The Clear Skin Diet Book Review

I just recently finished The Clear Skin Diet and I highly recommended it. It talks about what foods will positively and negatively affect your skin and all of the information it provides is backed by medical research.  Additionally, it talks about how stress and exercise will affect your skin. The book mentions that it should actually be called The Clear Skin Lifestyle, since it goes far beyond just diet.

I found it to be an easy read, and for those who want to get the most information out of it in the shortest amount of time possible can skip the Action Plan chapter, which concisely lists the actions one can do to improve their skin. However, if you are like me, you will find it invaluable to know why the Action Plan works and why it is designed the way it is.

The authors also point out how "diet does not affect acne" is a myth by comparing nations, like Japan, that have had clear skin up until they changed their diet and lifestyle to one that was heavily westernized. They also point out that people with acne are at a higher risks of developing diseases and illnesses (e.g., cancer) later on in their life--a scary thought. They are more susceptible to these issues because of the life style and lack of nutrition that generates acne.

The Action Plan is composed of eating foods that decrease inflammation (e.g., omega-3, antioxidants) and limiting foods that increase inflammation (e.g., omega-6, sugars). Additionally it mentions how our brain can trigger acne from an overwhelming amount of stress and/or from a lack of exercise. Personally, I can say that over the past few years I have not followed the correct diet and I have had a very stressed life style.

I started following its recommendations over the past week and I must say my skin seems more radiant and clear. I still have a large amount of their advice that I can improve upon (e.g., relaxing), but I will improve one step at a time. The information that they provide is not a one time fix, it is a life style change. I am happy with my results so far despite the authors saying that it can take a few months for the benefits to take effect due to how comedo formation works.

Try this book out, it provides tons helpful information.

Food allergies

I have noticed that my acne responds to different foods that I eat. In particular, I believe I have received some negative reactions after peanut butter, and shell fish. It seems that after I eat those foods, my acne flares up and/or my skin gets itchy. Looking around the internet, these foods seems to be common food allergies. The shell fish was from a Chinese restaurant, which leads me to think it was MSG (monosodium Glutamate), and not the shell fish. I will need to investigate this further. A interesting post over at acne.org has some more information on MSG and acne.

I used to think that food and acne have no relation, because there is no medical evidence proofing the case. However, after noticing my acne's reaction after eating certain foods, I would have to say that there is some relation between the food we eat and acne. However, like all things, it depends, because everyone is different. One food may not cause the same reaction between two different people. I would recommended testing to see if you have any food allergies by noticing reactions after consuming foods. According to foodallergy.org, the most commons ones are: milk, eggs, peanut, tree nuts, shell fish, wheat, and soy.

I listened to an interesting story on NPR talking about food allergies. It seems that is a growing medical issue.

Here is an update picture. It is with my movember stash. Unfortunately, this picture does not do a good job showing it off. Not that it is that great to begin with. My skin is doing OK in this picture. I had Chinese food the day before. I thought it might be MSG free, but I think I was wrong and it caused some damage.

I think my next post will be about hydration and/or digestion.

Clearing up

Recently, my skin has been getting a lot better. I have a clearer complexion and I feel larger pimples shrinking. I started taking more apple cider vinegar (two TBPS, twice daily), D 53 Acnex, and I have been getting more sleep. I think all 3 have been crucial to improving my skin, but I want to emphasis sleep. Over the past month, I noticed I have not been getting as much sleep as I should. Some days I would get up at 5am and go to bed at 10:30pm. This lack of sleep would leave me feeling physically fatigued during the day. I felt i the worst after this weekend. I ended up getting a total of about 10 hours of poor quality sleep and I felt like shit on Monday. Also, when I am talking about sleep, I am talking about the waking up drooling sleep. Which means that it not only does it need to be ~8 hours of rest, it needs to be quality sleep. I find it difficult to get this kind of sleep often. It is too easy for me to not be comfortable while I sleep. I toss and turn, because I am experimenting with new sleeping positions (I am a belly sleeper trying to convert over to a side sleeper) or I have to get up to use the restroom in the middle of the night.

Progress from June

Here is a photo of me taken back in June.

Tazorac Chemical Burn

I have been using Tazorac, a topical rentin-A acne cream, for the whole summer. Initially, it was working really well. It was drawing out some of my blackheads and bring them to the surface. My complexion started to clear up. However, towards the end of the summer my chin began to break out a lot and turn really red. At first I thought this was normal, but after talking to an esthetician, I found out the medication was giving me a chemical burn. It was really irritating my skin and it was causing damage. The esthetician told me to stop using tazorac and she recommended some products to heal my skin. I have been following her advice and using the products for over a week now. I can tell that the redness has gone down. I have been told by a few friends that my face looks better. I am going to continue seeing this esthetician on a monthly basis. I really need the monthly facials, and I hope she can help my situation. I blame my self for not consulting a doctor after a few months of using tazorac. I should have checked with a specialist to make sure every thing was OK. I am going to be more careful in the future.

Here is a picture of what my break outs on my chin were looking like. This day was especially bad.

Diet

Most of my diet has been about limiting sugar, limiting gluten, and increasing "good" fats, "good" carbs, and proteins. Listed below is what a standard breakfast, lunch, and dinner will look like for me. I am not affiliated with any companies or products listed below.

Breakfast
1/4 tsp of Ultra Flora Plus and 6oz water
Omelet - olive oil, butter, 3 Large AA Brown Eggs with 350mg Omega3 each 
EnviroKidz Organic Koala Crisp Cereal /w 2 Tbsp of Ground flax seed and 1 Tbsp of Caproyl
Some Almond Milk for Cereal
2 Gluten Free Omega 3 Frozen waffles with butter
1 NOW Adam multi vitamin cap
1 Metagenics Omega 3/6 cap


Lunch
1 Cup of quinoa
6-8 oz flat skirt steak or chicken thighs or pork or salmon
1 cup kimchi or other vegetables


Dinner
1 cup quinoa
1 cup kimchi or other vegetables
a few olives
6-8 oz steak/chicken thighs/pork/salmon

1 NOW Adam multi vitamin cap
1 Metagenics Omega 3/6 cap
EnviroKidz Organic Koala Crisp Cereal /w 2 Tbsp of Ground flax seed and 1 Tbsp of Caproyl

Through out the day

4caps of rhodiola
4caps of olive leaf
water
some peanut butter

After a workout
1 protein shake

Before bed
1 serving ON casein protein shake

Picture after 4 weeks

I have completed for weeks of the routine I posted earlier. I feel great. My posture has improved. There is more definition in my abs. My shoulders are more defined. Look for your self.