Recently, an undercover CI source brought up the connection between caffeine and cellulite in her Cellulite Story. I’ve never been much of a coffee drinker so this is an angle I didn’t focus on in my previous research. But now that I’ve been looking into it, there does seem to be a viable connection.
Here are several ways that cellulite is thought to be affected by caffeine intake*:
- Caffeine can contribute to weight gain by increasing the stress hormone cortisol and insulin levels.
- It impedes the circulation of nutrients to the skin.
- As a diuretic, caffeine contributes to water retention.
- It can lead to sleeplessnes, anxiety, tension, and PMS.
- It depletes the body of important nutrients like calcium and the B vitamins.
Another factor to consider is what you’re consuming with your coffee.
As Malcolm Gladwell explains in his awesome TED speech, when you ask an American what kind of coffee they like, they always say “a rich dark roast.” But in taste tests, they consistently prefer coffee that is weak and milky. Most people don’t want to admit they like weak, milky coffee.
Most of the popular creamers are packed with partially hydrogenated soybean oil and high fructose corn syrup (you remember how soy affects the body, right?). You might even be able to blame your big ‘ol coffee mug for your lack of resistance to all those sweets your coworkers are bringing into the office this time of year. As caffeine increases insulin levels, your body will crave sweets to keep your insulin elevated.
This isn’t to say that coffee is completely forbidden on an anti-cellulite diet, but experts do recommend limiting your intake to a cup or two a day. Our investigative CI source noticed a dramatic increase in her cellulite approximately six months after taking up a daily coffee habit.
What about you? Has anyone else noticed a connection between caffeine and cellulite?
You might also like:
Discovering Real Beer in America. Finally!
Cellulite, Estrogen, and Female Incontinence
Fat: It’s Not What You Think
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my I hope not, Caffeine is my weekness! Well that and bread!
Sorry, Rosy. I hope I didn't ruin your Christmas Eve Eve Eve Eve… Happy holidays!
3. As a diuretic, caffeine contributes to water retention.
???
Diuretics actually help the body get rid of excess water through urine!
Your comment leads to an excellent question! I've often wondered why coffee is supposed to reduce cellulite when applied topically but aggravates it when ingested daily. This is what I've found.
While occasional use of a mild diuretic might be helpful in getting the body to excrete excess water through the urine, it is not effective as a long term treatment (and as we know, most coffee drinkers are in it for the looooooong haul). When you repeatedly take a diuretic, the body eventually responds to the continual dehydration by learning to retain more fluid than usual. This is why people with eating disorders (who abuse diuretics, laxatives, etc) are at an increased risk of edema. Once use of the diuretic is discontinued, the body continues to retain excess fluids until it learns that adequate fluids will be regularly available. This usually takes anywhere from 3-6 weeks. You can read more about the effects of diuretics on edema at the following link: Edema (Water Retention) from Diagnose-Me.com
I'd love to know your thoughts on this line of reasoning. Do you think it makes sense that a daily diuretic could lead to fluid retention? Thanks for your challenging comment!