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Water Intake & Cellulite

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4/4/06

 

Topics O' the Day: Water and Cellulite!

Hey everyone!

One of my clients has emailed me asking a few questions regarding water consumption/over-consumption and cellulite. I figured this information could be valuable to all of you. Here's my two cents!

Water is definately important when one is trying to lower their bodyfat...it helps keep every system in your body running smoothly and efficiently, and it also keeps you hydrated (duh)...which is a good thing b/c sometimes you may think you're hungry, but your body is actually dehydrated. I used to drink a gallon of water a day. I've been slacking, but i'm trying harder. You can drink too much water, but it's really hard to do that. What happens is that you disturb the balance of electrolytes inside your body on a cellular level, causing water to be drawn into the cells, thus leading to the cells swelling and possibly bursting - this is called water intoxication. You would have to drink a ton of water without accompanying electrolytes in order for this to happen. It typically occurs in athletes, because of the amount of sweat they lose during workouts/competition.

Get this: the kidneys of a healthy adult can process fifteen liters of water a day! You are unlikely to suffer from water intoxication, even if you drink a lot of water, as long as you drink over time as opposed to intaking an enormous volume at one time. As a general guideline, most adults need about three quarts of fluid each day. Much of that water comes from food, so 8-12 eight ounce glasses a day is a common recommended intake. You may need more water if the weather is very warm or very dry, if you are exercising, or if you are taking certain medications.

Drinking more water will reduce cellulite.

FALSE. In fact, the idea that drinking more water will help any skin condition is erroneous unless you're truly medically dehydrated. Nor does drinking more water eliminate any cellulite-causing toxins. Overhydration can actually increase the appearance of cellulite.

Exercise will prevent cellulite.

FALSE. Even the fittest female athlete can develop cellulite. Still, the less fat you have, the less likely it is to spill over that web of fibrous bands, so by all means, exercise away to burn fat and increase muscle.

Liposuction removes cellulite.

FALSE. Because tight bands of fibrous tissue cause cellulite, extracting the fat layer that resides just under the skin may actually worsen that dimpled look. "I would recommend liposuction for contour improvements in patients with stubborn fat deposits, but I would never recommend liposuction to anyone as a primary cellulite treatment," says Boynton Beach, Florida, plastic surgeon David Rosenstein, MD.

A healthy diet will prevent cellulite. FALSE.

Eating well is always a good idea, but specific foods won't prevent or cure cellulite. Still, junk food that makes you fat may make you more prone to dimples. And beware of all those so-called anti-cellulite supplements. There's no proof that they're effective.

Cellulite only occurs in women.

FALSE. Some men do get cellulite, and industry data show that at least 6,000 American males sought treatment for it last year. Recent research suggests that cellulitic males may have lower levels of the hormone androgen. Still, far fewer males get the dimples. One reason: Male connective tissue lies in a firmer crisscross pattern than the female connective-tissue matrix.