Cellulite is a natural way that fat is stored in the body, primarily found in women.

It can be found mainly across the upper thighs and buttock area, and resembles the skin of an orange.

While it is completely normal, it can be a massive insecurity for many people.

You may have heard that hot tubs can help to reduce the appearance of cellulite in your body, but is this true?

There is no way to permanently remove cellulite short of an appointment with a plastic surgeon, but regular soaks in a hot tub have been shown to correlate with a reduction in cellulite appearance.

So what is cellulite?

Cellulite is the little dimples that appear in your skin in areas where fat is stored.

There are small connective tissue filaments underneath the surface of your skin known as fibrous septae.

These filaments connect the layer of skin to the tissue underneath.

There is fat trapped between these layers. Where the filaments are pulling down on the skin to connect it, dimples, or cellulite, are formed.

Cellulite is believed to have some hereditary elements, but is primarily worsened by poor lifestyle choices and hormonal fluctuations, particularly in oestrogen levels. It is also noted that cellulite seems to worsen as the body ages.

Why do hot tubs help with cellulite?

The belief behind this is that circulation to the skin will be improved through a soak in the hot tub. The temperature and formation of the water in a hot tub will stimulate the blood vessels.

As your body temperature increases, your blood vessels undergo a process known as vasodilation. This is where your blood vessels closer to the surface of your skin become wider, and allow heat to escape through your skin cells.

This enlarging of the blood vessels means that circulation of blood throughout the body is improved. This is believed to help reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Cellulite is believed to be made worse by a restriction in blood flow. This is why a hot tub is supposed to be beneficial.

It is claimed that hot tubs also increase your heart rate and drop your blood pressure, simulating the effects of exercise.

Hot tubs are also believed to tone your body, relieve the effects of swelling, and reduce fluid retention. This is likely due to the hydrotherapeutic effects of the powerful water jets contained within the hot tub.

This effect is amplified by the addition of some minerals to the water.

These could include Epsom salts which are believed to help improve the circulation within your body.

You can also perform some exercise routines while in your hot tub.

The water adds resistance to the movements while reducing the rate at which your body and muscles tire.

This is also really good for rehabilitation after an injury.

Soaking in a hot tub has also been shown to reduce the stress that people experience in their day to day lives.

Your stress levels have a huge influence on how you live your life and the dietary choices you make.

The less stress you are under, the more healthy your lifestyle is likely to be.

What else helps with cellulite?

Reducing your intake of toxins is believed to help alleviate the appearance of cellulite.

In particular, caffeine has been linked to the increased visibility of cellulite.

This is because it reduces the blood circulation and lymph flow within the body, meaning that your blood vessels begin to constrict.

This eventually leads to a buildup of waste products which makes cellulite appear worse.

Another factor that has been linked to cellulite is diet. Including a lot of antioxidant rich foods in your diet means that your connective tissue will be strengthened and the appearance of cellulite will be lessened.

Good foods to introduce to your diet include broccoli, tomatoes, kiwis, and oranges. All of these foods are rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C which is vital for skin health.

Pectin is another good compound to include in your diet.

This is found in apples, pears, carrots, and cabbage. It is a type of soluble fiber that helps with your digestion.

This in turn helps to remove toxins from your body and improve your skin’s appearance.

You should exercise regularly to keep your body healthy and your muscles toned. This will also help to improve the blood circulation of your body.

This makes the connective tissue more elastic and will stimulate the action of the lymph system.

There are some other more natural remedies for cellulite too.

These include reflexology, acupuncture, and aromatherapy. Reflexology is alleged to stimulate toxin release into the blood and lymph which are then removed naturally by the body.

Acupuncture is a way of allowing negative energies to leave your body, improving its natural balance.

Aromatherapy using oils like grapefruit and juniper berry is suggested to promote toxin removal too.

You could also take up yoga and focus more on your posture. Both of these will tone and train your muscles, making your skin appear smoother and more taut.

Good posture will also improve your breathing by expanding your thoracic cavity, which in turn benefits your blood circulation.

Mediation is also believed to help alleviate the cellulite you see on your body.

This is because it has been proven to reduce your stress levels which play an important role in your physical health.

Do not expose your skin to extreme heats for extended periods of time, such as bright sun or really hot baths.

These can both cause damage to the outer layers of your skin making cellulite appear worse.

If you smoke, it is recommended that you quit for many reasons.

If you needed one more, you should be aware that nicotine contributes to the breakdown of collagen in your skin. This leads to wrinkles forming prematurely and can also worsen the appearance of cellulite.

A dry brushing routine has long been touted as a good home cellulite reducing method. Look on the internet for more detailed information on this.