Detox Lymph System to Fight Cellulite

All the cellulite cream and spa treatments in the world won't permanently erase those not-so-darling dimples on your derriere.  Some might give you a temporary fix, but only by getting to the root of the problem can you achieve more lasting results.

In addition to genetics, hormones, and weight gain, a key player in the development of cellulite is the lymphatic system, which supports all of the other systems in the body.  Lymph is a clear fluid that circulates throughout the body, bathing every cell and removing excess fluid, bacteria, dead blood cells, cancer cells and toxins.

Lymph doesn't flow through your body with a pump like blood. Instead, every move you make and every breath you take keeps it moving along.

Too much sitting, too many environmental toxins and too much stress can slow down the lymphatic system, resulting in an overload of fluids and toxins in the body, which collect in the pockets of fat around the thighs.  While combating cellulite may seem more about vanity, a healthy lymph system does more than diminish those dimples from the inside out, but it's critical for warding off disease and healing injuries.

To detoxify and keep your lymphatic system flowing try the following:

1.  Take Deep Breaths Often
2.  Exercise (Include jump roping or rebounding for the up and down movement.)
3.  Massage Your Cellulite
4.  Get a Professional Lymph Drainage Massage
5.  Dry Brush Your Skin (Use a natural fiber brush, brushing from your extremities toward the heart.)
6.  Take Breaks From Sitting At Your Desk
7.  Eat Lots of Fiber (Load up on fruits, veggies, flaxseed, beans, etc. They latch onto toxins, hormones and fat to flush out them out of system.)
8.  Sweat (A good workout can do the trick or try a sauna or a shower steam)

Sources:
Womentowomen.com
Annlouise.com
Naturalnews.com
Newhope360.com

Fusing Together Raw, Living Foods With Warm, Comforting Dishes

The raw food movement seems to be more than just a passing fad.  While my husband likens its staying power to the Atkins Diet, I beg to differ. Eating living foods may seem like a hot, new tend, but it's really an old idea. Before the dawn of refrigeration and pasteurization, more food was naturally raw and fresh or fermented.

Since I like hot soup on cold winter days made with real nourishing broth from chicken or beef bones, I honestly didn't think the raw movement applied much to me. Then I began to realize that on my path to eating more nutrient dense foods, I have naturally been increasing my consumption of living foods, which are raw.

When raw food chef and educator LindaJoy Rose, Ph.D. asked me if she could include my recipe for Almost-Raw Green Bars in a book she was writing--one that would help people incorporate more living foods into their diet by marrying raw and cooked foods together in a way that is practical and attainable, I was intrigued.  Of course, I agreed to let her include my recipe as long as I could get a copy of the book. I was thrilled when my copy of Raw Fusion: Better Living Through Living Foods recently arrived fresh off the press as well as Raw Fusion Recipes, which is chock full of delicious recipes that even picky members of your family will enjoy. One of my favorites is Rose's Raspberry Razzle Dazzle, an awesome green smoothie recipe made with green chard that even my 2-year-old son, who hates veggies, approves.

Rose doesn't expect her readers to be 100% raw food eaters, but getting closer to 50% seems like a piece of raw cake with her step-by-step guide to helping readers transition into a more plant-based lifestyle. Raw Fusion also includes contributions from some of the leading pioneers in the raw food movement, who offer their insights, experience and recipes.

You can order both Raw Fusion: Better Living through Living Foods and Raw Fusion together from RawFusionLiving.com for $29.95.

Disclosure: Vibrantglow.com is an affiliate of RawFusionLiving.com.