ACNE
Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder characterized by pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. Acne often arises at puberty when the hormones stimulate the production of keratin and sebum (an oily skin lubricant). If sebum is secreted faster than it can move through the pores, a blemish arises. The excess oil makes the pores sticky, allowing bacteria to become trapped inside. Acne affects adults as well as teenagers.
Factors the can contribute to acne include heredity, oily skin, hormonal imbalance, monthly menstrual cycles, and candidiasis. Other factors are allergies, stress, and the use of certain types of drugs, such as steroids, lithium, oral contraceptives. Nutritional deficiencies and/or a diet high in saturated fats, hydrogenated fats, and animal products can also be involved.
The skin is the largest organ of the body. One of its functions is to eliminate a portion of the body's toxic waste through sweating. If the body contains more toxins than the kidneys and liver can effectively discharge, the skim takes over. In fact, some doctors call the skin the "third kidney".
Recommendations:
--Eat a high fiber diet. This keeps the colon clean and ridding the body of toxins
--Eat a lot of fruit. This is always good for the skin because of the nutritional value and water content of fruit.
--Eat more foods rich in zinc, including shellfish, soybeans, whole grains, sunflower seeds, and a small amount of raw nuts daily. Zinc is an antibacterial agent and a necessary element in the oil-producing glands of the skin.
--Drink at least eight glasses of water per day
--Avoid alcohol, butter, caffeine, cheese, chocolate, cocoa, cream, eggs, fat, fish, fried foods, etc.
Please remember---ALWAYS discuss any suggestions with your doctor or healthcare provider. This is in no way a replacement for your doctor's advise. You may have a medical condition that would not allow the consumption of these foods or a condition that would prohibit some of the suggestions
excerpt from Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Third Edition, by
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC and James F. Balch, MD