Cellulite. One little word that causes large amounts of stress, obsession and frustration. It is estimated that 90% of the United States population struggles with cellulite. While the vast majority of us have some cellulite to deal with, many of us do not have accurate information as to what cellulite really is and as to what we can do to help eradicate it. Keep reading this Resveralife Live Well Guide to find out what cellulite is, who is most likely to get cellulite and what can be done to help minimize the problem of cellulite.

What is Cellulite?
Many of us incorrectly believe that cellulite is merely a buildup of excess fat. This is certainly not true. If it were, it would be near impossible for those skinny or athletic individuals to have cellulite. Because all body types are susceptible to cellulite, there must be another explanation for cellulite. Cellulite has more to do with your genetic makeup than your diet, though diet and exercise do have an impact on the appearance of cellulite. Beneath our skin are layers of fibrous tissue that keep fat in the appropriate place. These layers of fibers change as we age due to changes in our hormones and depending on nutrition, diet and exercise. When these layers of fiber weaken fat pushes through and the result is cellulite.

Who Gets Cellulite?
With 90% of the population having some amount of cellulite, it seems that the answer to this question is…everyone. And this is the truth. However, women are more likely than men to deal with cellulite and it often appears as people age. Skinny individuals are just as likely to get cellulite as those that are overweight.

What can be Done to Remove Cellulite?
The myth that we are stuck with cellulite forever is perhaps the most discouraging. As are the myths that there is a magic way to remove cellulite. No amount of liposuction, laser treatments or body wraps will end cellulite forever. There are steps that can be taken to minimize the appearance of cellulite.

The first way to combat cellulite is to make adjustments to your diet. Add in plenty of “wet” foods such as cantaloupe, cucumbers, strawberries and watermelon. These foods contain water and nutrients that help fight cellulite. Water provides much needed collagen to your body, while the nutrients help flatten out the fat under your fibrous tissues.

While we all would love for a magic cream to simply take the cellulite away, that is not an immediate possibility. However, there are certain skincare ingredients that can help smooth our the skin, making the cellulite less noticeable. The two ingredients that have scientific evidence at working are retinol and caffeine. Together, these two ingredients help to shrink fat cells and strengthen the fibrous tissue.

Lastly, there are certain lifestyle habits you can adopt that will help with cellulite. Exercise and strength training are two important additions to make to your lifestyle. Another option that experts recommend is to use the technique of dry brushing. A dry brush costs around $20 and regular use can help smooth out cellulite. Begin at your lower leg and use circular motions to work up the leg. Bonus benefit to dry brushing? You exfoliate at the same time that you help eradicate the cellulite.

Myths about cellulite will continue to pervade society, but fortunately there are truly factual ways to get rid of the problem.