Open Magazine - Index

Open Magazine - magazine - Index

Cover Story
If you have noticed lately that the skin on
your buttocks, abdomen, thighs, neck and
upper arms is not as smooth looking as it
used to be, you may be dealing with cellulite.
According to the American Skincare and
Cellulite Expert Association, approximately
90 per cent of women over the age of 20
have cellulite, and contrary to popular belief,
you do not have to be overweight or obese
to suffer from this problem. Cellulite is a
medical condition known as lipodystrophy. It
is now being taken seriously as researchers
and health care professionals understand
that it is associated with poor circulation
and lymphatic drainage.
34 Open Magazine Summer 2008
Throughout our lives, estrogen has a direct effect on
metabolism by our skin and hair, changes in body composition,
and alterations of subcutaneous fat distribution. Aesthetic
endocrinology is a new field that looks at how an excess or a
deficiency of estrogen contributes to obesity and cellulite.
Excess estrogen is thought to be the culprit in causing the
fibrous tissue to build up around fat cells, restricting lymphatic
drainage and blood flow. However, at menopause, a decline
in estrogen also has the negative effect of promoting cellulite.
It seems that too much or too little can create problems
with connective tissue, skin aging, lack of elasticity and skin
sagging.
A recent breakthrough discovery has shown that the
fat within cellulite tissue responds very well to agents that
inhibit the alpha-receptors. Alpha-receptors are found on
the surface of fat cells within cellulite tissue. Once inhibited,
these alpha-receptors allow fat to exit from the cellulite tissue.
The resulting cellulite reduction minimizes skin dimpling and
wrinkling and creates a smoother, more attractive look to the
skin. Dr. Delia Simu, a Romanian medical doctor with specialties
in acupuncture and homeopathic medicine, discovered that
certain plants’ substances directly inhibit alpha-receptors
causing the release of fatty deposits and reversing cellulite
appearance to an appreciable degree. This discovery has
led to the development of a clinically tested cream that has
been shown to break down cellulite and improve fat burning.
Over 80 per cent of 2,500 participants who were studied at
the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj, Romania,
experienced a reduction in cellulite and an average of 3.5
centimetre reduction in size of the affected areas—using only
Alpha-Cell cellulite cream.
The appearance of lumps and bumps just below the skin’s
surface has many women wearing long sleeved shirts and/
or skirts or pants, and has them covering their bottoms with
towels at the beach. To achieve a smoother skin surface, try
the lymphatic drainage and cellulite busting tips listed below.
Drink six glasses of water per day to flush out extra fat.
Eat clean sources of protein at every meal.
Walk 30 minutes per day or do 10 minutes of rebounding
on a mini-trampoline to accelerate lymphatic drainage.
Look for a nutritional supplement that balances
hormones at health food stores.
Apply Alpha-Cell cellulite cream morning and night.
Within six weeks, you will be baring your beautiful skin.
Lorna Vanderhaeghe is a women’s health expert who has been
writing on the subject of nutritional medicine for over 25 years.
She has a Masters of Science in Health Studies and a degree
in biochemistry. The author of eight books, Lorna has been
educating people on how to combine the best of mainstream
medicine with scientifically-backed nutrients and diet changes
to achieve optimal wellness.