São Paulo: Scientists in Brazil claim that coffee is a miracle cure for cellulite.

In a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology eight out of ten women who used a cream containing a caffeine solution every day for a month had tighter skin and lost up to 2cm off their thighs. In addition two out of three volunteers also lost weight from their hips as the fat under the skin dissolved.

The research also backs supermodel Cindy Crawford who claims to keep her cellulite at bay by using a “miracle mixture” of ground coffee. A number of anti-cellulite creams already use coffee in ingredients.

The researchers concluded that coffee works by speeding up cell metabolism.

About 90 per cent of women are affected by cellulite at some point in their lives.

It was thought that diet and exercise could help but research last year found that losing weight made cellulite worse for one in three women.

The study suggests a cream containing just seven per cent caffeine can have a big effect.

Professor Omar Lupi, who led the study, said: “A 30-day treatment with a caffeine solution showed significant reduction in the circumference of thighs that were treated.”