36 replies to this topic

[Murmur]

Hey guys,

I've posted a lot about my success with bioidentical hormones, specifically natural progesterone therapy. Through hormone rebalancing I was able to clear up 90% of my acne. What remained was some persistent non-inflamed small acne on my forehead (little "bumpies), and a few cysts each month.

I've been sticking to a "gluten light" diet for the past year and I feel like it has been good for my overall health. Twice, however, I've strayed and eaten a bunch of bread (once last spring, and then again over Thanksgiving), and both times I ended up with this weird itchy rash all over my torso a few days later. I decided that I needed to be more strict with my diet since it seems I have a serious gluten/grain intolerance. I also noticed, while the rash was healing, that it temporarily worsened again when I ate some gluten-free bread. This got me wondering if gluten wasn't the only problem. I became more suspicious of yeast, all grains/starches, and dairy, so I decided to cut all of those things out and embark on a paleo type diet.

That was about two weeks ago and although I know it's still early, I am shocked at how good my skin looks. My remaining persistent small acne is GONE. My face is completely clear right now. I haven't had a single new pimple since I quit eating dairy, grains, potatoes, sugar, etc.

My diet right now consists of lots of meat (both lean and fatty), tons of raw fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood, and some nuts and seeds. I cook with organic butter. I'm also taking a high-potency food-based multivitamin, and a probiotic.

MY BLOOD SUGAR IS TOTALLY EVEN. No more spikes and crashes. I can go hours and hours without eating and although I get hungry, I don't get shakey and weak and irritable. Oh yeah, and my persistent unexplained nausea (which improved when I started taking progesterone but never went away altogether) now seems to be GONE.

I feel like my body is having a very positive, immediate, and dramatic response to this new diet. Even my redness is improving -- something that has been really stubborn for me.

I will also say that this diet is delicious and that my boyfriend and I are having a blast cooking steaks, shrimp, lamb, etc, and lots of interesting salads and fruits. We're eating really decadent things like steak and eggs cooked in butter with GIANT salads and avocados and it feels AMAZING!

I never had this kind of dramatic success result from dietary changes EVER before, and this is the first time I've ever totally cut out all grains, starches, and dairy.

Just wanted to share my experience. The bioidentical hormones have been a lifesaver for me but I feel like this diet is pushing me over the edge into the "optimal health" zone for the first time in my life.

I would love to hear from those of you who are on similar diets!!

[jaimev34]

Great to hear! I have a similar diet, except for I eat no dairy. I have had tremendous clearing as well. I believe it has to do more with the glycemic index/load than it does with allergies to gluten etc. However, in the case of outbreaks caused by dairy and peanuts, I believe that that is due to senstitivities to those foods. For example, I strayed a bit this past week and ate some peanut butter (the completely natural kind with only peanuts as the ingredient) and the next day I broke out a bit. Peanut butter does not have a high GI so it has to be some kind of intolerance that I have.

I just wish I would have known about this a long time ago instead of relying on all of the topicals and pills. It sucks that the medical community has such flawed fundamentals when it comes to acne, such as the myth that diet plays no part in acne. There I was eating all the garbage I could relying on the BP and Tazorac to help my skin.

Anyways, congratulations and I wish you continued success.

-Jaime

[ryudoadema]

Nice!! I've been following the diet from www.healingnaturallybybee.com, as well as several others on the board. It's high-fat (meat,eggs,butter,tropical oils,fish etc.), moderate protein (animal proteins) and low carb (pretty much just veggies and lemons); no grains, starchy veggies, fruits for now(candida),nuts, vegetable oils (except olive) and other dairy products. Excellent results!

[Murmur]

Thanks guys!! Congratulations to you both!! I'm so happy to hear of others having similar success.

Hopefully if I stay on this diet I'll eventually be able to wean myself off of the bioidentical progesterone. It would be nice if my endocrine system were able to right itself given proper nutrition.

I'm really LOVING not having to worry about blood sugar crashes anymore. I remember when my diet was at its worst, if I had a croissant and coffee for breakfast I would be a shaking hypoglycemic mess by the early afternoon. Now I get really hungry, but I don't shake.

[ryudoadema]

Thanks guys!! Congratulations to you both!! I'm so happy to hear of others having similar success.

Hopefully if I stay on this diet I'll eventually be able to wean myself off of the bioidentical progesterone. It would be nice if my endocrine system were able to right itself given proper nutrition.

I'm really LOVING not having to worry about blood sugar crashes anymore. I remember when my diet was at its worst, if I had a croissant and coffee for breakfast I would be a shaking hypoglycemic mess by the early afternoon. Now I get really hungry, but I don't shake.

Thanx! The program I am following is for candida, but the entire point is to build up the immune system by healing the body as a whole- and hundreds of people with and without it have gotten tremendous results. The site has tons of great info, and when I searched on the message boards, I found over 150 results from "progesterone". Bee (the moderator) says that once the body has everything it needs that hormones will regulate themselves. There's quite a bit of info in those messages that you may want to check out, even if you don't want to follow the program.

[Murmur]

Thank you ryudoadema for pointing out the hormone info on that site! "Bee" seems like a neat lady.

A lot of the recipes look aweasome too!

Did you self-diagnose candida or did someone tell you that you have it? I know it's so common and is typically overlooked by most doctors.

[gMARIAs]

I don't think I follow the Paleo Diet per say, but kind of similar.

I've kind of cut back on eating period. I have 1/2 cup of whole grain rolled oats (slow cook) every morning with some omega 3 butter-which has no hydrogenated oil or bad fats. A little pricey, but it's good. I also alternate between putting a couple packs of generic sweet n' low and a small teaspoon of natural honey in it. That's been my breakfast for the past week and a half.

My lunch varies. I've been trying to make it a small salad-which usually consists of iceburge lettuce (I really want baby spinach but the price is outrageous here) some tomatoes, cucumbers and occasionally a scrambled egg topped with italian dressing.

My dinner is often what the parents or my fiance` cook. I pick and choose and if it's a high carb meal-I eat a lot less of it.

I have a new addiction to baby carrots as a snack too. And I can't help but have a cup of coffee a week-which doesn't do TOO much damage. I'm waiting until after the holidays to buy some Teechino's herbal coffee. It's a caffeine free, healthier type of coffee.

It's difficult to eat what I want, though, because I don't graduate college until June, still live at home and have little say over groceries. My parents make a SLIGHT effort but, the economy and my mom's stupid spending habits have inhibited how much, and what she buys. It's also difficult because I spend weekends at my fiance's house-they're a big bread/pasta family. They don't eat many fresh fruits or veggies though they do eat a lot of whole grain.

Sorry-I got off topic! Overall, changing my eating habits have helped. I haven't had a BAD breakout in a couple of weeks, but I ate a couple of my grandma's no bake cookies and hello dolly the other day, which caused a few spots to arise. I learned my lesson from that though. No cheating for me anymore!

[Murmur]

I don't think I follow the Paleo Diet per say, but kind of similar.

I've kind of cut back on eating period. I have 1/2 cup of whole grain rolled oats (slow cook) every morning with some omega 3 butter-which has no hydrogenated oil or bad fats. A little pricey, but it's good. I also alternate between putting a couple packs of generic sweet n' low and a small teaspoon of natural honey in it. That's been my breakfast for the past week and a half.

My lunch varies. I've been trying to make it a small salad-which usually consists of iceburge lettuce (I really want baby spinach but the price is outrageous here) some tomatoes, cucumbers and occasionally a scrambled egg topped with italian dressing.

My dinner is often what the parents or my fiance` cook. I pick and choose and if it's a high carb meal-I eat a lot less of it.

I have a new addiction to baby carrots as a snack too. And I can't help but have a cup of coffee a week-which doesn't do TOO much damage. I'm waiting until after the holidays to buy some Teechino's herbal coffee. It's a caffeine free, healthier type of coffee.

It's difficult to eat what I want, though, because I don't graduate college until June, still live at home and have little say over groceries. My parents make a SLIGHT effort but, the economy and my mom's stupid spending habits have inhibited how much, and what she buys. It's also difficult because I spend weekends at my fiance's house-they're a big bread/pasta family. They don't eat many fresh fruits or veggies though they do eat a lot of whole grain.

Sorry-I got off topic! Overall, changing my eating habits have helped. I haven't had a BAD breakout in a couple of weeks, but I ate a couple of my grandma's no bake cookies and hello dolly the other day, which caused a few spots to arise. I learned my lesson from that though. No cheating for me anymore!

gmarias, I do understand that it's harder before you're out on your own. Is there any way YOU could do some of the family grocery shopping and thereby have more say what kinds of things you eat? Also, what about romaine lettuce instead of iceberg? It's not as pricey as spinach but it's a nice dark green which means it's a lot more nutrient-dense than the iceberg.

As an aside, I would give up the artificial sweetener if I were you... that's some of the absolute worst stuff you can put into your body. It's totally synthetic and there's lots of evidence that it's carcinogenic. Why not just stick with the honey instead?

....Oh, and my skin is still doing AWESOME!!!!!

[ryudoadema]

Thank you ryudoadema for pointing out the hormone info on that site! "Bee" seems like a neat lady.

A lot of the recipes look aweasome too!

Did you self-diagnose candida or did someone tell you that you have it? I know it's so common and is typically overlooked by most doctors.

Anytime! Well, they say that tests are never very reliable for candida, but I did have an antibody test for candida and it was above normal. My naturopath just said to take probiotics, which didnt help without the rest of the program...Anyways, what really proved it to me was scoring so high on the Crook Test. Even more proof from getting itchy rashes and die-off from the program, yet feeling better and better.

[gMARIAs]

I don't think I follow the Paleo Diet per say, but kind of similar.

I've kind of cut back on eating period. I have 1/2 cup of whole grain rolled oats (slow cook) every morning with some omega 3 butter-which has no hydrogenated oil or bad fats. A little pricey, but it's good. I also alternate between putting a couple packs of generic sweet n' low and a small teaspoon of natural honey in it. That's been my breakfast for the past week and a half.

My lunch varies. I've been trying to make it a small salad-which usually consists of iceburge lettuce (I really want baby spinach but the price is outrageous here) some tomatoes, cucumbers and occasionally a scrambled egg topped with italian dressing.

My dinner is often what the parents or my fiance` cook. I pick and choose and if it's a high carb meal-I eat a lot less of it.

I have a new addiction to baby carrots as a snack too. And I can't help but have a cup of coffee a week-which doesn't do TOO much damage. I'm waiting until after the holidays to buy some Teechino's herbal coffee. It's a caffeine free, healthier type of coffee.

It's difficult to eat what I want, though, because I don't graduate college until June, still live at home and have little say over groceries. My parents make a SLIGHT effort but, the economy and my mom's stupid spending habits have inhibited how much, and what she buys. It's also difficult because I spend weekends at my fiance's house-they're a big bread/pasta family. They don't eat many fresh fruits or veggies though they do eat a lot of whole grain.

Sorry-I got off topic! Overall, changing my eating habits have helped. I haven't had a BAD breakout in a couple of weeks, but I ate a couple of my grandma's no bake cookies and hello dolly the other day, which caused a few spots to arise. I learned my lesson from that though. No cheating for me anymore!

gmarias, I do understand that it's harder before you're out on your own. Is there any way YOU could do some of the family grocery shopping and thereby have more say what kinds of things you eat? Also, what about romaine lettuce instead of iceberg? It's not as pricey as spinach but it's a nice dark green which means it's a lot more nutrient-dense than the iceberg.

As an aside, I would give up the artificial sweetener if I were you... that's some of the absolute worst stuff you can put into your body. It's totally synthetic and there's lots of evidence that it's carcinogenic. Why not just stick with the honey instead?

....Oh, and my skin is still doing AWESOME!!!!!

I've tried doing the grocery shopping or going along when they do shop. Sadly, there's things they simply will not eat and considering they're paying, I can't force them to buy better stuff-which they should considering the hodgepodge of health problems they both have. They usually send me along with a list and I can't veer too far off or buy extra things for myself.

I do like Romaine lettuce, but we tend to go Kroger, where the only Romaine is that pre-cut bagged stuff. Still expensive and my parents refuse to fork out the cash for it. I'd buy it if I had the option. I think it tastes better, anyway. I love salads with Romaine and baby spinach leaves!

As far as sweetner goes-yeah, I know it's awful. I know it's a synthetic sweetener that can cause cancer. But I don't eat it on a daily basis. I'm not addicted to the stuff. I wish I could afford Stevia but that stuff is ridiculously expensive. I kind of use it now because well...it's cheap, cheaper than my natural honey that I also use for my face. Using it that often will deplete it quicker and honey is something my parents don't buy for me. They REFUSE to buy organic or natural foods-for whatever stupid reasons they have. (They're digging some mighty early graves). I don't plan on using sweetener forever-just until I can consistently afford something better.

[ryudoadema]

As far as sweetner goes-yeah, I know it's awful. I know it's a synthetic sweetener that can cause cancer. But I don't eat it on a daily basis. I'm not addicted to the stuff. I wish I could afford Stevia but that stuff is ridiculously expensive. I kind of use it now because well...it's cheap, cheaper than my natural honey that I also use for my face. Using it that often will deplete it quicker and honey is something my parents don't buy for me. They REFUSE to buy organic or natural foods-for whatever stupid reasons they have. (They're digging some mighty early graves). I don't plan on using sweetener forever-just until I can consistently afford something better.

It's almost better to use a little sugar than the synthetic stuff in my opinion. At least your body somewhat recognizes it. I buy liquid stevia from vitacost.com, which is much cheaper for a 4oz bottle than you could get at any store (they sell powdered ones too)- but the bottle would last months if you are only using a little and costs i think like $15. It lasts me a month and I use alot of it in my shakes, lemonade etc. Also, if you can get enough money together to buy some organic foods in bulk, that can save alot- like a 54oz coconut oil if you eat that...

[Murmur]

It's almost better to use a little sugar than the synthetic stuff in my opinion. At least your body somewhat recognizes it. I buy liquid stevia from vitacost.com, which is much cheaper for a 4oz bottle than you could get at any store (they sell powdered ones too)- but the bottle would last months if you are only using a little and costs i think like $15. It lasts me a month and I use alot of it in my shakes, lemonade etc. Also, if you can get enough money together to buy some organic foods in bulk, that can save alot- like a 54oz coconut oil if you eat that...

I totally agree. A little goes a LONG way with stevia. It's actually much sweeter than sugar.

[gMARIAs]

The problem with "a little bit of sugar" is that it doesn't sweeten things enough. It also causes me to break out so I avoid it like the plague.

I have no money. I can't afford to buy ANYTHING, let alone buy it in bulk. Like I said, I plan on switching over to something a bit better, like Stevia, once I'm out of college, have a job and can afford it. Right now, the money in my account goes to paying for tuition, gas and things I need for school. Buying much else jeopardizes my ability to pay for school so organic foods are definitely OUT.

The only reason I own a bottle of organic ACV, organic coconut oil, and natural honey is because my parents left town over Thanksgiving and my dad left me the $15 Kroger gift card he got from work.

I don't wanna be poor anymore!

[ryudoadema]

The problem with "a little bit of sugar" is that it doesn't sweeten things enough. It also causes me to break out so I avoid it like the plague.

I have no money. I can't afford to buy ANYTHING, let alone buy it in bulk. Like I said, I plan on switching over to something a bit better, like Stevia, once I'm out of college, have a job and can afford it. Right now, the money in my account goes to paying for tuition, gas and things I need for school. Buying much else jeopardizes my ability to pay for school so organic foods are definitely OUT.

The only reason I own a bottle of organic ACV, organic coconut oil, and natural honey is because my parents left town over Thanksgiving and my dad left me the $15 Kroger gift card he got from work.

I don't wanna be poor anymore!

lol! I hear ya, I hate being stuck in that situation where you know what to do but you can't do it for some reason or other. You have finals this week btw? I'm in the process of writing 1 out of 5 critical essays on drama that I need to send in by midnight 2morrow!...ugh...

[gMARIAs]

The problem with "a little bit of sugar" is that it doesn't sweeten things enough. It also causes me to break out so I avoid it like the plague.

I have no money. I can't afford to buy ANYTHING, let alone buy it in bulk. Like I said, I plan on switching over to something a bit better, like Stevia, once I'm out of college, have a job and can afford it. Right now, the money in my account goes to paying for tuition, gas and things I need for school. Buying much else jeopardizes my ability to pay for school so organic foods are definitely OUT.

The only reason I own a bottle of organic ACV, organic coconut oil, and natural honey is because my parents left town over Thanksgiving and my dad left me the $15 Kroger gift card he got from work.

I don't wanna be poor anymore!

lol! I hear ya, I hate being stuck in that situation where you know what to do but you can't do it for some reason or other. You have finals this week btw? I'm in the process of writing 1 out of 5 critical essays on drama that I need to send in by midnight 2morrow!...ugh...

I know. It sucks doesn't it?! I can't wait to be out on my own and buy the things I want to buy.

I don't have finals this week. My school's winter break is from Nov. 18th to Jan. 5th. I'm also a Graphic Design Major. My finals consist of really big projects No papers for me! At least not anymore. I did have some writing and business courses I had to take in the beginning, but I'm almost done with those. I just have one more technical report writing class that I have to take Spring quarter.

And I know your pain. I've written a 7 page paper in a couple of hours and turned it in 7 minutes before the deadline. (online course)

Oh the joys!

[Murmur]

...Just an update because I'm super EXCITED!!

I'm PMSing like crazy right now -- should be getting my period in 1-2 days -- and I don't have a single pimple. I have a few TINY clogged pores on my cheeks where usually this time of the month I would be getting a full-size zit. I'll have to see how it goes over the next week but I'm feeling really optimistic right now.

The other thing is my blood sugar is SO consistent, it's incredible. Yesterday I worked an insanely busy 14 hour day. I had lunch at 1:30 and didn't get home and eat dinner until 10:30 pm. That is NINE HOURS WITHOUT FOOD, and although I was very hungry and ate a huge (low glycemic) dinner, I didn't feel AT ALL shaky or weak. Woohoo!!!

[ryudoadema]

...Just an update because I'm super EXCITED!!

I'm PMSing like crazy right now -- should be getting my period in 1-2 days -- and I don't have a single pimple. I have a few TINY clogged pores on my cheeks where usually this time of the month I would be getting a full-size zit. I'll have to see how it goes over the next week but I'm feeling really optimistic right now.

The other thing is my blood sugar is SO consistent, it's incredible. Yesterday I worked an insanely busy 14 hour day. I had lunch at 1:30 and didn't get home and eat dinner until 10:30 pm. That is NINE HOURS WITHOUT FOOD, and although I was very hungry and ate a huge (low glycemic) dinner, I didn't feel AT ALL shaky or weak. Woohoo!!!

That's great!! ...I always ate a "healthy" bodybuilding diet since I was 15 or so. I was high-carb(low gi) and high protien. I always thought that I just had a super high metabolism because I would get a pang in my stomache after 2 hours which would turn to hunger, then I'd get jittery and and dizzy. I had to eat every two-three hours (sometimes four) to prevent this. Now I can go almost a full day without getting hungry, and haven't been jittery in a long time, so I guess my blood sugar is pretty stable as well.

[mr. meow]

Wow! I just read your post and I've kind of been doing the same thing for about a year. When I found out I was allergic to yeast, eggs, formeldahyde, peanuts amongst a few other things:( I thought i was going to die, or live a really boring life anyway. but i founsd out after i cut out alot of things from my diet; I started feeling better and looking better! so yes! I know exactly what your going through now:) and i also know how it feels to want to cheat every now and then; almost feeling deprived so you go and eat something you haven't had in months--then of course your face breaks out and this horrible feeling of guilt:( I have gotten better at controlling myself thank god! But I just wanted to say--Congratulations!-- and stick with the clean eating: As you already found out it's so worth it:)

[subby]

hey murmur great to hear that the paleo diet is working for you.....thinking of trying it myself.
just wanted to ask if the success has continued

[AutonomousOne1980]

murmer, im glad this is working for you but here are some things to consider.

the high protein may not be as good as you think because protein metabolism is hard on the body and produces toxic metabolic waste
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolic_waste

also, there is a chance the high fat content will require more vitamins and minerals to metabolize, then they provide the bodys system, similar to pure sugar, this will contribute to a nutrient deficit when in excess.

Something that may also interest you is the work of alexis carrel, a famous scientist and winner of a nobel prize and also the guy that developed organ transplant surgery. Well another part of his work was in cellular aging, he managed to crack open a chicken egg take out the heart and keep it alive for 37 years or so, simply by making sure it recieved nutrients and washing away metabolic waste, he said the heart would most likely have continued to grow indefinitly if the process was continued. Also it was reported that the cells showed no signs of aging.

Another topic that may interest you is CR dieting, which is meant to eliminate metabolic waste and reduce antioxidents through eating just enough food for your body, and no more, this is perhaps the only proven method of life extension and reduces the incidence of disease in old age, so you live a more disease free life, all your life plus adding more years as well.


And another thing that may interest you is understanding the lymphatic system, this is the system that removes metabolic waste and also delivers nutrients to cells around your body. everything in the blood stream communicates or exchanges things like nutrients and cellular waste and such through interstitial fluid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstitial_fluid , which then gets absorbed by the lymphatic system and the fluid is cleansed by the lymph nodes, then recirculated again through the system. Supposedly the lymphatic system is most effeciently stimulated through things like jump rope and rebounding(mini trampoline) as well as things like breathing which perhaps stimulates the thymus in between both lungs.


I was also wondering if you are experiancing any benefits from magnesium citrate or natural calm???