Cellulite : the inside story

We may be celebrating 50 years of the miniskirt, but cellulite is still here to stay. No matter how thin or rich we get, the great orange peel equalizer has been spotted on everyone, be it Pippa Middleton, Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz, Mischa Barton, or supermodel Isabelli Fontana. “Cellulite is fat that has accumulated in uneven pockets causing the dimpled effect,” says Pooja Makhija, Bollywood’s go-to nutritionist and author of the book Eat.Delete. Toxins that result in these misshapen cells include preservatives, white flour, alcohol, and even cigarettes. And that’s only the beginning. We interviewed the best nutrionists across the country to get you the food no-nos, the nutrition musts, and express methods that transform you from being puckered to polished. Coffee reduces cellulite on application. But if you have a beach holiday planned, you can drink it as a quick fix* too. Mumbaibased Dr Vishakha Shivdasani, who specialises in nutrition, suggests this prep to her model clients before a shoot: Twothree daily cups of black coffee for 10 days or a fortnight. The metabolism-boosting results of black coffee have been welldocumented. In 2013, researchers from the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research and Western Australia’s School of Medicine and Pharmacology found that two-three cups did burn fat cells, but five-six cups held on to the fat. If caffeine doesn’t suit you, then erase salt* for five days at a stretch. No salt means that the body doesn’t hold on to excess water, as the retention makes the appearance worse. It’s common sense really—nothing fights toxic free radicals more than antioxidants, which should form the biggest part of your diet. This includes brightly coloured fruit and vegetables, with tomatoes (to firm), grapefruit (to detoxify), turmeric (which removes fat cells) adhered to the top layer of the skin, cayenne pepper (for circulation), topping Dr Shivdasani’s list. A vitamin C supplement pill, which gives more concentrated doses than what is available in food, restores skin structure by promoting collagen and elastin growth. When combined with vitamin E, the effects get into power mode. “Not only is sugar bad for your waistline, but it also causes your skin and even internal organs to sag by attaching onto and breaking the protein bonds that form tissues,” says Mumbaibased macrobiotiocs expert, Dr Shonali Sabherwal, whose celebrity clients include Katrina Kaif and Jacqueline Fernandez. Dimpled skin is caused by white flour, while saturated fats settle straight into the hip area. But even if you thought dairy was harmless, macrobiotic experts believe otherwise. “Whether it is organic or not, it’s full of casein, a protein that humans cannot digest, which accumulates in fat cells.” Here’s another reason to sip on green tea—it helps shrink fat cells, and inhibits fat absorption. But that’s not the only tea you should be sipping. Dr Shivdasani recommends a cup a day of nettle or dandelion tea that flush out toxins by improving the health of your liver. Traditional Medicine Organic Nettle, and Dandelion Tea,

2,700 each, at junglee.com Forming the base of Makhija’s Eat.Delete diet plan (eating well and often with the right kind of food), multiple meals are a great way to rev up your metabolism. “Ten-twelve small meals in the day ensure that your body is always in a burn mode. Smaller, lighter portions can be digested easier instead of a full, heavy meal.” The 10 includes four proper meals with small portions of veggies, lentils, and rotis, plus, six fillers such as a whole apple, a biscuit, or a handful of chana. *Consult your doctor beforehand