6 Foods that Worsen Cellulite

Are you trying to reduce your cellulite? Learn which foods are harmful, start cutting them from your diet and replacing them with organic alternatives.
6 Foods that Worsen Cellulite
Carlos Fabián Avila

Reviewed and approved by Doctor Carlos Fabián Avila.

Last update: 15 December, 2022

Cellulite is a condition characterized by the formation of lumps and fat in the buttocks, thighs, and abdomen. It’s also known as gynoid lipodystrophy, but it’s more commonly called “orange-peel skin” due to its distinctive appearance.

In this article, you’ll learn about 6 foods that worsen cellulite.


Cellulite is more common in women than in men, especially starting from puberty. Overweight women and women who suffer from hormonal imbalances are more prone to this ailment.

While it’s not considered a serious problem, its presence can alert you to a bad functioning of the lymphatic system, fluid retention, and inflammatory disorders.

Although there are many factors involved in the appearance of cellulite, regularly eating certain foods can worsen the condition.

Do you know what they are? In this article, we’ll share the 6 most common ones so you can avoid them.

What Causes Cellulite?

Cellulite is an inflammation of the subcutaneous tissue that occurs due to bad circulation.

The veins located in the problem areas lose their tonicity and elasticity, causing a blood stagnation. This prevents cells from being properly nourished.

This, in turn, increases toxin retention in the tissues and promotes the storage of fat tissue under the skin.

Risk Factors

Cellulite isn’t caused by one specific thing. Instead, one or more factors usually explain its appearance. These include:

  • Being overweight or obese,
  • Having a sedentary lifestyle,
  • Smoking and drinking alcohol excessively,
  • Wearing tight clothes that hinder circulation,
  • Eating an unbalanced diet,
  • Sudden hormonal changes (puberty, pregnancy or menopause),
  • Water retention,
  • Taking oral contraceptives.

Cellulite Symptoms

cellulite in woman's thigh

The main symptom of cellulite is a noticeable change in the skin’s appearance, with dimpling or nodularity, similar to that of an “orange peel.”

Other manifestations include:

  • Loss of skin elasticity,
  • Pain and inflammation,
  • Dry skin and visible dimples,
  • Pink skin,
  • Quilted look.

Foods that Worsen Cellulite

While some foods help detox your body to promote cellulite reduction, others are full of saturated fats, sugars, and chemical additives that tend to make it worse.

Here are some of them:

  1. Processed Meats

    Foods that worsen cellulite: pigs in a blanket

These meats always look fresh and are fast and easy to make and eat. However, due to their high flour, fat, and sodium contents, they’re one of the worst enemies of circulatory health.

Eating them regularly leads to lipid accumulation in the arteries, water retention, and extra body weight.

Therefore, to reduce cellulite or at least prevent it from getting worse, you shouldn’t eat a lot of:

  • Lunch meat
  • Ham
  • Pepperoni
  • Sausages
  • Bacon
  1. Dairy Products

    Dairy products

There’s no denying that dairy products contain beneficial nutrients. However, due to their high concentration of saturated fats, it’s best you avoid them in excess to reduce cellulite.

These substances are deposited in the tissues and can increase the presence of saggy and dimply skin.

Furthermore, due to their lactose contents, they can trigger inflammatory reactions in intolerant patients.

  1. Dressings/Condiments

    dressings

People usually add dressings or condiments to their dishes to enhance their flavors. The problem is that many of their components increase fat accumulation in the body or lead to water retention in the tissues.

The best thing you can do is cut the following products from your diet:

  • Mayonnaise
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Soy sauces
  • Black sauce
  1. Coffee and Soda

Coffee and some commercial soft drinks contain high doses of caffeine, a stimulant compound that can harm the skin’s health.

This substance interferes with tissue oxygenation and increases one’s proneness to saggy skin and cellulite.

  • You should replace these drinks with water, teas, and natural sugar-free juices.
  1. Refined Flour

    refined flours

Refined wheat flour and its derivatives contain carbohydrates that are difficult to metabolize and that influence the formation of fat deposits.

Including them in your diet leads to being overweight and to cellulite formation in various body parts.

  1. Candy/Sweets

They’re addictive and add a nice flavor to many recipes. However, you should quit eating products that contain them so your cellulite doesn’t get worse.

Excess sugar increases blood glucose and hinders metabolism.

Are you trying to reduce your cellulite? Now that you know that these foods are harmful, start cutting them from your diet and replacing them with organic alternatives.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Cabrera, E. (2016). Cero celulitis. Efigenia Cabrera.
  • Trombetta, F. Los 17 Mejores Alimentos para Eliminar la Celulitis (Naturales).

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.