THE TRUTH ABOUT CELLULITE

It used to be the case that doctors claimed cellulite was exactly the same as any other fat on our bodies and, like normal fat, coutd be combated with exercise and a healthy diet. These days, however, thanks to advances in science, we know that the dreaded orange peel textured lumpiness we see on our thighs, butt, and even our arms and belly, isn't ordinary fat at all, but the result of fat cells found underneath the top layer of the skin being squeezed between the bands of connective tissue which attach muscle to your skin.

Weak, damaged fat cells can cause fatty tissue to lie unevenly, while the strong fibres that anchor fatty tissue to the layers of skin above can pull at the pockets of fat, creating that dimpled effect too. While the structure of men's connective tissue is angled, women's connective tissue is vertical, which is the reason why our fat cells can bulge through.

So it seems women - including many of the world's slimmest, fittest supermodels and Olympic athletes - are simply destined to have cellulite. But that doesn't mean you can't do anything to get rid of it once you understand the causes.

POOR CIRCULATION
When blood flow slows, collagen separates, allowing fat to come to the surface of the skin and create an orange peel effect. While poor circulation is primarily genetic, there's much you can do to give it a boost. including regular exercise, and your new secret weapon: daily body brushing (see    ? opposite for advice on how to do it properly).

Because exercise and body brushing help stimulate your metabolism and warm your skin as well as boosting your circulation, you should apply any cellulite products directly after these activities so their dimple-fighting ingredients are better absorbed.

YO-YO DIETING

Research shows that women store fat six times more readily on their lower body than their upper body. But the lower body is far less keen on letting go of that fat. So if you lose seven pounds, six go from the top and just one goes from the bottom. When you put it on again (as yo-yo dieters always do), six go to the bottom and one goes to the top.

And the pattern only intensifies if you go on dieting in this way. Following a sensible healthy eating plan where you eat at regular intervals - like the one in this book - can help normalise your blood sugar levels, prevent binges, and stop you from piling lost weight back on.

JUNK FOOD
Refined and processed foods, those that contain sweeteners, additives and chemicals, plus dairy, sugar and high fat products are all thought to contribute to cellulite. One major thought is that some of the chemicals in these foods act as oestrogen mimics to disrupt the smooth running of the female body. And worse, junk
food seriously lacks essential nutrients, including those antioxidant vitamins and trace minerals known to counteract cellulite.

Try to eat fresh fruit and veg to aid poor digestion and eliminate waste (both of which exacerbate cellulite),  and if you can't ditch all toxins, drink plenty of water every day to help flush them out.