Using exercise to prevent and get rid of cellulite

Exercise is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to smooth out those unwanted cellulite lumps and bumps. Any exercise should help reduce and prevent the appearance of more cellulite, and the more regular and often you work out, the better. But what type of exercise is best? And are there any supplement you can take to help the process along?

Exercise is effective in helping reduce cellulite on a number of levels. When you exercise the body burns up to 15 times more calories than when you are sitting still. Even after exercise the body continues burning calories six to ten times faster for up to twelve hours. As well as losing weight you also gain muscle mass, which in turn causes the body to burn more calories. Muscle is a metabolically active tissue so the more it is used the more calories are burned. Muscle can also make cellulite less noticeable as it stops the septa (fibers of collagen that run through fat cells) pulling down on the skin.

Exercise helps stimulate circulation, too. At least five times more blood flows through your arteries and veins when you work out. It also helps boost the lymph flow which, unlike circulation, does not have a pump to propel it around the body. Instead it relies on the contraction of muscles to push it along. This action is intensified when you exercise.

Even though any exercise can help reduce the appearance of cellulite, not all exercise works in the same way so it is beneficial to use a combination of different types. Try to do at least twenty minutes every day of either aerobic, toning and strengthening, lymph-boosting or posture exercises. It is important to start exercising gently, and then to build up gradually, otherwise you can risk putting your body under excessive strain.

Supplements: can they really help?

Whatever manufacturers claim, there is no magic pill that will get rid of cellulite. However, herbal or nutrient supplements can be beneficial when used in conjunction with other cellulite fighting methods like dieting and exercise. The role of the supplement is to enhance all the benefits you are achieving with other solutions.

Supplements to help fight cellulite:

Antioxidants
The best antioxidants for fighting cellulite include: juniper berries, peppermint tea, grape seed bioflavonoids, co-enzyme Q-10, black pepper extract (Piper nigrum), white pepper (Piper album), cinnamon root extract (Cinnamanum verum), onion, cloves, garlic and ginger.

Ginkgo Biloba
Helps to increase circulation. A German study found that Gingko increased the rate of blood flow around the body by up to 57 per cent. It also has antioxidant properties.

Green Tea
Is an antioxidant and has been shown to increase the rate at which the body burns calories.

Conjugulated Linoleic Acid (CLA)
This fatty acid has been shown to increase the amount of body fat burnt during diet and exercise and to increase the amount of lean muscle mass in the system. It is commonly found in meat and dairy products.

Dandelion
This diuretic herb helps to release trapped fluid in the system and is also high in antioxidants. It contains high levels of potassium and helps fight fluid retention.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Exercises for Cellulite

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