than once a week. Fast food (to be considered as junk food) such as fries, ultra-stuffed burgers, chicken nuggets, etc. It is instead absolutely to be banned if we really want to corner cellulite and rolls of flab;
• Pre-packaged carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices : If a homemade fruit juice or centrifuge is an excellent way to fill up on vitamins and mineral salts, the same does not apply to similar pre-packaged products. Also in this case they are nothing more than a distant memory of the ingredients that make them up and often contain too many sugars or unhealthy artificial sweeteners. Fizzy drinks are also the emblem of empty calories: a useless mix of dyes, sugars, sweeteners that add nothing to our diet, but rather risk damaging our health;
• Excess sodium: As repeatedly reiterated, the excess of sodium, like the excess of sugars, promotes water retention and the stagnation of slags and toxins in the tissues that promote inflammation and compromise blood and lymphatic circulation, thus contributing to the formation of cellulite. In addition to dosing well the table salt that we add to our dishes, perhaps replacing it with aromas and spices, we will have to check the food labels well, always choosing those with low sodium content.

Eliminate cellulite with diet

In the face of some renunciation, a healthy diet is undoubtedly the best weapon to eliminate cellulite and stay healthy. To complete our anti-cellulite program, it is good to combine the diet with at least 30 minutes a day of physical activity: even a quick walk in the open air can prove to be a real cure-all. We sleep at least 7-8 hours a night and avoid smoking, stress, too tight clothes and uncomfortable shoes that compromise circulation. Finally, to definitively say goodbye to cellulite, let's indulge in targeted cosmetic treatments as a daily cuddle (mud, gel, creams, etc.) Based on toning, draining and fat-burning active ingredients.

Image credits:
Girl smiles in the kitchen. Image of senivpetro on Freepik
Salad with salmon. Image of chandlervid85 on Freepik