I eat steel cut organically grown oatmeal from my local health food coop. I prepare it with about a half teaspoon of chia seeds (great omega 3), a small handful of raisons, and about a teaspoon full of oat flour that I grind myself (adds a bit of bulk). I microwave this and then add a handful of frozen blueberries and diced peach that I picked last summer. I top it off with some Silk soymilk.

You are cooking exactly the way I am and I agree the flavors are so much more intense when not smothered in oil. Like you, I can easily eat a potato and a half along with the rest of dinner...a lot of food but I feel great. It's interesting what you say about the sugar highs and lows...I've found that avoiding flour products and eating whole foods instead results in a very calm and satisfied feeling after eating that lasts for a long time. My body feels very nourished and my whole system feels calmer. If I do eat a burrito or some pasta once a week I also eat something high in fiber with it like beans and diced vegetables.

Thanks for that information cvd. I have some steel cut oats- I'm going to see how that goes, prepared in the manner you describe.

Due to social gatherings, I've eaten some greasier food then I'd prepare for myself. And my skin is definitely a bit oily but, strangely, minimal blocked pores and it has a good 'glow' about it. No signs of dermatitis (for anyone interested!) despite the oiliness. My eyes have flared up somewhat, thought (but, as I said, that can be the swimming and sunblock, as sunblock often makes my eyes flare up).

BUT I am so enjoying the sustained energy, and as you say, the calm mood. This morning I had breakfast (a high-fibre bread wrap with hummus and some tuna, grated carrots, tomato), and was good to go until lunch. In fact, I didn't even think about food until lunch. This is an ENORMOUS change from only a month ago.

I can't help but think that eating this way is good for adults since so many chronic illnesses are inflammatory in nature and this diet is really an anti-inflammatory diet. I too am finding that eating this way 99% of the time is what keeps my adult acne at bay. If I am out and eat a meal with something oily once in a great while then my skin doesn't act up...but if I find myself having to eat multiple meals with too much oil or yeast, sugars, etc then I always get a flare-up. For example, this past weekend I was at a potluck and ate some white rice that looked plain but was actually smothered in coconut oil. I didn't get a reaction but I'm not used to eating oily foods anymore and my digestion acted up a bit. Once I was eating my usual diet I was fine.

When I'm hiking and we take a lunch I pack a sandwich for my husband that he likes but for myself I pack some homemade bean dip, mashed avocado and brown rice cakes. He was actually looking at me enviously as I mounded bean dip and avocado onto the rice cakes for a delicious lunch...followed by fresh pear slices. I was totally satisfied and lots of energy for hiking. I love this way of eating...so fresh and satisfying.

I had a derm visit last week and he commented on how incredibly clear my skin looks. I told him about my diet and he said to keep doing what I'm doing because it's working. We're going to lower some of my oral meds this year and see if I maintain the clear skin. I'm really curious to see if that is the case. Always before meds alone never kept me clear...not until I started this diet of avoiding oils, sugars, dairy, caffeine, and alcohol has my skin become totally clear.

Dr McDougall on his site says that adult acne sufferers should try an approach that first avoids oils and then only add topical meds if necessary. Last resort is oral meds. But he says that for most people avoiding oils, lowering sugars, and eating only whole nourishing foods will calm inflammation and control acne.

For me, I was already on the oral and topical meds when I started eating this way so I am doing it backwards...but I say whatever works!

That will be exciting, seeing how you go with reducing the medication! A bit nail biting, I am sure. I know how it feels to have just got to a point where your skin is behaving, you DO NOT want to muck it up, but also don't want to have to use more products then are really needed.

OK, I am sorry for yet again be asking more food questions- I do hope I am not overtaxing your patience.

-how do you prepare your beans (do you use tinned? or always soak your own? how long do you soak for?)

-how often do you eat legume products?

-do you target anything in particular for calcium?

I'm happy to answer questions. I'm just so amazed how well this diet is working for my skin and actually my whole body. My skin is clear, my digestion is great and I have lots of energy. And interestingly even some arthritis I had is no longer there...or at least I'm not feeling it at all...which says to me the inflammation I had before is calming down!

I eat organic canned whole and oil-free refried beans that come in safe BPA-free tins. I keep meaning to make my own and will try that soon. I eat legumes often, almost daily, and my system seems to like them. I know there are many pros and cons to eating legumes but I like them.

For calcium I eat tons of dark greens like kale, spinach, etc...daily. I also take one slow acting calcium pill daily. I don't take lots of calcium suppliments because I'd rather get most of my calcium from real food sources. My soy milk is also fortified. I also walk a lot and actually walk in marathons. I am constantly moving at work and picking up heavy items (library) and I work out so I hope that will do for keeping my bones strong.

In all respect cvd, the BP, spiro and all those other topicals are the reason you are 99,9% acne free AND I think you know it deep down in the back of your head. That is why you don't stop using those things and prove me wrong. If the diet that you are following would be the reason for your success you could just wash your face with water and do nothing else and get no acne. No reason to argue here, stop using all that topical shyt and spiro and prove me wrong, with all respect.

Thanks for that info, again, cvd.

This thread is v helpful, also the other thread where another member is trying strict kitavan. Coconut oil always makes me break out, big time, so that is not for me!

Hi Dolan --- I have shared this several times before and will do it again now. I have never been clear while using oral and/or topical meds...never! The only exception is when I was on accutane and sometimes full strength antibiotics but you can not do those forever. I had been using the meds below - some for over 10 years and some for several years but I still broke out in pimples everyday. When on the exact regime below I stopped getting deep cysts but I was still getting inflammed pimples and clogged up pores. I've always eaten mostly organic and well compared to typical western diets but before doing this diet I was still eating lots of oils, margarine, french fries and potato chips, etc. First I switched to eating mainly whole foods because I was following an allergy diet prescribed by my doc and I couldn't eat things like wheat, etc. Then I started reading more and more about cultures that don't get acne and that led me to avoiding oils except for a teeny amount of EVOO for cooking. And I did my best to avoid processed foods like bread, chips, etc.

I noticed a change switching to mainly whole foods and had fewer breakouts. But it was when I stopped eating oils and oily foods that within a couple of weeks my skin dramatically cleared up...dramatically. I wish I could shout this --- it was dramatic!

All I can say is to try it. I have never said that the meds I was taking weren't helping --- they have but they didn't get me clear. I am much older than most on this site and have tried and tried over and over during the decades of having acne to get clear using oral and topical meds alone but they just didn't do it...never (except as described above).

I won't argue that stopping all meds and just doing the diet would be an interesting test but why? My goal is to be clear and I don't care how. I am just sharing what is working for me in the hope that it may work for someone else. And I think that especially avoiding oils and oily foods along combined with eating mainly whole foods will help any adult who has acne. Diet has it's place and may do it alone for some but for others will help achieve the goal along with doing some meds.

I've already started weaning off one of the oral meds that are used just for inflammation (very low dose doxy). I am just as curious as the next person to see what role diet has in keeping me totally clear. We'll see! It's all a journey of self-discovery - eh?