I can’t deny it. I still have some cellulite. The magic combination to make my cellulite go away completely has, so far, eluded me. But, I’ve successfully reduced the amount of cellulite I have and how noticeable it is by a lot! The following is what I’ve learned about how to get rid of cellulite naturally.
Why Do Women Have More Cellulite Than Men?
Have you ever noticed that overweight men rarely have cellulite while even some super skinny women do? How unfair, right? This is because cellulite is not just caused by swollen fat cells. Cellulite is caused by fat cells pushing through our connective tissues.
Connective tissues form a mesh that keeps our fat cells in place below the surface of our skin. In men, connective tissues are diagonal. But in women, they are vertical. The crisscross diagonal lines of men’s connective tissue form a net that keeps their fat cells from poking through to the skin. In contrast, the vertical lines of female connective tissue form columns making it easier for fat cells to poke though and be visible beneath the skin.
The other reason men have less cellulite than women is because their skin is naturally thicker. When the outer layer of skin is thick, you can’t see the dimpled appearance of the fat cells beneath the surface of the skin.
Why Do We Get More Cellulite As We Age?
Our bodies make less collagen as we age which causes our skin to become thinner. In addition, our connective tissues become stiff and weak so they can no longer trap the fat cells beneath. Aging also causes our hormones to go up and down. According to Women’s Health Network, “When estrogen levels fluctuate, blood circulation to the connective tissues is reduced and the tissues are weakened. These hormonal changes also affect lymphatic circulation. That leaves stagnant lymph trapped in weakened connective tissue and may increase the appearance of cellulite.”
Foundation for Getting Rid of Cellulite Naturally
As I’m sure you know, if you want to get rid of cellulite naturally, it’s important to maintain a healthy weight. You also need to avoid foods that create cellulite like:
- Sugar
- Artificial sweeteners
- Salt
- Alcohol
- Fizzy drinks
- Fried foods
- Refined flour/grains
Unfortunately, there’s no way for women to change the pattern of our connective tissue to be diagonal instead of vertical. But we need to address the other reasons women have more cellulite than men.
We can thicken our skin by increasing our collagen levels and building up muscle in the areas where we have the most cellulite through targeted exercise (weight lifting). Our connective tissue can be strengthened by keeping our hormones balanced. We also need to help keep our lymphatic system from being stagnant due to our fluctuating hormones.
How To Improve Lymphatic Drainage
Drink plenty of water to flush toxins from your fat cells. Improve your circulation through exercise. Ten minutes of rebounding per day is very effective for this. Take herbs like Cleavers, Stillingia Root, Red Clover Blossom Extract, and Prickly Ash Bark that help drain the lymphatic system.
Try cupping, an ancient technique that originated in China. Cups are placed on the skin to create suction. According to Cheeky Physique, cupping has 3 cellulite reducing benefits. Cupping:
- Helps stretch and relax stiff connective tissue beneath the skin.
- Increases blood circulation which rejuvenates the skin.
- Stimulates the flow of lymph which helps your body detox and get rid of fluid retention.
To see how to do cupping for cellulite, check out this video. WARNING: it hurt a little bit when I first started cupping. It makes your legs look red for a while and can even cause a bruise (although I have not experienced bruising). But after a few days, it felt good to me. I really feel the increased blood flowing to my legs. For me, cupping worked much better to get rid of cellulite naturally than dry brushing, and it’s faster too. I only do cupping for 2 minutes a day (one minute per leg) even though the instructions say to do it for 10 minutes per day.
Use Aquaporin Stimulators
According to Bio Young, “aquaporins are channels in the membranes of our cells that control cellular water and lipids (fat).” Aquaporins become less active as we age. Stimulating them can help our cells drain excess fat. Wild yam and apple cider vinegar are both aquaporin stimulators.
I have not tried wild yam, but I am a big believer in apple cider vinegar. You can use it both topically (put it in a spray bottle and apply it wherever you have cellulite) and internally. I don’t use it topically because I don’t like the smell. Instead, I try to take apple cider vinegar (2 teaspoons in water) before each meal. I don’t always remember. Don’t take apple cider vinegar after or along with your meal because it could interfere with your acid/alkaline balance and your ability to digest food.
I consistently take apple cider vinegar, collagen powder, lemon juice, and warm water every morning when I wake up. For instructions on how to make it, check out this post. Try to buy an apple cider vinegar that comes in a glass bottle and is organic, raw, unfiltered, unheated, unpasteurized and contains the “mother.” The mother is a cloudy, sludgy substance that you will see on the bottom of the bottle of vinegar. Although it looks gross, it contains healthy bacteria and has many immune boosting benefits. Be sure to shake up your vinegar really well before use to incorporate the mother.
Boost Your Metabolism
According to Liver Doctor, “a sluggish metabolic rate is caused by imbalances in the function of the thyroid gland and liver.” If you boost your metabolism, your body will be better equipped to get rid of cellulite.
I use an essential oil blend of Grapefruit Peel, Lemon Peel, Peppermint Plant, Ginger Root, and Cinnamon Bark essential oils to support my metabolism. As I drink water throughout the day and I add one drop to each glass I drink. I also rub it on my thighs (where I have my cellulite problem) in the morning before I get dressed combined with fractionated coconut oil for better absorption. Make sure to wait a few minutes for it to absorb before getting dressed so that you don’t get oil stains on your clothes.
Bathing Suit Emergencies
The suggestions above are designed to address the root causes of cellulite. But they are not quick fixes. Please allow 6 months of consistency to see noticeable results. But what do you do if you need to wear a bathing suit right now and you have not had time to address the root causes of your cellulite?
Coffee is really quick and effective at making cellulite look less noticeable for the day. But, the bad news is that your cellulite will be right back in the morning. This Fox News article explains why topically applying coffee temporarily lessens the appearance of cellulite. It says that coffee is a stimulant. The caffeine it contains dilates your blood vessels, which temporarily tones and tightens tissue. Coffee also increases circulation and reduces water retention, both of which smooth cellulite.
You can easily make your own coffee scrub. I really like this one by Hello Glow because of the cellulite busting essential oils she adds to the coffee grounds! Or, if you’re lazy like me, you can just brew a strong cup of black coffee, let it cool a bit, and apply some to your cellulite with your hands or a spray bottle (this is messy so you might want to do it in your shower/tub). You can also use this bar soap that contains coffee and seaweed (another great cellulite reducer).
Can You Get Rid of Cellulite Naturally With Homeopathy?
I recently read about two homeopathic remedies that, when combined, may get rid of cellulite naturally. They are Rhus Tox 6C and Apis 30C. Since I already have these remedies, I am going to give them a try. I will update this post if I experience a miracle! And please let me know if you’ve tried something that has worked for you to get rid of your cellulite.
Happy cellulite busting!
Note: For compliance reasons, I am not able to tell you on this blog which essential oil products I use or link you to them so that you can read about them for yourself. But if you want more information, please comment on this post and I am happy to tell you more about the oils I use and why.
No information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition. Please consult a qualified health care professional for medical advice.