Cellulite gives your skin an ugly, bumpy appearance in affected areas, but you cannot blame caffeine directly for cottage-cheese thighs. Caffeine does affect your body physically, but the drug itself has no influence on cellulite development. The only way caffeine contributes to cellulite is if you eat or drink it in certain foods or beverages.
Definition
Cellulite is fat underneath your skin that pushes up against your connective tissue, which makes it visible as lumps, according to the Nemours Foundation's Teens Health website. The skin's surface looks bumpy, puckered or dimpled because of the protruding fat. Cellulite shows up more frequently on your stomach, hips and buttocks and affects women more frequently than men.
Causes
Cellulite is caused mainly by genetics and your body composition rather than specific chemicals or foods. The biggest factors are your skin thickness and how many fat cells you have in your body, although you become more prone to cellulite as you age because of lost skin elasticity, the Mayo Clinic advises. Stress, taking hormonal contraceptives and getting too little exercise all contribute to cellulite. You can have visible cellulite whether you are fat or skinny, but the problem is more visible on people with excess body weight.
Caffeine Description
Caffeine is a chemical that affects your central nervous system, not your skin or body fat. Caffeine increases your alertness and helps you stay awake. Some people drink energy drinks or shots to get those effects, but others drink it in beverages like tea and coffee, either for energy or because they enjoy the drinks. Chocolate is also caffeine-rich because the substance occurs naturally in cocoa.
Considerations
Coffee and tea contain a minuscule amount of calories unless you add sugar, cream, honey or other fattening flavor enhancers. Your risk of developing visible cellulite rises if you consume too many calorie-rich caffeinated drinks and gain weight. Colas are also natural caffeine sources and are high in calories unless you drink diet versions. Chocolate is a common ingredient in many fattening items, like candy bars, cake and cookies, all of which can add pounds and compound cellulite problems.
Prevention
You do not have to avoid caffeine to reduce the appearance of your cellulite. Skip cream and pre-sweetened creams, and use artificial sweeteners in coffee and tea. Avoid fancy, high-calorie coffee-based beverages at coffee bars. Choose diet sodas, whether or not you drink cola, and eat fattening chocolate-based products in moderation. The Mayo Clinic recommends combining toning exercise with weight control strategies to fight cellulite most effectively.
Caffeine Cream
Topically applied caffeine creams are used as cellulite fighters, although research has not confirmed their effectiveness. The chemical is said to be effective because it tightens blood vessels and reduces fat, according to CBS's "The Early Show," but no studies definitely back up this claim.
References
- TeensHealth.org; Cellulite; May 2009
- MayoClinic.com; Cellulite Risk Factors; January 2011
- Mayo Clinic; Cellulite Prevention; January 2011
- The Early Show; Caffeine is Latest Anti-Cellulite Weapon; February 2009
- "Los Angeles Times"; Little Proof of Cellulite Cream Success; Chris Woolston; November 2008
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