*`*~ABG Fairy~*`*

It's best to always avoid synthetic vitamins, so I would go with Vitamin Code's B-Complex.  That's the one I take! 

Clayjar,

Very smart advice and idea!!  GTF Chromium is doing amazing things for diabetics, so it does make perfect sense that it could help one's skin as well.  I hope it continues to work for you.  If so, you might start a thread about it down the road to alert others if one hasn't been started already.  Awesome discovery. 

I want to share a recipe that I don't think I've shared yet!  It's low-glycemin, which we all know is best for acne sufferers!!  It might sound odd, but I promise, it's really good. 

 

1 big handful of spinach

1/4 large avocado

1/4 cup frozen berries

2-3 spoonfulls cocoa powder

1 squirt of honey

1 1/2 cups water

 

Enjoy!! 

^ That is a good question, but juicing gives an even higher concentration of veggies/fruits, and it's very healing for many people.  Our soils are so deplete in nutrients these days that I think it's good to get all we can get!

There are a lot of things that can help acne, but I firmly believe diet is the "foundation!"  To get acne cleared, you have to at least have a good foundation, and you can't just apply "bandaids" --you must get to the root cause, and diet is a huge part of that.

Great info Ichance23! Great supplements you listed.  Good for you for trying to spread the word--people need to hear it!   I'm sure you're monitoring your Vitamin D levels?  At some point, you should be able to cut way back on that dosage.

Also, reminder to everyone to eat your greens!!!  They give us beta-carotene, which our skin desperately needs, and cruciferous greens help to balance our hormones!

Prettywords,
Great question!  It's because the cell walls are so thoroughly broken down when blended (much more so than with chewing alone), and therefore, more nutrition is released.  It's estimated at about 4 times as much nutrition.  Yay!  

Edit:  Here is more info!!

Blended Salads or Green Smoothies
Eating raw greens and fruits blended together to make a smooth, creamy treat is quick and convenient. The greatest benefit of blending is the increased absorption of important nutrients. All plants cells are surrounded by a cell wall that must be broken open to release the nutrients inside. As a result, most of the valuable nutrients contained within these cells never enter our bloodstream. Blending raw, leafy greens guarantees a higher percentage of nutrients absorbed into your bloodstream. By just chewing your food you absorb about 15 - 25% of the nutrients, but blending makes your body able to absorb up to 95%!

To learn more about the amazing benefits of blending, read Dr. Fuhrman’s Healthy Times Newsletter Issue No. 8.

Source: http://www.drfuhrman...Newsletter.html

Prettywords,
I think you'll find that with time you can do more and more greens and will not mind the taste.  Remember too that you're getting about 4 times the amount of nutrition since it's all blended!  Yay!

Prettywords,
Yay!!!  Glad you're going to give them a try!!!  I hope they work out for you!  

Wow!!  Bravo for the careful and methodical approach you took in trying to figure out the source!  And welcome to the boards!  Love your country by the way...what a magical place to visit.

Very interesting about spinach and oxalates...hmm... I don't think I've come across this yet with anyone else on the boards in regard to spinach, but we're all different, and we all have genetic factors that make us all react differently.

My take on the paleo diet is that it mostly works for acne due to being a low-glycemic diet, but a low-glycemic diet can also be achieved with a plant-based diet, which is much higher in nutrients and lower in toxins than a paleo diet.

You are right that too many fruits can be a problem for some.  However, when combined with other foods like greens, fats, etc., the overall glycemic-load of the meal is reduced, making them better, but you still would want to limit how many you eat per meal--same goes with nuts/seeds--no more than 1 oz. per meal if you have acne.

How is your nutrient intake?  You can't do spinach, but do you have access to other greens (our most nutrient-rich foods, and a great source of beta carotene--wonderful for skin)?  Are you also getting enough fiber, which is crucial for normal digestion?

Alternativista,
I hate hearing that your mother eats poorly--that must be frustrating for you.    She has the best person to learn from!  My mom and I have been into nutrition for years, but my dad didn't get excited about it until a few years ago when he dropped over 30 lbs.  When I got into Dr. Fuhrman's plant-based diet and starting making foods for my parents, before we knew it, they had both slimmed way down. My mom had already starting making green smoothies for she and my dad about a year prior and were eating relatively healthful and mostly non-processed foods, but they were still doing too many animal products and dining out.  When I was working on my certificate in plant-based nutrition, I was sharing a lot of what I was learning with my parents, which made an impact on my dad.  What then really sealed it for my dad was when he decided to read Dr. Fuhrman's book, "Eat for Health."  He's a science/logic type of guy, and the book really made sense to him.  When he slimmed down even more and started exercising, he loved how he felt so much that he has stayed motivated to eat well.  He just loved it when he got into a pair of jeans he wore over 20 years ago!  ha!  He was definitely a work in progress though--it did take a while.  

My brother, on the other hand, seems to be a bit of a lost cause for now.  I drop little seeds here and there though, and he jokingly pokes fun at my diet.  He seems to think his body can take whatever he throws at it, and he loves to cook, which means lots of meat, butter and whatever else he thinks will taste great.  What's even sadder is seeing the way he and his wife feed my precious nephew.    He has definitely seen the change in my dad though, and I'm sure that has made an impact on him in some way....at least I hope.  But anyhow, I do know what it's like to have family members that just won't listen....

I use her Skin Balancing line as well as her 2% BHA liquid.  My skin cleared up when I started using her products and drinking green smoothies every day.  I do believe it's the green smoothies that were vital in clearing my skin (I tested this theory out several times), but I believe using well-formulated products is also really important, and I find hers to be.  I had previously only wanted to use all-natural lines, but I didn't like the way they were formulated.  Whatever the case, you don't have to use Paula's Products--she gives reviews for other brands, and there are several great options out there: http://www.beautyped...ls.aspx?bcid=28

She is right about breakouts around the chin area being related to hormones.  You say you eat a mostly vegan diet in your signature--is this a high-nutrient diet?  Instead of taking Vitamin A capsules, which are dangerous, have you considered beta-carotene rich plant foods like leafy greens?  Leafy greens, especially of the cruciferous family, are great at helping to balance hormones and take up excess estrogen (you might also look into DIM).  My green smoothie thread (link in my signature) talks more about all of this.  Adding blended greens to your diet might do you a world of good, and when you blend them, you get about four times the nutrients, because they cell walls are blended down so thoroughly.

I hope something works out for you.  I know it's frustrating to try so many different things, but keep it up--at least you're making great strides towards health!  

Wow - the above article by Dr. Mark Hymen is the best article on acne by an M.D. I have ever read.  Not only does he mention avoiding dairy and eating a low-glycemic diet, but he mentions other key factors as well.  Below is a summary taken from his article of the main key points -- just in case this link or article ever gets moved one day -- too great a summary to not have.  I disagree with the Vitamin A suggestion though - I would suggest lots of blended greens instead, which contain beta-carotene that the body will then safely convert into the amount of Vitamin A needed.

How To Prevent and Treat Acne
Eight simple steps will help most overcome their acne problems.
1. Stay away from milk. It is nature's perfect food--but only if you are a calf.
2. Eat a low glycemic load, low sugar diet. Sugar, liquid calories, and flour products all drive up insulin and cause pimples.
3. Eat more fruits and vegetables. People who eat more veggies (containing more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds) have less acne. Make sure you get your 5-9 servings of colorful fruits and vegetables every day.
4. Get more healthy anti-inflammatory fats. Make sure to get omega-3 fats (fish oil) and anti-inflammatory omega-6 fats (evening primrose oil). You will need supplements to get adequate amounts (more on that in a moment).
5. Include foods that correct acne problems. Certain foods have been linked to improvements in many of the underlying causes of acne and can help correct it. These include fish oil, turmeric, ginger, green tea, nuts, dark purple and red foods such as berries, green foods like dark green leafy vegetables, and omega 3-eggs.
6. Take acne-fighting supplements. Some supplements are critical for skin health. Antioxidant levels have been shown to be low in acne sufferers. And healthy fats can make a big difference. Here are the supplements I recommend:

• Evening primrose oil: Take 1000 to 1500mg twice a day.
• Zinc citrate: Take 30 mg a day.
• Vitamin A: Take 25000 IU a day. Only do this for three months. Do not do this if you are pregnant.
• Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols, not alpha tocopherol): Take 400 IU a day.

7. Try probiotics. Probiotics also help reduce inflammation in the gut that may be linked to acne. Taking probiotics (lactobacillus, etc.) can improve acne.
8. Avoid foods you are sensitive to. Delayed food allergies are among the most common causes of acne--foods like gluten, dairy, yeast, and eggs are common culprits and can be a problem if you have a leaky gut.

Following these simple tips will help you eliminate acne and have that glowing skin you have always dreamed of. And it's much cheaper (and safer) than expensive medications and dermatologist visits. Improve your diet and take acne-fighting supplements and you will watch your pimples disappear.

I don't know about its relation to acne, but MSG is not something you want to ingest--for any reason--acne or not.  It has many awful side-effects.  It's great that you realized you were having a reaction to it and can now stay away from it.  There are some Asian restaurants that are aware of its harmful effects, so you might call around and see if you can find some that don't use it in their recipes.  Of course, I wouldn't fully take someone's word for it, so definitely monitor how your body reacts!

Lots of high-nutrient foods.  I find that when I'm eating plenty of high-nutrient foods (like blended greens), and when I have healthful alternatives, I can easily pass up the bad foods I find around me.  When your body is getting lots of nutrition, your cravings go down.  You do need to have the healthful alternatives though!!  For example, below is a recipe that can actually help with weight-loss (due to the coconut oil) and is very rich.  Yes, it does contain saturated fats, but there is controversy about coconut oil, and I'm leaning towards the side of it being healthful for us.  

Chocolate Coconut Mousse (Coconut oil helps burn fat!)
Blend:

• 5 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 can coconut milk (I like the Thai brand).

Drain water from coconut milk (you may need to refrigerate it first so that the water and cream separates).  Blend ingredients and refrigerate for a few hours until mixture has thickened into a mousse like texture.
Note: Look for a natural brand of vanilla extract without artificial flavorings or propylene glycol.  I sometimes like to drizzle a little honey and sprinkle some cinnamon on top.  It's also delicious with berries.