You may think you eat a healthy diet, but are your eating habits making cellulite worse? This post reveals the 9 worst foods that cause cellulite – and what to eat instead.
Some of us have tried for years to get rid of cellulite without success. If you’re like many of us who are battling the bulges, you’re probably looking for answers.
When we think of cellulite, we automatically think of fat – but there’s actually a bit more to it. Those lumps and bumps under our skin can be due to water retention, weak connective tissue, and even poor skin tone.
One of the biggest causes of those bumpy pockets of fat is food. You may think that your eating habits aren’t too bad, but you could be unknowingly filling your body with foods that contribute to cellulite production.
In this post, we look at the worst foods for cellulite so you can make healthier choices and kick cellulite to the curb. Here are the 9 worst foods that cause cellulite – and what to eat instead:
9 Worst Foods that Cause Cellulite
1. Alcohol
We all love a good glass of wine at the end of a long day, right? Well, those glasses of rosé and bottles of beer could be the reason why your cellulite can’t be shifted!
Putting aside that alcohol contains heaps and heaps of calories, it’s a major dehydrator. A lack of fluid in the body reduces the amount of collagen our bodies produce – and if you didn’t know already, collagen is a holy grail for firmer, smoother skin.
So if you’re adamant about losing the cellulite, you might have to start swapping your glass of wine for some simple H20 instead!
2. Processed foods
Although they are a super easy meal to reach for, processed foods are some of the worst foods that cause cellulite. Processed products usually have many added ingredients that can cause inflammatory problems in the body.
If you’re eating lots of processed foods, you’ll also be consuming extreme amounts of ‘bad’ ingredients like sugar, salt, and fat.
These ingredients can lead your body to spike, resulting in increased hormone production as an attempt to counteract the issue. Spikes in blood sugar levels for example will increase the production of insulin, which can enlarge fat cells and contribute to fluid retention.
3. Sugar-laden drinks
Sugar is definitely known as one of the worst foods that cause cellulite, but do you know why? Sugar is full of empty calories, so when eaten in big quantities can take you well over a healthy calorie intake range, and so the excess is turned into fat and stored.
What’s even worse is that sugar is well hidden in lots of things – canned goods, juice, sauces – processed sugar seems to have found a way into everything! It’s time to ditch the sweet treats for a more natural source of sugar… fruit!
4. Dairy products
If you’re a dairy lover, you might not be over-eager to hear this one… Unfortunately, dairy products such as cheese, milk, and yogurts all contain naturally occurring hormones that could contribute to your cellulite woes.
These hormones can easily trigger the body into producing an excess amount of fat that ends up being stored between the skin and the connective tissue, creating cellulite. As well as being fat-triggering, cheese is also high in sodium which is a known contributor to water retention!
5. Trans fats
High-up in the list of worst food for cellulite is trans fats – these can be found in fried foods, margarine, and processed snacks like chips. Not only are trans fats extremely unhealthy for your body, but they can also make your lumps and bumps even more pronounced, too.
Trans fats harden when in the body, blocking arteries and stopping blood from flowing properly around the body. The lack of blood flow can weaken the connective tissue under the skin, making cellulite appear more obvious.
6. Carbs
Foods packed with refined carbs like white bread and pasta are some of the worst foods that cause cellulite.
Refined carbs are processed into sugar when inside the body, which is then turned into fat and stored! The body can also process sugar into glucose, which can damage collagen production.
7. Salt-rich foods
Despite its great seasoning abilities, salt isn’t so great when it comes to avoiding cellulite. As we know, salt contains sodium, and sodium makes your body hold onto water within the fat cells.
When the fat cells expand and take on the excess fluid, it can push the cells even further into the skin – making the cellulite seem even worse. Most canned soups and packaged meals, especially those containing soy sauce, are packed full of salt, and so should be avoided!
8. Junk food/fast food
We’ve now established that salt, sugar, and fats are all foods that cause cellulite – which makes fast food and junk food the worst foods out there if you want to lose the dimples.
These foods are packed full of trans fats, salt, sugar, and calories! These lead to water retention, fat build-up, and a breakdown of the skin’s collagen. So, is that burger really worth it? Maybe not!
9. Diet soda
Did you think you were safe drinking diet soda? Think again! It’s been proven that sweeteners like those found in diet sodas can contribute massively towards cellulite production.
Although sweetener isn’t sugar, the body treats it as if it were. That means all that sweetener is just being turned into fat and stored! Most sweeteners are also massively processed, too – which means more water retention and equals prominent, bumpy cellulite.
3 Superfoods that Fight Cellulite
Now that we’ve covered the worst foods for cellulite, let’s talk about what to eat instead. Quite simply, the more natural and less processed the food, the higher up on your list it should be!
That said, there are a few cellulite-fighting “superfoods” that can amp up any cellulite detox diet. Here are 3 foods that will help you fight the bulges more effectively:
1. Grapefruit
If you want to get rid of cellulite, you must first get rid of any inflammation in your body. Grapefruits are natural anti-inflammatory foods that can help battle cellulite by draining out any excess fluid and toxins in the body that may be contributing to the look of your bumps.
Pink and red grapefruits are also high in lycopene, an antioxidant that can address cell imbalances that cause cellulite, helping you to eradicate the lumps and bumps more efficiently.
2. Flaxseed
Flaxseed is high in essential fatty acids, which are beneficial to the skin. Don’t be put off by the word ‘fat,’ since flaxseed can really help reduce the amount of fat our bodies accumulate.
Flaxseed also contain phytoestrogens, which assist to control hormones in the body, ensuring that they are properly balanced. This is critical because excess estrogen can increase fluid retention and even encourage fat storage!
3. Turmeric
Turmeric is the holy grail of anti-cellulite remedies. It’s an antioxidant, which means it can help fight free radicals that cause the breakdown of the skin and connective tissue.
Turmeric can also help reduce swelling and flush out any toxins that have been stored in the body due to water retention. As a final bonus, it improves circulation, which can boost collagen levels.
With all of these benefits, turmeric is a powerful cellulite-fighting herb!
Food is Only the First Step…
Avoiding foods that contribute to cellulite is just the first step to getting smooth, firm skin. You must also nourish your body with healthy, whole foods and keep it well hydrated.
The next step is to increase fat burning and tone those trouble areas with good old exercise. This means upping the cardio and feeling the burn. Try some HIIT and work on toning the places that need the most help.
The final step to banishing cellulite is to address the skin and connective tissue to get maximum results from diet and exercise. That’s where the Bye Bye Cellulite Kit comes in!
This kit contains Cheeky Cups cellulite cups to smooth connective tissue. Plus Contour Sleek firming body oil to detox cellulite and promote firmer, smoother skin.
