By Nasrin Mani, M.D.
Cellulite is caused by a combination of structural factors in your skin and subcutaneous fat. While many of them are hard to control, one that you can control is getting better nutrition for your skin. Healthy skin is better at concealing cellulite, and may turn moderate cellulite into a minor case and conceal a minor case altogether. Try these five swaps to improve the health of your skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Spinach or kale for lettuce: There’s nothing wrong with lettuce, but spinach is simply bursting with antioxidants, which are great for your skin. Don’t like spinach? Try kale instead. I know I’d eat a bushel of kale before having a second spoon of spinach.
Almonds instead of chips: Almonds make a great snack. High protein content makes them as filling as a serving of chips or other snack food, and they’re just as tasty. Plus their high levels of vitamin E protect your skin against sun damage. And if a serving of almonds seems too small or you eat it too fast, try eating slivered or sliced almonds instead.
Flaxseed for bread crumbs: Breading fish or chicken with bread crumbs provides little in flavor and almost nothing in nutrition. Flaxseed and other delicious seeds can not only add great flavor to your meal, they are full of omega-3 fatty acids, which are superb wrinkle fighters.
Sweet potatoes for white potatoes: Potatoes have their place, but if you enjoy sweet potatoes, then try to slip them into more meals because the benefits are worth it! Sweet potatoes contain vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. Three years of additional daily vitamin C consumption equivalent to half a sweet potato has been shown to reduce the appearance of wrinkles by 11 percent!
Safflower oil for vegetable oil: Cooking with safflower oil instead of vegetable oil can increase your consumption of omega-6 fatty acids, which help keep your skin supple. It can counteract dry, flaky skin, and may even help fight eczema. Make sure you use high-temperature safflower oil when cooking.
If you follow these tips, you’ll be surprised at the benefits you see in your skin, including a reduction in the appearance of cellulite. However, if you are still unhappy with the appearance of cellulite, we also offer more direct treatment with Thermage.
To learn whether Thermage is the right cellulite treatment for you, please contact La Jolla Cosmetic Laser Clinic, helping people from across San Diego.
