109 replies to this topic

[natural_path]

Some thoughts on "that time of the month"...

As I'm approaching my period, I am noticing a few changes...

First of all, I have more of an inflammation response in my face from eating meat, fruits, and starches (like sweet potato/parsnip). You know what I'm talking about? That feeling where your face feels puffy and a little warm just seconds/minutes after you eat the food. For people who are eating the "Standard American diet", or allergenic foods, maybe they don't know what this feels like because this feeling is "normal" for them, and they never experience anything else. But I've been paying special attention to this feeling in the last couple of weeks, and it is intensifying as my hormone levels increase. By the way, non-starchy veggies don't seem to cause the puffy feeling.

Secondly, I am hungrier! Yeah, my bf even asked me if I have a tapeworm. Ew.

Thirdly, my skin is oilier (yeah, that's to be expected).

Fourth, I have more of a cravings for starches.

So I'm trying to eat SUPER low inflammation for the next week. I've been experimenting with sweet potatoes, but came home from work today with a small pink spot near my nose. It's not raised, and it's small so I'm hoping it disappears overnight. I think I need to take a break from the starches for this week... They definitely create a "puffy" feeling in my face.

Please let me know if you also have experienced this "puffy" or "warm" feeling in your face seconds or minutes after eating these types of foods. I just did a google search of it within this site and haven't found anyone mentioning this feeling.

[natural_path]

DAY 21

No new pimples! Hooray!

Yeah, the pink spot that appeared last night near my nose is all but gone (turned brown, and it never got raised). Like I said in my last post, I think it was due to the sweet potatoes. The tiny bump on my chin from a few days ago (due to the short ribs) is also practically gone and never developed into anything more. I feel like Wolverine--I have super healing capabilities!

Yesterday I ate: chicken, beef, zucchini, cabbage, parsnip, 2 small sweet potatoes (gonna lay off these for a little bit), lettuce, 1 apple, 2 pears

Energy Level: B-
Alertness: B

Yeah, I've been tiring quickly lately. Wonder if it's due to my hormones surging?

Hives this morning: minimal


By the way, I haven't been taking any supplements except for probiotics for the past 14 days or so--no magnesium or Vitamin C, etc. My only other "supplements" would be raw garlic with dinner and Extra Virgin coconut oil dabbed on my veggies at every meal.

[natural_path]

You know, it's tough eating this way when I'm hormonal--I'm fighting my urges to eat starch/fruits/lots of food in general so as not to provoke an inflammation response. It's too late for today--I had a parsnip and a bunch of fruit today and my face felt warm and puffy from it. I also notice that overeating causes the inflammation response too.

I'm about to go to bed! Good night everyone, and stay

[natural_path]

DAY 22

No New Pimples Today! Oh yeah baby!

Yesterday I ate: chicken, beef, zucchini, cabbage, parsnip, 2 pears, apple/mango/coconut/pear fruit salad

Energy Level: B- (Like I said in my last post, I am tiring quickly when I do physical activity)
Alertness: A-

Hives this morning: minimal (only 1! )

Things are awesome right now, and I still can't believe I haven't had a major pimple in a long time!! I feel a taste of "normality" for once (i mean, smooth skin... although I still have these red marks on my face), and it's weird but awesome. Now I'm just waiting to see what happens in the coming days w/ the onset of Ms. Period (coming any day now).

So I don't want to jinx myself cuz my skin's been doing so well lately, but I want to list a few things I noticed when looking back at my log. This will save you time and detective work (i.e. reading through this personal log):

1. Oysters are a NO NO for my acne.
2. Fatty meat like beef short ribs are a NO NO for my acne
3. I think that if anyone is trying to change their diet to control acne, they should do an elimination diet. This is because even ONE food can trigger your acne. Maybe it's nuts, spices, eggs, peppers, citrus, wheat, bananas... Who knows? You gotta test this the scientific way by doing an elimination diet and then adding foods back in later. I noticed after reading my previous posts that even bananas/sweet potatoes/avocados may be triggering my acne (I will fully test this when I start adding these foods back in to my elimination diet). Even on this super strict diet, just a little thing like eating a beef short rib caused acne (this happened on 3 occasions--see previous posts on this log!). Imagine if I had been eating a short rib, cereal, rice, and other stuff. How would I know what caused it? This is why an elimination diet is so great, in my opinion.

[natural_path]

DAY 23

No new pimples! Yeah Boiiiiii!

Things are great. Ms. Period made an appearance this morning, and my skin is still clear!

Yesterday I ate: chicken (I'd been eating bone-in chicken legs up to this point, but I just bought the boneless thighs), yellow squash, parsnip, cabbage, lamb, green onion with bulb attached, sweet potato spears (yes! I did it, I caved in and ate the sweet potato. I was craving the starches. You know what's weird, though, right after I ate it, my face--esp. the left side-became hot and puffy and even felt a little paralyzed. But no new pimples yet... hmmm....)

Energy Level: A- (getting better!)
Alertness: B

Hives this morning: minimal (only 1!)


Oh yeah, I broke the 1000 count on this log! Yeah!! Thanks to everyone for continuing to read about my journey.

[natural_path]

DAY 24

No new pimples!

Yesterday I ate: chicken, small piece of lamb, cabbage, yellow squash, sweet potato spears (yes, i indulged a little), 2 pieces of cod, 2 small apples

Energy Level: C (C for CRAMPS! )
Alertness: B
Hive this morning: minimal (just 1!)

I had terrible cramps for most of the day yesterday. This is unusual--usually I have little to no cramps, and it lasts for maybe an hour. This was all day. Weird... My skin looks amazing, but another part of my body feels like it's getting less healthy. So I ate 2 pieces of cod for dinner (hoping it would be anti-inflammatory), and it might have just been coincidence, but just a few minutes after eating it, my cramps disappeared!

My face is definitely puffier now (as is the rest of my body). As I was washing my face, I could feel a couple of spots that had something like a small bump under the skin, but there is no pinkness or anything bump visible to the naked eye. I'm hoping they don't turn into pimples.

After my dinner of cod and sweet potato spears, my face felt puffy and then my left eye started itching (which it does when I get allergies). So yeah, I might be allergic to either cod or sweet potatoes. I guess this is why you don't introduce two foods at once! I'll need to do more research...

[natural_path]

DAY 25

NO New Pimples!

I still have those "I don't know what you call them" couple of bumps under the skin that don't look pink or bumpy to the naked eye. One is on my lower cheek and the other is on my chin. You can't see them at all, but I felt them when I wash my face.

Yesterday I ate: chicken, lamb, cod, cabbage, sweet potato, parsnip

Energy: B
Alertness: B

Hives this morning: minimal (only 1!)

I admit, I overindulged in sweet potatoes last night. I made sweet potato "coins" in the oven. They made my face puffy and warm, but no new pimples, so yay!

My face has not seen a pimple in a long while, and my dark marks are fading. I have developed some dry patches on my face from where I put the tea tree oil, so I think I'm gonna lay off the ProActiv cleanser and find a new soap. I'm just scared to go off my "Regimen" cuz things have been so great lately, but I gotta do it!

[natural_path]

DAY 26

Doh! 1 clogged pore under my nose and 1 under the skin pimple near the bridge of my nose!

Neither are really noticeable, so I hope they don't develop into fully grown ones! I think it's weird that neither are chin/jaw acne. Don't know what could have caused them... I added two things to my diet yesterday: butternut squash and ginger. Maybe it's one of them?

Yesterday I ate: chicken, beef, lamb, cabbage, zucchini, baby green onion with bulb attached, butternut squash, ginger, 2 small apples, 2 pear

Energy Level/Alertness: B

One crazy thing: My period only lasted 2.5 days!!! Usually it lasts 5-7 days. Weird!!!

[natural_path]

DAY 27

No New Pimples! PLUS NEW PICS!!

Yesterday I mentioned that new under the skin pimple--well it's gone today! It's a little pink in the area, but the bump is completely gone! Last night I noticed another bump forming just near it, but that's gone today too when I woke up. I really do feel like I have super healing capabilities on this diet!

Yesterday I ate: chicken, beef, lamb, cabbage, zucchini, parsnip, butternut squash, 3 small apples

Energy Level: B
Alertness: A-

Hives this morning: minimal

Click on the links below to see my new pics. It will take about 24 hours after I post this for you to see the images (I guess they need "approval"). Any marks you see are red/brown marks, not actual pimples. As you can see from these pics, my dark marks have faded a lot. I also took a pic of my forehead (which has remained clear since using the AHA lotion), and my nose area so that you can see the pink spot where that under the skin pimple from yesterday used to be. I am so happy right now cuz I just completed my cycle and the worst I got were these two under the skin pimples that disappeared overnight. This elimination diet is REALLY working for me. Now the fun part--adding foods back into my diet.

WEEK 3 ON ELIMINATION DIET PICS!!!!

Right side: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...i&img=33501
Left side: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...i&img=33502
Chin: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...i&img=33504
Nose area: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...i&img=33503
Forehead: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...i&img=33505

[natural_path]

DAY 28

No New Pimples!!

Yesterday I ate: chicken, lamb, beef, cabbage, zucchini, 2 small apples, 2 pears, 1 parsnip, 1 small sweet potato
Energy Level: A-
Alertness: A-

Hives this morning: minimal

Yesterday I had two clogged pores on my lower cheeks, but I extracted them and they are gone now--just left a tiny pin prick dark mark.

I am debating what food to add back to my diet first... I am thinking eggs, but have read how they are one of the most allergenic foods, so... I think I'll add fish into my diet first and see how that goes?

Going grocery shopping today!

[natural_path]

DAY 29

No New Pimples! Yeeehaw!

Yesterday I ate: chicken, beef, BROCCOLI, zucchini, sweet potato, parsnip, cabbage, 3 small apples, 2 pears

Energy Level: B+
Alertness: B+

Hives this morning: minimal (only 1 splotch)

Yup, the food of the week is BROCCOLI. I bought two bags of organic broccoli from Trader Joes. Broccoli is not on alternativista's list of non-allergenic foods, and since I love it so much, I've decided to bring it back into my diet first. I got a couple of clogged pores this morning, which I later extracted. They might be due to poor food combining and eating late at night. I've been eating meat with sweet potatoes really late at night right before going to bed. Or they might be from the broccoli. Either way, time will tell. My skin has never looked better, though. Man, I am so grateful I've found this website and started this diet!!

[natural_path]

DAY 30

No New Pimples!

Man, it's been a month since I've started posting on here, and my skin has NEVER looked better. I mean, since I've hit puberty. Haha. This diet is AMAZING!!!!

Yesterday I ate: beef, chicken, BROCCOLI (the food of the week), cabbage, zucchini, 2 small sweet potatoes, 2 parsnips, 1 small apple

Energy Level: B
Alertness: B

Hives this morning: MODERATE (about 7 of them!)

I have a few clogged pores . I extracted them after taking a shower. I am wondering if I am allergic to broccoli?? This is the first time in over a month that my hives have been so bad. I'm gonna try to finish the bag of broccoli that I have today and see tomorrow how my hives are. Or maybe it's the sweet potatoes? I just read over my previous entries, and it seems that when I started eating sweet potatoes, my skin became a little more weird. Ack, I don't know! It's probably the broccoli, though, since all the hives just appeared today? Oh, I forgot to add that I started incorporating the herb sage into my diet yesterday too! Grrr.

OK, CALM DOWN. *Takes deep breath* I just read up on some allergy stuff and I guess broccoli is very high in salicylates (in addition to tomato paste, orange juice, etc). This is known to cause hives. Here's the link:
http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/fac...alicylates2.htm

I hate to waste food, so I am gonna finish up that broccoli that I have going on the stove right now. However, I don't think I'll be purchasing any more broccoli after that. I'll keep you updated on how my hives turn out tomorrow.

[cookie_mistress]

Hi natural_path. I was just re-reading your blog. A couple of weeks ago you wondered if bananas were affecting your skin. My skin is quite bad this week, and 3 things I have eaten this week that I didn't have last week are bananas, grapes and tomatoes. I won't waste food so I have 2 tomatoes still to eat, but I am going to avoid these next week. I have pretty much eaten at least 5-7 bananas a week for the last 10 years except for a period of 2-3 years when I suddenly developed an intolerance and as little as one mouthful would cause me stomach pain so I avoided them. My skin was still bad at that time, but maybe I have developed a new sensitivity to them? Food for thought...literally!

I wish I could do an elimination diet like your own but a) I am a student, so can't afford to eat so much meat, b) I love food too much to be eating the same thing so often and c) I go to the gym fairly regularly so I need carbs! But well done to you to sticking to it. I'm really pleased for you that you've had such a good result!

[alternativista]

I wish I could do an elimination diet like your own but a) I am a student, so can't afford to eat so much meat, b) I love food too much to be eating the same thing so often and c) I go to the gym fairly regularly so I need carbs! But well done to you to sticking to it. I'm really pleased for you that you've had such a good result!

Yes, she is doing well, better than me because I've been meaning to follow a hypo-allergenic diet for a while now to see if I get results, but never do the planning I need to do before shopping. So all I've done is eliminate dairy, gluten and eggs for a period each with no results.

I want to point out that an elimination diet doesn't involve eating a lot of meat or avoiding carbs. It involves avoiding common allergens one at a time or in groups and those common allergens include many meats and carbs. Or it means eating a very hypo-allergenic diet for a period then adding foods in. And the only animal products that very few people are allergic to are lamb, salmon and cod.

[natural_path]

HI Cookie Mistress,
Thank you for your message! I am not alone on here! yay!

I think that anything that you've been eating a lot of for years may be a source of allergies which can cause acne. For me, it's been oranges and broccoli. I've had those two foods basically every day for the past 5 years. You could try cutting it down to a banana every few days, or just cutting out bananas entirely and seeing how it goes. Definitely food for thought. Haha.

I am definitely on a budget too. At first, this diet was costing like $70 a week, cuz I was eating more meat. My typical plate looked like 1/2 veggies, 1/2 meat. Now I'm making it more like 3/4 veggies and 1/4 meat. It's cheaper now--like $40 a week.. That combined with not eating out makes this plan actually economical for me!

I understand you loving foods too much to be eating the same thing again and again. It's a pretty strict diet that I've been doing! If you can do this strict diet for just one week, though, I bet you will see results. Then you can add in foods as you like. [I have to say, though, that in a way I feel liberated from the hold that foods had on me. Whenever I was bored or just needed variety in my life, I would always get something "interesting" at the grocery store (like trail mix or a new type of yogurt or even banana bread baking mix). Now, instead, I am forced to find other things to do to make myself less bored. Haha. It's been an interesting exercise in self-reflection.] Also, when I saw my skin clear up in a matter of a week, that served as positive reinforcement for me to follow this strict diet. Just looking at my skin makes the sacrifice worth it! But now I'm at the point where I get to add in new foods! Yay!

Finally, about the carbs, you can definitely eat carbs on the elimination diet. Check out alternativista's list of hypoallergenic foods--there's a link in one of the earlier posts. It includes rice, sweet potatoes, lentils, etc. I'm getting my carbs mostly from veggies and sweet potato.

Thanks again for your message, and I hope this helps clarify things!

Hi natural_path. I was just re-reading your blog. A couple of weeks ago you wondered if bananas were affecting your skin. My skin is quite bad this week, and 3 things I have eaten this week that I didn't have last week are bananas, grapes and tomatoes. I won't waste food so I have 2 tomatoes still to eat, but I am going to avoid these next week. I have pretty much eaten at least 5-7 bananas a week for the last 10 years except for a period of 2-3 years when I suddenly developed an intolerance and as little as one mouthful would cause me stomach pain so I avoided them. My skin was still bad at that time, but maybe I have developed a new sensitivity to them? Food for thought...literally!

I wish I could do an elimination diet like your own but a) I am a student, so can't afford to eat so much meat, b) I love food too much to be eating the same thing so often and c) I go to the gym fairly regularly so I need carbs! But well done to you to sticking to it. I'm really pleased for you that you've had such a good result!

[natural_path]

Hey Alternativista,
Thanks for stopping by and giving your advice. You are the reason why I decided to try an elimination diet in the first place. THANK YOU!!

I wish I could do an elimination diet like your own but a) I am a student, so can't afford to eat so much meat, b) I love food too much to be eating the same thing so often and c) I go to the gym fairly regularly so I need carbs! But well done to you to sticking to it. I'm really pleased for you that you've had such a good result!

Yes, she is doing well, better than me because I've been meaning to follow a hypo-allergenic diet for a while now to see if I get results, but never do the planning I need to do before shopping. So all I've done is eliminate dairy, gluten and eggs for a period each with no results.

I want to point out that an elimination diet doesn't involve eating a lot of meat or avoiding carbs. It involves avoiding common allergens one at a time or in groups and those common allergens include many meats and carbs. Or it means eating a very hypo-allergenic diet for a period then adding foods in. And the only animal products that very few people are allergic to are lamb, salmon and cod.

[natural_path]

DAY 31

No New Pimples! Woooot!

So I've been reading up about salicylates, and it's fascinating stuff. Most websites say that they cause hives (which I have), and a couple websites say that they can cause acne in sensitive individuals. Anyway, salicylates are in most plant foods which we eat, but in varying levels. Here's a link to a table of various foods with their levels:

http://www.plantpoisonsandrottenstuff.info...alicylates.aspx

and

http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/02/0...ou-feel-ill.htm

I am wondering if salicylates might be causing my hives. You've noticed that even when I'm eating a super strict diet, I still get at least 1 hive each morning after I shower.... This might be due to the zucchini that I've been eating every day. While it's on alternativista's list of hypoallergenic foods, it ranks high in salicylates. I plan to go on a super low salicylate diet in the next few days ( I just have to finish eating the zucchini I have left in the fridge).

I think that the sage might have caused my crazy hives yesterday. If you take a look at the chart (see link), sage is very high in salicylates.

Since most salicylates are right under the skin of fruis/veggies, I am gonna peel my sweet potatoes, apples and parsnips from now on.


Yesterday I ate: chicken, beef, cod, yellow squash, cabbage, BROCCOLI (my food of the week), sweet potatoes, parsnip, 2 small apples

Energy Level: B+
Alertness: B

Hives this morning: minimal (2 splotches)


Broccoli doesn't seem to cause pimples for me, although I do have 1 teeny clogged pore that I got overnight. The other clogged pores from yesterday have disappeared.

[natural_path]

DAY 32

NO New pimples! Wuzzupp!

I do have a few clogged pores, though! I've been getting them the past few days--I wonder if it's the broccoli or the sweet potatoes. These typically disappear by the next day.

Yesterday I ate: cod, chicken, beef, cabbage, zucchini (finished it off!), sweet potato spears (no skin), lettuce, AVOCADO (decided to go for it), onion. I ate too much last night! I had bad digestion throughout the night

Energy Level: B+
Alertness: B+
Hives this morning: minimal (2 splotches)

I read a little from Gillian McKeith, the "You are what you eat" BBC woman, and she said to do a pulse check to see if you are allergic to certain foods. Basically what you do is this: right when you wake up, take your pulse for 60 seconds. It should be somewhere between 50-70 bpm. Then after you eat a meal, take your pulse. If your pulse varies by 10 bpm, then you might be allergic to what you just ate. The problem with this is that I did it right when I woke up and was half lying in bed (60 bpm), then stood up and did it again (68 bpm), then did it one minute later still standing up (75 bpm). This was all within 4 minutes. WHAT? I don't know which number to take... Anyone who knows any more about this, let me know!

[natural_path]

DAY 33

No New Pimples!

Oh boy, guys, I went crazy yesterday. I went out with my bf to dinner. I chose a nice restaurant (swanky modern decor, steak and seafood kind of place) because I didn't want weird oils or other ingredients like MSG in my food. However, I did have the following: bread, a few nuts, dairy (cream and cheese). I have to say that my digestion was TERRIBLE right after eating. I was not a happy camper. I also felt a brain fog during and after eating. I took my pulse, though, and no real increase in bpm--only 65 bpm. Therefore I must have a food intolerance, not a food allergy. Today I am also in a brain fog and my digestion is still bad. I had vivid, strange dreams throughout the night (which I normally don't have).

No new pimples yet, but I'm waiting to see how it goes in the next couple days

I didn't even enjoy the meal that much. Everything tasted so salty to me! (I think it's because I don't normally use that much salt when I cook) But I'm glad I went out with my bf--we haven't gone out to eat for a long time, and I think he missed it. I will go back to my regular diet for the next two weeks, but then I'm taking a trip and won't be able to eat home cooked food for a while, so this is kind of a preliminary trial that will let me know how my skin will fare on that trip.

Yesterday I ate: chicken, squash, cabbage, 1 pear, 1 small apple, and from the restaurant: two pieces of bread, creamed spinach/swiss chard, chicken with pesto, octopus with some slivers of almonds, couple of green beans

Energy Level/Alertness: A- before the restaurant, B- after the restaurant
Hives: 3 splotches.

[natural_path]

DAY 34

No New Pimples! Suh-weeeet!

It's been over 24 hours since my restaurant meal with all those potential allergens in it. I'm fatigued, and have needed more sleep the past 2 nights. My dreams have been vivid and strange. I feel just like I recovered from the flu or something. But still--no new pimples! I feel that that meal made my body's immune system work overtime, but that I survived it (knock on wood!).

Yesterday I ate: leftover restaurant pesto chicken, beef, parsnip, cabbage, yellow squash, 3 small apples, romaine lettuce

Energy Level/Alertness: C

Hives this morning: minimal (2 splotches)