Carbonation does not cause cellulite, but the calories that come along with it in sugary sodas may worsen your orange-peel skin problem. It would be great if canning the carbonation was the key to preventing cellulite. Unfortunately, the experts at the Mayo Clinic say that, while preventing excess pounds can help, there's no way to prevent cellulite entirely.
Cellulite
That lumpy, bumpy stuff that has a cottage cheese texture is the result of collections of fat that push against the connective tissue beneath your skin. Most women have some cellulite. Many factors influence whether you have it and how much you have. These include the amount of fat on your body, your age, your genes and the thickness of your skin.
Myth and Reality
The suggestion that the sodium in carbonated beverages causes your fat cells to swell and promotes cellulite is at the heart of the myth that carbonation leads to this condition, according to That's Fit. Sodium does, however, cause belly bloating, which can make you feel less attractive---especially if you're already worried about how you'll look in your swimsuit due to cellulite, notes Tanya Zuckerbrot in the Fox News article "Snacks for a Beach Bod." Carbonation also can cause bloating because it leads to intestinal gas.
Flushing Theory
Some theories on cellulite say that you must flush toxins from your body to reduce the unsightly lumps on your body. Water is one great tool for flushing these toxins, says Marie Watkins, author of "Banishing Cellulite Once and For All." If you regularly drink soda in lieu of water you don't gain this benefit, Watkins notes. The author suggests consuming seven to eight glasses of water a day.
Solution
Drinking carbonated beverages that are high in sugar can add to your calorie count and promote weight gain, though the sugar is the culprit, not the carbonation. Diet, of course, influences how much fat you carry on your body. That means consuming fewer calories and working out more will help cut down on your cellulite, though it may not eliminate it. Your best weapon against this condition is aerobic exercise combined with strength training. Exercise improves muscle tone which may help reduce the appearance of your cellulite, Watkins notes. If you want to cut calories, swap high-calorie sodas for either the sugar-free variety or for other beverages that do not have so many empty calories.
Theories/Speculation
Some theories say that the ingredients---though not the carbonation--in colas and other carbonated beverages promote cellulite because they are laden with chemicals that act as toxins in your body. Such toxins get trapped in your fat cells, the theory goes. Other theories say that soda interferes with efficient blood circulation to the skin.
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