The Cellulite Issue

Cellulite, the scourge of the modern women. It is possibly the #1 issue that women have about their appearance, especially as the days get hotter and the prospect of bare legs looms nearer. The weekly trash mags love to hi-light it on celebrity bodies – making them ‘more real’.

Don’t get me wrong, in this day and age where airbrushing pictures is so de rigeur that we have a distorted view of perfection, I would be lying if I said seeing cellulite on an otherwise ‘supposedly’ perfect body didn’t make me feel a little warm inside. However, my personal viewpoint is that the media, rather than focusing on the not particularly nice looking stuff should focus on the natural and positive attributes – without the digital effects of image distortion.

Excessive cellulite is a result of our fast-paced processed/junk food lifestyle. It can appear on the stomach, arms, bums and thighs  – i.e. the places where fat is stored. That said, cellulite is a multi-faceted issue, there is not a total cure, however there are a number of nutritional protocols that you can do to help reduce it dramatically.

Contributory Factors:

The presence of cellulite indicates congestion within the body’s fatty tissues. Poor diet, lack of exercise, constipation, over-burdened liver contribute to toxin overloads that impair the efficiency of blood flow and lymph circulation as well as the exchange of fluids, nutrients and expulsion of toxins from cells.

Lymph:

This is how the fatty tissue is transported around the body. Unlike the blood, there is no pump so it is pushed around the body, solely via the movement of the body, which is why exercise is so important. When lymph is overburdened and there is a build-up of toxins this can be a significant contributor to cellulite and skin appearance.

Liver:

The liver is the body’s workhorse. Everything that comes into our bodies will go through the liver at some point from alcohol and drugs to the nutrients of food, cholesterol is made here, as are hormones – and it detoxifies all the nasties that our body can not cope with for elimination via the digestive tract. It is our silent partner, the background cog that just keeps on churning, no matter how much crap we throw at it. When the liver is at capacity or does not have the required nutrients to perform its actions with each of the detoxification pathways, it becomes clever. It packages up toxins, such as heavy metals like mercury, lead, aluminum; or chemicals or plastics that we consume through our food, bundles them up and hides them so they do not cause a threat to the body.

And guess where they are hidden? In the fat cells, which are innate so cannot cause damage.

This makes the fat cells more difficult to remove and contributes to the cellulite problem.

Connective tissue:

The connective tissue that separates cells becomes weaker with age, and if the requisite nutrients are not consumed or absorption is problematic then this will increase the fragility and exacerbate the orange peel effect.

Cell Function:

If the body is dehydrated and not enough good fats are consumed in the diet then there will be issues surrounding fluid and nutrient exchange and toxin removal. The cells become harder and it is more difficult for these essential actions to occur.

Constipation:

Toxins are eliminated via the bowel and if constipation occurs the will be re-absorbed and recycled in the body. This has a cumulative effect on toxin levels and increases toxic storage requirement in fat cells. Dietary fibre, good gut bacteria, magnesium, essential fats and water are all essential ingredients to allow good stools to be formed.

What to avoid:

The concept of Negative Equity Nutrition^TM is ideal to follow here, foods that are high in sugars, saturated fats, additives, chemicals, toxins, salt, caffeine and low in fibre all impact cellulite including:

• Processed, ready meals and junk foods
• White starchy carbohydrates (bread, pasta, rice)
• Trans, hydrogenated and saturated fats: baked goods, processed meats, cakes, biscuits and crisps.
• Caffeine and artificial sweeteners in fizzy drinks & fruit cordial
• Excess red meat and dairy products can trigger higher oestrogen levels, which also increases the burden on the liver
• Alcohol: the sugars and toxins in alcohol directly impact the body.
• Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and destroys vitamin C and zinc levels – both crucial nutrients for skin health.

What should we be eating instead?

• Strengthen the connective tissue: Peppers, kiwi fruit, broccoli, citrus fruit, tomatoes, berries and peas are rich in vitamin C. Goji berries, blueberries, cherries, blackberries, grapes and buckwheat are full of bioflavonoids.
• Water – water is the most important ingredient to help flush the skin and keep cells working well.
• Liver support: Dark green leafy vegetables such as cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, watercress, radishes and grapefruit. Research has shown that cabbage proteins have helped enhance liver detoxification as do broccoli sprouts, which contain sulphoraphane.
• Enhance cell performance and balance hormones through increased consumption of essential fats – nuts, seeds, oily fish and omega 3 enriched eggs.

• Organic food is preferable if you want to remove the toxins from the food you eat. If you have budgetary considerations, purchase organic varieties of apples, pears, berries, grains and citrus fruits.

Finally, bodybrushing and exercise such as rebounding specifically help to stimulate lymph and may be helpful in reducing cellulite, however, any active exercise will aid the movement of lymph and enable the bodys cells to work more effciently.

SE1: The Place to Be

London Lite 7th October 2009

I know that living in London is not everyones cup of tea but being a short distance from Borough market means I can do my weekly food shopping at one of the best places in London. I often forget how fortunate I am to have it on my doorstep, its an integral part of my Saturday routine to pop down and buy my seasonal produce which is 90% organic, at reasonable prices. People don’t often believe me but I spend much less at Borough than I would in a supermarket, I can buy much more than I need including eggs, meat or fish for £30-35.

I’m the girl walking around with the bags over-spilling with greens and carrot tops – so if I do inadvertently attack you with my prime veg, whilst mooching from stall-to-stall then apologies in advance.

I know people complain about being ripped off, and yes it is true that some stalls can put up prices that would make your eyes water but over the past six years I have uncovered the best and cheapest stalls which means I avoid the tourist traps. If you want to avoid the crowds, go between 8-11am… come midday it gets ridiculous. After 3pm it calms down again before the market shuts at 5pm.

My secret squirrel guide to Borough Market:

Vegetables:

Wallaces (opp Monmouth Coffee on Stoney St)

Tanya & Rachel never fail to make me smile on even the coldest wintery day. Fresh, sesaonal, organic veg straight from Secrett’s Farm.

Ted’s Veg (Green market, nr Southwark Cathedral)

Organic veg from Lincolnshire, if Wallaces don’t have it, Ted will.

Fruit:

Wallaces (as above)

Chegworth Valley (Jubliee Market, accessible via Rochdale place/Stoney St )

The most amazing berries (that freeze beautifully) in the summer, apples & pears all year round. Everything either unsprayed or organic.

Eggs:

Sillifield farm (in main market next to the pork pies & opposite Borough Wines)

A box of free-range eggs for £1.20 that you pick yourself, if you’re feeling adventurous try their duck eggs too.

Meat & Chicken:

Northfield Farm (inside the market next to the large fish stall)

Often overlooked for the more media-renowned Ginger Pig, but my personal favourite. Brendan, my brilliant butcher, will always spend time to talk me through the current seasonal cuts of meat, bone/chop my chicken when I can’t be bothered to do it myself and never fails to disappoint with recommendations. Try their Collar bacon – it’s so yummy, once you’ve tried it, you’ll never look back!

Fish:

Furness Fish (inside the main market next to Northfield Farm)

Busy and always friendly, Furness fish have everything from Scottish salmon to Lobster to conger eel. They also have a game section if you fancy it.

Cheese:

Neals Yard Dairy (Stoney St)

If you’re a cheese lover, you can’t go wrong with NYD. They have the patience of cheese saints and are as passionate about their cheeses as Paul Smith (who’s got a boutique a few doors down) is about fashion.

Bread:

Flour Power City (Stoney St or Green market)

Try the Rye pumpernickel bread, toasted with a little butter or humous is just divine. You can buy 1/2 or 1/4 loaves if you want to try, but beware, it will get you hooked!

Misc:

Humous/Falafel: Arabica (Green market)

Fab falafel for your market munchies or test out the array of arabic delicacies. Fresh, no nasties and worth every penny.

Taramasalata/Feta & Halloumi Cheese: The Greek Connection (Green market)

Once you have tried their taramasalata (yes it is supposed to be white) you will never return to the supermarket version. The feta and halloumi also have the ability to send you back down memory lane to your wonderful Greek Island holiday.

Linseeds & Linseed oil: Flax Farm (Green market)

If you want the best linseed/flax oil in the UK, Flax Farm is the stall for you. It is organic and has a nice nutty taste which is often lacking from flax oil bought in health food shops. You can also buy flaxseed (brown or yellow), ground flaxseed which are a nice addition to your muesli or porridge

Tofu: Clean Bean Company (Green Market (opposite Flour Power City)

The best Tofu in the UK. Clean Bean make their tofu in Brick Lane in the traditional Japanese way. If you take your own pot then you get a discount too.

Olive Oil: Apuliablend (Green market opposite Ted’s Veg)

A recent discovery which I’d ignored for years, thinking it was too dear. Thankfully, I have been proved wrong. Delicious olive oil, superior to that I’ve bought in health food shops for the same price. You can spend lots of cash on very high quality oil if you choose to but if you want a good nutty oil that can be used for cooking and salads, this is your place.

Coffee: Monmouth Coffee (Stoney St)

If you love your coffee there is no where else to go. They are meticulous with their coffee sourcing from the best places in the world. You can buy whole beans or they will grind them for you – they also opened up their own roating house. Be prepared to queue and they don’t use anything other than full fat organic jersey milk.