50 February 2015 www.womanthismonth.com LIFESTYLE | wellbeing Nagging Niggles As women, our bodies and minds go on rollercoaster rides in the course of our years. Behnaz Sanjana sheds some light on some of the most common issues women face. Try as one might, it’s a distant dream to have a Jenifer Aniston-like beach bod. Even the most disciplined of us divas have to face some ugly body truths. Here are three annoying issues that particularly have women on their radar together with advice on what you can do about them. COTTAGE CHEESE THIGHS - CELLULITE Although not a medical issue, this is one farfrom-pretty problem that 80 per cent of all women have. Cellulite is the fat trying to push through the connective tissue under the skin, giving that unsightly, bumpy effect. Contrary to popular belief, cellulite strikes not only behind the thighs and buttocks but also around the abdomen and upper arms. And here’s the juice on the subject – as cellulite occurs mainly due to weakened connective tissue, thin girls can get it as well. “Another cause is an acid-alkaline imbalance in the body. Surplus acid is laid in the form of waste in the body which first becomes visible at the exterior of the thighs as an ‘orange peel’ structure,” says Evelyn Mahner, beauty therapist at the German Skin Care Centre. Men manage to evade the wrath of cellulite as their connective tissue is stronger and runs parallel to the skin, versus that of women, which runs vertically. This causes it to be more tear resistant. Women are not so lucky when it comes to maintaining smooth skin, as their connective tissue is more elastic. In addition, the hormone oestrogen promotes the development of cellulite. If you think the products on the supermarket shelves will live up to their cellulite-banishing promises, you may be mistaken. “Baths, massages and anti-cellulite creams can help, but cannot erase cellulite alone,” says Evelyn. She recommends treatments like cupping, radio frequency, cavitation and electro stimulation together with well-balanced acidic-alkaline nourishment and specific muscle-building exercises to banish cellulite. A healthy lifestyle with good nutrition and exercise is primary. Radical diets that swing the body from fat to thin to fat again put the body’s connective tissue in extreme duress, so
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