Raw Food and CELLULITE?

[Courtney]

Hi all.

I have a question for the veteran rawfooders on this board. It pertains to women, since men don't seem afflicted by it.....

CELLULITE!

After cutting out saturated animal fat for, say, a year, eating raw, plus vigorous aerobic exercise, is it possible to eliminate or at least reduce the unsightly cottage cheese dimples?????

Do tell. Thanks a million.

Courtney

[luckitri]

Yes. However it most likely will look worse when it is starting to get better. I have at a younger stage of my life worked myself down to 2% body fat with hard work and that 2% was still cellulite - so if you have the tendency to it - it will always be there - just look at that naked babie's butt and know it is just the human condition (for some of us)

There is a pretty recent thread somewhere on here that I can concur with - about how the fat starts getting embarassingly jiggly and loose when it is getting ready to go. . . . I think the cellulite is similar.

[lafsalot]

Might want to try skin brushing ~ Cathy

[the_lab_rat]

luckitri: 2% body fat?!? Wow, I didn't even know that was possible! Ok, you're my new hero :D

Courtney: I've only been raw for like 2 months, but have been vegan for a year (low-fat, low-sugar vegan diet with a lot of raw foods, just not consciously committed to raw). I lost around 40 pounds in 6 months being vegan. I've had cellulite since I was a little kid, it's so gross! I had lost weight before but the cellulite was still there. But when I became vegan and lost the weight, a lot of the cellulite vanished. Not all of it--I still have some on my upper thighs that I think will take an act of God to remove--but I'd say like 75% of my cellulite is gone. I also run in the hills, 25-35 miles per week since becoming vegan. So yes, it's definitely possible to reduce it!

Also, I think 100% raw would help even more, especially if you're eating lots of greens. That's what I'm doing now, so I'm hoping to see even more results.

[Courtney]

Thanks, Lab rat!

I just have a little on my upper thighs that started appearing this past year while I was in Russia and fell into bad habits. I have always been running, though. (In the winter time, it's too damned icy, so I run up and down the stairs!)

Most of my life I have been vegan, but like you, just not consciously so. Anyway, I'm hoping I can get rid of the cellulite from this past year! I think it is definitely linked to consumption of animal fat!

Hey, let's both compare notes a year from now. We'll take a picture of our thighs and then a year later and post 'em! Whaddya say?

Courtney

[VeggieMel]

Two years ago, when I was down to my perfect weight, I got rid of all my cellulite (and I had a lot). It was great. Then I gained some weight back which I have lost again, and this time the cellulite is still there so far, but I'm going through "the change," so my body isn't working the way it was two years ago. I'd say there's a good chance you can get rid of all your cellulite.

[Revvell]

I think it is definitely linked to consumption of animal fat!



I have to disagree with that since I've been vegetarian for almost 22 years and I still have it. I don't know WHAT it's linked to except a few things I'm finding seem to be making a difference for me and one is sugar scrubbing. I have "tried" and "tried" being consistent with skin brushing. It's NOT happening but I WILL dry sugar scrub. It's not the type of scrub one uses... it's the scrubbing process. Add a raw vegan diet and varying movement and I think you'll notice a difference.

Revvellicious

[cashewy]

i did it once 2 summers ago...the ONLY fat I was eating was 2 tbs. of flax oil a day and 2 eggs

(it's back)

[freelive]

Somehow I believe that cellulitis is a problem of fat and salt combined. I might be wrong, but now just the three days I eat low fat salt free diet and I can't believe- I can barely see it on my thighs! I will see if the results will stay...

[freelive]

Oh, I did not mention that my diet is raw vegan too. Just fruits, veggies and little handful of nuts.

[the_lab_rat]

Hey, let's both compare notes a year from now. We'll take a picture of our thighs and then a year later and post 'em! Whaddya say?

Ewww, my thighs = not safe for public viewing, LOL! :p But yes, in a year from now hopefully we'll be cellulite-free and then I'd consider a photo :D

[Courtney]

Hey Lab rat,

Yeah, I get your reluctance....but just think of the appreciation you'll feel one year from now with those smoooooth thighs to die for!

Thanks for those inspiring comments, freelive! Salt is one of my weaknesses, so maybe that’s it. I’ll try cutting back.

In addition to the factors mentioned above, I think regular, vigorous (aerobic) exercise must have something to do with it. Ever see cellulite on those Olympic gymnasts??

I usually run every day, but this past year it was just too damned cold and icy to run (temps well below zero, the kind of weather that makes windows crack in pieces). To relieve stress, I started drinking full-calorie beer, eating animal fat (chicken WITH the skin), AND became sedentary for long stretches of time. Horrors! I think that’s what did it. Also, maybe sitting on one’s butt for long periods of time could be a factor.

Actually, I have to say, being vegan just these past few days and daily running for 45 minutes, I, too, am seeing some improvement! I DO think this stuff can be eliminated, so let’s go for it, girls.

Courtney

[rawfigure]

Courtney, my twin got rid of ALL of her Cellulite (and she had it at 119 pd and 5'7") doing an extensive Colon & Parasite Cleanse and 6 mo. of Colonics. I still have some & and I have been cleansing for 3 months now. I figure about 3 more months of Detox (and need to do some Colonics) and it will be gone.

I beleive after seeing my sister and now me get rid of it w/o dieting (we are both High Raw) and we both have been running and working out for 25 years, so we think in our case it is trapped TOXINS !!:eek: !! and our bodies cannot keep up.

there is some good reading at http://thewolfeclinic.com/

[dreamrawalwz]

Cellulite from my understanding is just pockets of toxins and fluids. Vigerous exercise will help deminish it just like rebounding would do. Eating a diet with the least amount of toxins and salt would help. If I eat sea salt and or cooked food I get cellulite, but if I'm 100% raw without any questionable items and mostly fruitarian, then I don't have any.

[Juicyfruit]

The only time my cellulite goes away is when I am 100% raw. I found this info years ago when I first started raw. I got this info from freeacnebook.com.

So what causes cellulite?

1. The consumption of too much proteinaceous prepared (cooked) foods. Heat damages amino acids and creates new substances (the Maillard reaction). Proteins are long chains of amino acids; if some of these amino acids are damaged by heat, they can no longer be easily separated from the other amino acids. These undivided amino acids cannot be immediately utilized, and, therefore, end up in the skin where they attract extra moisture that increases the water pressure in the skin and reveals subcutaneous fat-cells.

2. Occasionally consuming too much salt or spices will increase the temporary severity of cellulite, but if your salt / spices intake is very steady and level it will do no damage because the body adapts its uptake and excretion of salts to the average intake of salt / spices.

3. Consuming excessive protein elevates the average skin-protein level and thus the true skin will also contain more water. Even by consuming only the right combination of fruits, you will lack energy before you can possibly lack protein. (See http://www.13.waisays.com/protein.htm)

4. Constipation intensifies cellulite by giving the body more time to absorb 'dirty' protein, but don't use laxatives. (See appendix A; "Food Causing Constipation")

5. An impaired hormone metabolism, through the use of hormonal contraceptives, for instance, can cause cellulite. Though your menstrual period seems perfectly normal when you are on the pill, the only way the pill can function is by dominating the natural metabolism of your hormones. If it didn't, the pill could never prevent pregnancy. Pharmacists know that extra androgens and/or estrogens can cause water retention.

Is cellulite hereditary?

Some of us like to think so because it relieves us from being responsible ourselves. But luckily, cellulite is not hereditary.

What does seem to be 'hereditary' is eating habits; Children take over much of the eating habits of their parents. They become accustomed to these foods, learn to like some of them, and adopt them as their own choice. In general, they stick to these foods for the rest of their life. So just like their mothers, the girls will very likely have cellulite too.

Most recipes are passed on from one generation to the next, and are only adapted in the sense that today we use more pre-manufactured products and more proteinaceous ingredients.

It's not just about taste and customs:

1. Wheat and dairy products contain physically addictive opioid peptides. (See Chapter 58) We eat so many wheat-and dairy products because of these addictive peptides. Just think of the flavor of baked bread, or pizza, or that cheesy taste. (Many products therefore contain wheat- and/or milk-protein; to increase sales)

Those who have not been breast fed have become accustomed to cows' milk opioid peptides (in formula milk) from the day they were born, and therefore have even more problems staying away from food products containing wheat or milk protein. This is why formula fed children, on the average, grow up to be fatter than children fed human milk. [20]

While cow's milk-based formula milk contains cow's milk-opioid peptides, it does not contain the right growth factors and –hormones (at best it still contains some of the hormones / factors meant for calves). Human milk contains specific growth hormones and other hormones that strengthen the optimal development of the human suckling (incl. It's brain). That is why formula fed children, on the average, become less intelligent. [21] See 13/breastfeeding

2. Prepared foods contain physically addictive beta-carbolines. (See Ch. 58) The more protein these prepared foods contain, the more beta-carbolines have originated. We, therefore, all love to eat proteinaceous prepared foods. Just think of that salty flavor of fried meat, making you instantly 'hungry'.

Cellulite is considered the 'norm' today because of the foods we all eat. Because fewer babies are breastfed (or just during a few months), even young children can have cellulite nowadays since they already absorb 'dirty' protein from 'baby-food'.

They also become addicted to the opioid peptides and beta-carbolines (in the baby food) at a very early age. If you have been raised mainly on foods containing opioid peptides and beta-carbolines, you are addicted to foods containing lots of 'dirty' protein. So, if mom has cellulite but breastfed her daughter, and the daughter eats differently and consumes very little 'dirty' protein, the girl will not have cellulite. Or the other way around: if mom has no cellulite but did not breastfeed (or just a few months), then her daughter will have stronger cravings for foods containing opioid peptides, and thus will very likely develop cellulite at an early age.

Beating cellulite is mainly about beating your addiction to wheat- and dairy-products and proteinaceous prepared foods. By sufficiently decreasing your intake of 'dirty protein' (and salt) your cellulite will decrease too - within three months. Depending on how good you want your skin to look, you must decrease your intake of 'dirty' protein accordingly.

[samariah]

That's a good article, i 've read it before. I've been high raw vegan for about 3 weeks now and my cellulite has definitely made a noticeable improvement. I'd even say that about 25 percent of it has gone already. I dont just eat raw though and sit on my butt. I do dry skin brushing many days, oil pulling occasionally, i take a ginger supplement daily (supposed to help with cellulite) and i exercise and do workouts that target and tone my butt, thighs and legs. Before raw, i was developing cellulite on my waist! and now the stuff on my waist is pretty much gone! I personally believe that where there is a will, there is a way with these things. If you aren't getting results or quick enough results with one thing, keep searching for more natural health remedies to heal your body. For me, I decided to take a more holistic approach and not let just raw diet alone before the cure for my cellulite. One thing i also noticed is that the more whole fruits and veggies i eat and the less dried fruits, nuts, seeds and grains i eat, the quicker the cellulite clears. Im currently working on eliminating grains altogether and significantly cutting down nuts and seeds and dried fruits bc i feel better without them.

[Courtney]

Thanks for posting that terrific article, Juicyfruit, and thanks for sharing your inspiring philosophy, Samariah!

Yeah, I am more than ready and willing to see a big change after at least three months of no cooked protein, animal fat, and salt, plus daily workouts and running.

I distinctly remember not having cellulite in the days when I was eating raw, so I think this is right on. And YES, I do believe that where there's a will, there's a way. If I change my eating habits, I CAN eliminate cellulite!

Courtney

[StarFire]

I too have found that it does go thru an 'ugly duckling stage'... kinda gets mushy and jello'y.. very scary http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/sSc_eek2.gif !! BUT THEN IT DOES GET BETTER... as your body flushes out the toxins, poisons, and cellulite.. the areas that are affected will firm up... then as you continue to detox and cleanse and eat raw foods... your body will go thru another jello'y stage ~ and then firm up again... I think it's a process...

The first time I went thru it though I was soo upset - it was quite hideous!!! But then that stage went away and it was suuuch a relief!!! whew!!! http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/whew.gif

I have found the following to be EXTREMELY HELPFUL....

Grapefruits and Grapefruit seed extract
(David Wolfe teaches about a grapefruit fast for I think it's 3 days? helps to flush a lot of cellulite out of your body).

LOTS OF WATER

Dry brushing (is supposed to help and I am going to start doing this ~ well... soon as I get a soft brush!)

aaand... eating coconut oil 2 or 3 times a day. ;)

RAWK ON!! http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/goodluck.gif

[Juicyfruit]

I forgot to put that in there! Lots of walking definately helps! I try to get in an hour a day.

[samariah]

Yes, here are some more specifics i found help with cellulite:

regularly eating the fats coconut/coconut oil and avocados
drinking water w/ lemon or grapefuit juice in it daily
eating things that help flush water out like watermelon, celery, etc

dont give up, there is almost always some new natural method/food/herb/etc that you haven't tried that may very well help you! unlike what mainstream society says, i think cellulite is defintely able to be gotten rid of. I know its not life threatening but it can be a good indicator that there may not be something right going on inside of you, and who doesn't like smoother, firmer skin?

[CaliRaw]

I wonder if rebounding would help since it's supposed to help remove waste products from the cells and from the body? Does anybody know?

[samariah]

i dont really have experience with that but it sounds like it would help.

[barose]

luckitri: 2% body fat?!? Wow, I didn't even know that was possible! Ok, you're my new hero :D



Well, that doesn't sound healthy at all (nothing to aspire to) given you can lose your menstrual cycle at a much higher percentage.