There isn’t a big connection between cellulite and diet, but there are some cellulite fighting foods that can help you in your battle for dimple-free skin. The best foods that fight cellulite are truly magical, and they can also be diverse and delicious! 

Contrary to popular articles that like to claim there are “magical foods'' that melt fat, it’s actually all about building a nutrition plan that fights tissue breakdown and inflammation, to give your body the best chance to look its best. Weight loss doesn’t necessarily need to be part of the process (although it can be if you want it to). So without further ado, here’s what to eat to get your skin looking healthier and bouncier. 

7 Foods That Fight Cellulite

1) Vegetables 

Having vegetables take up most of the space in your diet is one of the easiest ways to address cellulite on multiples levels. Vegetables are positively loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber - all things that our body needs to function optimally, and that can also help reduce systemic inflammation. 

It’s best to eat a very diverse selection of vegetables with different colors and nutrient profiles. It’ll keep your diet exciting and ensure you get a very diverse blend of important vitamins, minerals, and other antioxidants. 

2) Fruits 

Like vegetables, fruits are also rich in healthy antioxidants! In particular, you want to prioritize fruits rich in vitamin C, like strawberries, citrus fruits, and most tropical fruits. A diet that’s naturally high in vitamin C helps the body produce collagen, which in turn helps support your connective tissue and keeps your skin thicker and more resistant to dimpling. 

Plus, fruits have the benefit of being tasty and snackable. Because of their naturally high sugar content, they should be something you eat as a daily treat, whereas vegetables  (which are also rich in vitamin C and other collagen-building antioxidants) should be staples in your meals.

3) Fiber-Rich Food 

Fiber, whether it’s from grains, legumes, or vegetables, is important for digestion and gut health. 

That said, keep in mind that insoluble fiber, while useful for keeping you “regular,” can also lead to bloating. If that’s sometimes an issue for you, look for sources of soluble fiber like apples, carrots, oats, and psyllium husk. 

4) Lean Protein

Lean proteins are incredibly important, especially if you’re also aiming to improve your overall body composition. Famously, proteins help to keep you satiated and satisfied, which is why they’re an important part of every fat-loss diet plan. 

The key reason they’re helpful for cellulite is their ability to help your body build muscle that will keep your skin looking taut at the surface. Fat loss, especially if it’s rapid, can make cellulite look worse because of the sudden abundance of loose skin. By combining controlled weight loss with muscle gain, you may significantly decrease the chances of your cellulite worsening. 

So what to eat? Chicken, turkey, and fish are classic choices, but tofu, soy, high-protein yogurt, and cottage cheese are excellent meat-free options. 

5) Healthy Fats 

Healthy fats, especially ones rich in omega 3, are incredibly important for healthy body functions. They help prevent inflammation in the body, and they also play a role in warding off a lot of common illnesses from heart disease to certain cancers. You can get omega-3 from nuts, seeds, and fish. As a bonus, they’re just as good at satisfying fat cravings as unhealthy trans and saturated fats. 

6) Liquids

Staying hydrated is so important for your body in a few different ways! Water helps your body flush away waste and toxins, and it’s also important for keeping your skin hydrated and healthy (especially in conjunction with consistent moisturizing). 

Try to consume sugar-free, non-carbonated beverages. Water should be your go-to all throughout the day, and you can always jazz it up with fruit infusions. Occasionally, green tea and a small amount of coffee can also give you an antioxidant boost with a touch of awakening caffeine. Low-sodium soups can also be a great way of getting in both nutrients and liquid!

7) Collagen 

Whether through a supplement or homemade bone broth, it’s possible that collagen can help with the appearance of cellulite, especially if you’re dealing with cellulite but you’re not in any need of weight loss. Consuming more collagen supports skin health, and likely helps to improve the look of cellulite by increasing skin density. 

Foods to Avoid for Cellulite Reduction

The best foods for cellulite are able to reduce inflammation while boosting the body’s ability to create new, healthy tissue - especially collagen. On the other side of this coin, the worst foods for cellulite are ones that damage tissue and lead to inflammation, poor circulation, and bloating. 

If you’re interested in nutrition, you won’t be surprised by the foods you should likely avoid. They include sugary foods, refined or simple carbohydrates, ultra-processed food, and anything that’s fried or loaded with saturated and trans fats. 

Tips for Incorporating Cellulite Fighting Foods into Your Diet

It’s one thing to understand what cellulite-fighting foods are. It’s a whole other matter to incorporate them into your diet. Here are a few tips to help guide you toward a healthier approach to eating. 

• Learn to balance your plate. The ideal meal consists of about 50% plants, 25% lean protein, and 25% whole grains. Healthy fats are a necessary but negligible addition that can come from salad dressing, cooking oil, or a topping of nuts over a salad. 

• Make sure your food is tasty! There are so many ways to find this ideal balance in a meal - it doesn’t have to look like a plate of boiled chicken with a side of steamed broccoli and brown rice (although that’s okay too!). Think creatively and internationally, and prioritize the healthy foods that you enjoy eating - don’t force yourself to eat something you don’t like just because of its supposed health benefits. 

• Keep healthy snacks around. It’s normal to get hungry between meals, and if you stay sated, you’re less likely to make poor dietary choices. Make sure that your snacks are healthy and help you round out any nutritional gaps. That can mean sliced fruits or veggies, nuts, homemade granola bars, or high-protein yogurt. 

• It’s not all-or-nothing. Sticking to a healthy nutrition plan can be very difficult, and one of the easiest ways to fall off the wagon completely is to decide you need to follow it perfectly. It’s okay to have occasional sweet treats or the odd day when you don’t get enough veggies. Even a one-off binge is fine since it’s all about what you do in the long term! 

Don’t forget other aspects of self-care, including other means of dealing with your cellulite! Abs are made in the kitchen, but smooth, cellulite-free skin is made in the shower, gym, and sometimes even the spa. Follow an anti-cellulite body care routine with proven topical ingredients like caffeine, vitamin A, and glycolic acid, and get in the habit of massaging your skin to promote better circulation and to soften connective tissue.