I remember as a teenager going to the dermatologist for help with my acne. My mother was always telling me to cut back on chocolate and sugary foods so she mentioned this to the dermatologist. Strangely enough my dermatologist disagreed and said that diet isn’t linked to acne.
I’m not so sure this is true. Perhaps in many cases such as when you’re having hormonal fluctuations, acne is inevitable, but the food we put into our bodies does have an overall effect on our health and so of course it will have an effect on our skin too. Everything we eat makes up who we are, our skin, hair, nails, and even the way we think and feel.
I’m not saying in your case your diet is the direct cause of your acne but in many cases it does play a role. Recent research at Colorado State University showed that high insulin levels due to excess sugar in the body led to a release of higher levels of androgens (male hormones) in the system. Androgen triggers excess sebum production which can lead to acne. Therefore reducing insulin levels can help acne and oily skin.
The way to reduce insulin levels is by reducing the amount of sugar you eat. By sugar we don’t just mean things like donuts and candies. Unfortunately, sugar is found in processed carbohydrates such as white bread, crackers, and any white flour products. The best thing you can do is switch to whole grain carbohydrates as these don’t raise your insulin levels in the same way the white flour products do.
And watch out for hidden sugars in processed foods and canned foods as well. By eating a diet full of whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean meats your skin should look better and you’ll also be taking care of the rest of your body, you’ll look and feel great.
I’m glad to say that years later I’m acne free but my diet is also much, much healthier these days. However, there are still times during the year like the holidays when I eat extra sugar and chocolate and without a doubt I start noticing a few small blemishes here and there. Once I stop my overindulgence the blemishes clear up.
Filed under Acne, Health Talk, Healthy Eating by on Dec 20th, 2006. 
For many women, abdominal bloating can be painful, uncomfortable, or just annoying. Bloating is when your tummy feels tight or full, and is usually caused by excess gas. Often bloating is caused by overeating, but if you’re exercising portion control and still feeling tight; here are some other causes and how to treat them.
If you’re not overeating, but feel bloated shortly after you eat; you may have food intolerance. Unlike food allergies, food intolerances are when your body can’t properly digest a certain kind of food. While the most common of these is lactose intolerance, it isn’t the only one. Observe your eating habits. If a specific food makes you feel bloated, try to avoid it.
Many people who feel bloated regularly have a condition called irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. This occurs when your colon doesn’t work properly. Other symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. If you suspect you have IBS, you should check with your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment options. If you have this syndrome; it can be controlled by diet, medicines, fiber supplements, or herbal remedies.
Many women feel bloated during their period. Most attribute this to water weight gain, but studies have shown that most women don’t actually gain weight during their period. Most women simply feel boated as opposed to actually being bloated. These symptoms can be caused by fluctuating hormones, irritability, and depression. The best cure for this is to eat a good diet and exercise. If you still feel bloated, you can try using natural diuretics to get rid of water weight.
There are other rare, but much more serious causes of abdominal bloating. If you start to bloat in the abdominal area and it doesn’t go away; don’t just assume you’ve put on weight. Prolonged abdominal bloating can be a symptom of ovarian cancer, liver disease, or tumors in the abdominal cavities. If you exercise and eat right and the bloating just doesn’t go away; see a doctor as soon as possible.
Hopefully these suggestions will lead you down the road to recovery. And as always: if in doubt, talk to your doctor.
Filed under Health Talk, Weight Loss by on Dec 16th, 2006.
The basis of the Atkins diet involves cutting out all carbohydrates from your diet. You are allowed a small amount of carbohydrates which consist of the natural carbs found in vegetables.
The diet has been around since the 1970s and The Atkins Diet books have become best sellers. The Atkins diet has also sparked a lot of controversy and debate amongst health care professionals. Here’s a little more information on the Atkins Diet.
The Atkins Diet is broken into four phases:
Atkins Diet Induction Phase:
This is the first phase and the most difficult to stick with. It last for 14 days and is designed to throw your body into a state of “ketosis”. This means your body starts producing ketones from fat which is used as a fuel source instead of carbohydrates. This allows you to lose weight very quickly since your body is burning away through your stored carbohydrate reserves.
You are allowed 20 grams of carbs a day consisting of certain types of vegetables. You are allowed to eat many types of meat, eggs, oil, butter, cheese and cream.
Atkins Diet Ongoing Weight Loss Phase:
In this phase you are allowed to add a few more carbs to your diet, about 40 grams per day. You are told to monitor your weight loss and adjust your carb intake accordingly. You are also only allowed to eat certain types of carbs and a full list is included in The Atkins Diet Book.
Atkins Diet Pre-Maintenance Diet Phase:
You go into this phase when you are almost at your weightloss goal (about 10 pounds away from target). You are allowed to slightly increase your carb intake a little further according to the Atkins diet guidelines.
Atkins Diet Phase Maintenance Diet Phase:
This is the phase you start once you hit your target weight. You are told to remain at this phase for lifetime to maintain your weight.
Your carb intake is increased slightly further and you are allowed a little more variety.
Filed under Diet Reviews by on Dec 16th, 2006.
Grilled Herb Chicken and Baked Sweet Potatoes
4 sweet potatoes
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
6 tablespoons of dried mixed herbs (you can use a ready mixture or mix oregano, parsley, cilantro, etc.)
1 garlic clove
2 teaspoons clear honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 tablespoons light cream cheese
Pepper
Wash the sweet potatoes and place on a baking tray. Bake in a preheated oven at 350F for approximately 1 to 1 ½ hours or until tender.
Cut three slashes on each chicken breast (making sure not to cut all the way through). Place the herbs, garlic, honey, mustard and olive oil in a blender or food processor and mix until smooth. Rub this mixture over the chicken. Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 20 to 30 minutes. If possible leave a little longer so the flavors can really sink in.
Heat a non stick frying pay lightly greased with a little olive oil or non stick spray and cool chicken for approximately 5 minutes on each side or until gold and cooked through.
Cut the sweet potatoes open (just as you would a baked potato) and spoon in a little cream cheese and pepper onto each potato, serve with chicken.
*Low GI
Filed under Main Dish, Recipes by on Dec 16th, 2006.
One of the biggest industries around today is the weight loss industry. Everyone is selling machines and pills that will melt off pounds like lightning. The truth is: healthy weight loss requires time and dedication. If you’re committed to losing weight the right way, here are a few tips to help you out.
The biggest part of a healthy lifestyle is setting healthy goals. While focusing on how much weight you’ve lost may seem like a good idea, it may discourage you if you don’t lose weight even though the diet is working. Retaining water, muscle gain, and other factors can all make you heavier even if you’re healthier. Set goals related to getting enough exercise and eating right, not weight loss. You may not notice a weight loss, but if you feel better and have more energy, something’s going right.
Try to stay away from fad diets, and diets that cut out entire food groups. They may very well work, but many times they are very hard to stay on. A semi-healthy diet you stay on is more beneficial than an extremely healthy diet you don’t. If you want to go on a more drastic diet, ease yourself into it. The best diet changes are made slowly.
Don’t forget to exercise. Getting your heart rate up at least 20 minutes a day is important to keep your heart and yourself healthy, not just losing weight. If you can’t dedicate this much time to exercise, try splitting it up into 10 minute intervals. It may be hard in the beginning, but if you keep at it you’ll find yourself more energized and feeling great.
An important factor many people neglect in their weight loss program is building muscle. Muscle burns more calories than fat. If you build muscle while you lose weight, you’ll start losing faster and be more likely to keep the weight off. Normally, diet causes you to lose muscle mass along with the fat; this is why many people gain the weight back when they’re done dieting. If you’re not really active, you don’t have to do much to build muscle mass, just lift small free weights or do use machines that require more force, like rowing machines.
These are just a few tips for getting started on your weight loss journey. Good luck!
Filed under Health Talk, Weight Loss by on Dec 16th, 2006.