If the body stores too much of the fat consumed, the fatty cells become abnormally large and constrict the blood and lymph vessels. This constriction impairs the drainage of water and toxins.
Water retention and the degeneration of collagen fibers, or skin tissue fibers, give the skin a padded aspect, called the orange peel effect. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent in certain areas of the body: notably, the thighs and buttocks.
Lymph is made up essentially of water, minerals, lipids, hormones, vitamins and proteins. It is as critical as blood in ensuring the good working order of the organism but it circulates far less rapidly: it takes a full day for lymph to travel around the body.
Lymph carries 75% of the waste matter rejected by our cells, and one of its main roles is healing wounds… If the lymph circulates badly, our vital functions are impaired and our body poisons itself. This leads to problems such as water retention, cellulite, tired, heavy-feeling legs, stretchmarks and swollen ankles.
Hormonal fluctuations (estrogens, aldosterone). During the pre-menstrual cycle, many women remark that their breasts and abdomen seem to retain water and feel painful and swollen.
An unbalanced diet.
Intolerance to certain types of food.
The side-effects of certain types of drugs (drugs for hypertension, corticoids, anti-inflammatory drugs).
Prolonged or frequent standing.
Heat (it dilates blood vessels).
A diet rich in salt