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Even though the value and effects of exercise is stated in almost every section, I've added an exercise section and link to a good, but just starting exercise thread primarily discussing Mark Sisson's Primal blueprint and similar programs.
The body is a system and you need to take care of it all. Now, there maybe one thing contributing to your acne more than others and if you don't address it, you won't clear up. But most likely it's a variety of factors. Fortunately, what benefits them all is a blood sugar stabilizing, anti-inflammatory nutrient dense diet, exercise, sleep and minimizing stress.
Also, do be sure to click on the link in the first post in this thread. This is a collection of many extremely valuable discussions full of research and experiences including many that were once pinned Important Topics but got removed because there were so many.
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Lists of People whose skin has cleared from diet and lifestyle changes.
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news...-to_memory-loss
one interesting piece of research I came across lately, maybe worth mentioning beside http://www.marksdailyapple.com/case-against-cardio/ ? Kind of contributes to the thesis, but from a 'girly perspective'... 
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news...-to_memory-loss
one interesting piece of research I came across lately, maybe worth mentioning beside http://www.marksdailyapple.com/case-against-cardio/ ? Kind of contributes to the thesis, but from a 'girly perspective'...
Yes, that's interesting that prolonged strenuous exercise also messes with your estrogen. You should post this to the Exercise thread.
http://www.acne.org/messageboard/great-exercise-t275783.html
Hey alternavista. This is a great thread, thanks so much for pulling it all together. I have been following a low glycemic diet for the three weeks and my skin has shown enormous improvement. The tricky thing is that I've been vegetarian for 5 years (from the age of 18 to the age of 23), and it's been really hard eating low glycemic and avoiding meat dishes. (It has mostly been a protest to the way animals are treated on American factory farms.) My compromise has been only buying meat mostly bison and lamb from the local healthfood co-op, which tends to be grassfed and come from small family farms, so I assume they are treated somewhat more humanely. (I get my fruits and veggies from there too, almost entirely organic and locally grown.... Yes, it is costing me an arm and a leg, but I think it's worth it.)
My question is, have you ever heard about vegetarianism aggravating acne? I was eating so healthfully, mostly whole grains, and even cut out gluten for a long time (which helped at first, since I see it was causing me to eat fewer grains, period, probably lowering my overall carbohydrate intake). Is it really possible that eating more eggs, meat, seafood and even cheese can help alleviate problems with insulin resistance? After this amazing experience with my skin, mood, and energy level this past week, plus putting 2 and 2 together with previous problems with hypoglycemia I am almost convinced that my acne has been caused by insulin resistance. (I grew up on a really high sugar diet/high carbohydrates, used to binge on candy and have massive sugar cravings, especially at night when I was tired.)
The bright side is that if it is insulin resistance, than my new low-GL diet should do the trick to clear it up naturally. Unfortunately, it will also force me to abandon some of my most precious pet beliefs about animal rights, or at least not be able to practice what I preach. If you have ever heard of peoples' acne improving with more meat consumption, please let me know, I am curious if I am the only one who has had this experience.
BTW the benefit I'm getting from the meat is not just the zinc. I've been taking various expensive forms of zinc for years now. Also, these are the supplements I've been taking to help with insulin resistance:
chromium picolinate
cinnamon
vitamin D (2500 IU a day, which is great since I never go outside)
B complex (hey, it can't hurt)
Edit: I've been doing it for more than a week, I don't know why I put that. Actually been on it since slightly before Thanksgiving, but this week I've stuck to it religiously instead of having a little "treat" (ie: cookie) every day.
BTW, I have also tried:
-raw food diet, vegan (worked well enough in the short term but was very hard to stick to and made me feel I was starting to binge on sweet fruits)
-no dairy (didn't help as much as I thought, although I still shun milk and I've been enjoying a lump or two of organic cheese this past week, with good results)
Neither of which has made the immediate and outstanding impact on my skin/overall well-being as this low glycemic diet that incorporates small amounts of meat and fish.
Annebelle:
I eat moderate GL and eat very little meat. I just don't care to cook it and also only purchase the most humanely produced products which is expensive so don't buy it much.
Now, I do eat legumes and grains/seeds like brown rice, oats and quinoa, but the grains are mostly about breakfast. I eat fish a couple times a week and I have limited amounts of dairy.
See the ZAG enzyme/lectin thread for info about preparation and food combinations to reduce lectins. And these What I ate today threads for posts about the kinds of things I eat: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...t&p=2356573
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I have never even heard of lectins, which is strange, because I thought I knew about almost everything holistic to help acne.
Annebelle:
I eat moderate GL and eat very little meat. I just don't care to cook it and also only purchase the most humanely produced products which is expensive so don't buy it much.
Now, I do eat legumes and grains/seeds like brown rice, oats and quinoa, but the grains are mostly about breakfast. I eat fish a couple times a week and I have limited amounts of dairy.
See the for info about preparation and food combinations to reduce lectins. And these What I ate today threads for posts about the kinds of things I eat:
WOW, you've done a lot of good work here. Thank you for all the well-researched info you have posted here and it's all the more better because it comes from a seemingly very-intelligent person! Thank you alternativista!
A question and a request:
1. I think I understand the moderate exercise you talk about, but what constitutes a "high-level" HIT-type workout? 10 minutes running at 10mph on the treadmill? I want to keep it simple. My moderate-exercise will be 30min of weights with lots of 30sec to 1.5min breaks 5-6 times a week. On top of that, I am probably going to take up a sport (golf, tennis, basketball, etc.) even if on a light scale to get some of the more "natural" types of exercise in and to get some sun.
2. I have read through the first 2 pages of this thread and linked through to several of the articles and other threads and read a good amount of those as well (took me a full day). I took notes on this thread and SweetJade's "Acne FIGHTING Supplements" thread and posted a brief of my own acne history and another post of my summary of everything I've learned from both of threads. It's at http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php...t&p=3000924 Would you mind reading it and giving me you opinion while answering some of the questions embedded in the posts? I would certainly appreciate it.
Thank you!
nano one advice dont go to heavy on the supplements. Eat enough veggies and your good. Maybe some zinc B complex etc. But pick 3-4 max and dont mass dose. Its useless.
I see how some people are supplementing vit C. Which is just weird. You can easily get more then enough vit C. Besides it doesnt really have that much effect on acne. Zinc is most important. Besides that omega 3 has anti inflammatory working. And b-complex has something to do with zinc but dont know what.
I wouldn't go for HIT but for HIIT. Its High intensity interval training. regular cardio is useless. Its not good for weight loss , its not going to make you better in sports, its not going to releave a lot of stress, it will make you loose muscle etc...
WOW, you've done a lot of good work here. Thank you for all the well-researched info you have posted here and it's all the more better because it comes from a seemingly very-intelligent person! Thank you alternativista!
You should ask your exercise question on the exercise thread where you will get more responses. Also, I don't know the answer other than to state the rule of thumb that if you can hold a conversation, the activity isn't too intense.
As to your post on SweetJade's thread. OMG! I don't know where to begin.
Thanks Joris!
Yes I know the linked post is very long. I just looked at pictures of myself when I was 22 (6yrs ago) and I can't believe how perfect my skin was, no acne or scars. But that was still just a year or even less after accutane I think.
Although even when i was 24 I have a picture where I have no acne.
Seems to have been somewhat recent and I don't understand why. The only thing I can think of is I am not CURRENTLY taking a multi-vitamin (i think I used to before), I have lots of toxins in my body that I need to flush-out with a detox diet, or I am very stressed.
And back then I used to drink all sorts of milk, eat bread (wheat) all the time, etc. In fact, chocolate, donuts, chips, foods....I had even basically quit my 'good eating habits' and ate almost anything I wanted to. But then i did control in ways too (didn't drink soda, always fat-free milk, etc.)
I think I'll try detox first. I am CRAVING pizza (which has dairy and wheat in it, both of which I'm avoiding), and I am CRAVING soooo many other foods.
In the meantime if anybody has any suggestions after reading my post and the linked post 3-4 replies above this, then I would certain appreciate it!
I'm wondering what some of you pros out here (ben, alternativista, and others) think of Antony's cleanse, diet, & supplementation from 2005: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/Acne-Program-t47719.html
A lot of it makes sense and I've been wanting to do a detox anyway and this seems to do a colon + liver detox in one (w/o enema or colonic irrigation, which I might do later but feel like it's just a fad/myth).
His diet is basic proper nutrition it seems except for it may be gluten-free & dairy-free & nut-free (though he doesn't seem to actually say that it is).
His supplementation fits with much of what I have seen and have in my notes, except I have lot more in my notes than he even suggests.
His exterior skin care seems a bit in line (ACV, Cetaphil-type cleanser) and a bit different too (egg yolk mask, baking soda)...but I am more keen on implementing his detox and just taking a few ques off the rest.
What do you all think?
Thanks in advance!
