Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (151 page)

Avoid liposuction, as it may take away the cushion of fat under the skin. This may allow cellulite to settle.

Get a good night’s sleep—around eight hours suits most of us. If you sleep for less than four hours a night, you are more likely to be overweight and have a flabby backside and wobbly thighs. Being tired slows your metabolism and can affect your food choices, making you go for high-calorie, fatty foods for a fast energy spurt.

Brush the skin dry with a dry skin brush before you have a bath or shower. This action gets the lymph fluid moving, which carries toxins out of the body, thus reducing the chance of cellulite building up.

Move your body. Exercise is one of the best ways to shift cellulite, as it boosts blood and lymph circulation, encourages sweating and removal of waste materials, and restores a slim subcutaneous fat layer. Aerobic exercises that raise your heart rate combined with gentle toning is the best type of anticellulite exercise prescription. BUT avoid excessive exercise (which stresses the body to form free radicals).

Tone areas of the body such as the buttocks and thighs, which are prime areas for cellulite, with leg curls and squats. You don’t need to lift heavy weights to get rid of cellulite. Consistent, frequent exercise is the key.

CHLAMYDIA

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It is caused by the chlamydial trachomatis microorganism and can affect both men and women. Symptoms include irregular bleeding, vaginal or urethral discharge, problems with urination, genital inflammation, itching, and some pain. However, you can have the disease with no apparent symptoms. If left untreated, women may develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), damage to the fallopian tubes, and infertility. Men may suffer prostatitis and problems with their reproductive organs.

CAUSES

Being sexually active without taking precautions puts you at risk of contracting the infection. Babies can also acquire it at birth, when it can cause eye disorders.

Action plan

It is important to see your GP or visit a health clinic. Nutritionally, it will help to include foods that give extra support to your immune system.

EAT/DRINK

Three portions of fresh fruit and five portions of fresh vegetables daily.

Raw garlic, which has potent antibacterial properties.

Foods high in zinc such as pumpkin seeds, raw shelled hemp seeds, sesame seeds.

Raw vegetable juices to help the immune system.

HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS

The immune-supportive herbs echinacea, astragalus, goldenseal, and barberry can all be taken as tinctures.

Drink pau d’arco tea daily to support the immune system.