Exploring the Root Causes of Acne

There comes a point when you've tried every single over-the-counter product you could find in your battle against the dreaded blight of acne... and yet still the battle rages on. You may have even crossed over to more natural methods of skincare like the honey face mask, homemade toner and coconut oil. And while these certainly help (I know from experience!), they fail to do one important thing: address the root causes of acne.

For a few, cleansing methods alone are enough to eradicate acne. But for the rest of us, there is something going on under the surface that is causing acne to rear its ugly head.

They say beauty isn't just skin deep. Well, neither is your acne.

Getting down to the root of the issue isn't easy. For one thing, we're all different. What causes my acne may have nothing to do with yours. It's all about how our bodies function as individuals. Still, while there are many factors that may be contributing to your acne, they all boil down to four simple categories:

1. Gut Health


2. Stress


3. Toxins


4. Hormonal Imbalance

Keep in mind that these can be tied together (and usually are). Stress can cause hormonal imbalances, poor gut health can cause toxins to build up, toxic overload can cause stress, etc. It's all just one big cycle of cause and effect. Because of this, you may have to address all four of these root issues to truly achieve clear skin (and excellent health). But many of you may experience dramatic results simply by identifying the one factor that's at the bottom of everything and addressing it accordingly.

Let's delve a little deeper into these four categories:

1. Gut Health

I put this one first for a reason--mainly because the condition of your gut affects your entire body far more than most of us realize. Balancing gut flora and rebuilding the strength of your gut lining is imperative to good health. An unhealthy gut system can contribute to toxic overload, hormonal imbalances and stress--gut health is truly the foundation of your overall health and well being.

Acne may actually be one of the first problems to surface when something in your gut isn't functioning properly. Better to catch this one early on than to wait until even more devastating symptoms arise. Simple ways to improve your gut health include eating probiotic foods like raw milk yogurt, taking herbal bitters to improve digestion, and having at least one cup of bone broth every day. Others find they experience more healing when they cut out more difficult to digest foods such as dairy and grains.

If you find yourself facing food intolerances, consider doing the GAPS diet or the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) in order to restore gut health and reverse food sensitivities. These are strict diets, but they are also only temporary and can be extremely effective at repairing a damaged gut.

2. Stress

Stress is a common root cause of acne because it raises adrenaline and cortisol levels. When these stress hormones are chronically elevated, certain health issues begin to crop up. Acne is just one of them (others include back pain, irritability, headaches, insomnia and more--read more about high cortisol here).

For me, a telltale sign of stress-induced acne is--for lack of a better term--bacne. I only experience breakouts on my back and shoulders when stress is the issue. Fortunately I rarely experience this anymore, most likely because I've put a lot of effort into learning to manage my stressors and deal with them in a more positive way. I've also taken up a few positive habits like yoga practice and getting plenty of quality sleep.

Read more about how to reduce stress or learn more about the effect of stress on the body.

3. Toxins

Let's face it: in many ways our world is more toxic than ever. Some suggest that when our systems are overloaded with toxins (think chemical dyes, pesticides, synthetic hormones, fluoride, chlorine, etc.), the body has trouble processing and eliminating all of them. This overload ends up manifesting itself as clogged pores and acne. If you are sensitive to certain chemicals, this may be doubly true. Melissa from The Cellulite Investigation has written extensively about her experience with fluoroderma and acne. For her, exposure to fluoride guarantees cystic acne breakouts. Read more about her thoughts on fluoroderma and acne here.

Whether you are sensitive to specific chemicals or just suffer from general toxic overload, practicing some simple detoxification methods may prove to be very helpful. Try things like dry brushing your skin, drinking a glass of warm lemon water first thing in the morning, oil pulling, taking Epsom salt baths, or rebounding.

4. Hormonal Imbalance

Hormonal imbalance is another common underlying cause of acne, but unfortunately conventional medicine offers only one solution: birth control pills. Not my cup of tea!

But hormonal imbalances is last on my list simply because restoring gut health, managing stress and detoxing can all help balance your hormones. But for some, hormones are truly the root cause of their acne, and in that case it's an appropriate place to focus your efforts. I always recommend natural remedies for balancing hormones first and foremost. For instance, many people experience positive results with raw maca powder or vitex (chaste berry extract), both of which are well known for their ability to naturally balance hormones.

Elevated levels of DHT (dihydrotestosterone) may also contribute to your acne, especially if you experience mostly cystic acne along your jawline and chin. Herbs that balance DHT levels include saw palmetto extract and spearmint tea.

Managing blood sugar and insulin levels is also a key in balancing your hormones. Balanced, real food meals are the best way to get your blood sugar under control. Include some protein and fat with your carbs (specific amounts will vary based on your individual metabolism), and eat smaller meals to avoid drastic upswings in your blood sugar and insulin levels. Some people find specific foods trigger a blood sugar roller coaster. Refined white flour and white sugar seem to be the most common culprits.

If you suspect hormonal imbalance to be the root cause of your acne, then getting a hormone profile test may be needed to determine where you should focus your efforts and if bioidentical hormone replacement is necessary in your particular case.

Try to remember the bigger picture when figuring out the root causes of your acne. Addressing the above issues may not solve your acne woes overnight. It takes time to heal. Impatience will only conjure up feelings of stress--which we know does nothing to improve your complexion! So think long term and make healing your acne just as much about healing your body as a whole. That's when the real benefits happen.

This post is part of Fight Back Friday and Real Food Wednesday.

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Weight Loss Wednesday: The REAL Causes Behind Weight Problems

Today I'm excited to feature a guest post by Raine Saunders and her site Agriculture Society, where she tackles important real food topics like sustainable living, holistic healing, nutritional therapy, food politics and much more. If you haven't checked out her posts on food recalls, the liver/gallbladder cleanse or the hidden costs of industrial food, I highly recommend checking out her blog!

Do you struggle to lose weight? Do you have trouble gaining weight? Both of these problems are actually related to one another, as they can be a sign of toxicity in the body and an inability of the digestive tract to properly absorb the food you eat. Inability to absorb nutrients from food is actually caused by poor diet. When you eat processed foods, over time your digestive tract becomes irritated and those chemicals in the foods you eat begin to penetrate the lining of your intestines, causing inflammation, weight gain (or inability to maintain proper weight), and disease.

Many people undergo fad diets and plan to lose weight, only to fail and gain the weight back. Most diets promise that you will be able to lose weight and aren't able to deliver. Why? Because most diets work from the premise that you'll have to avoid certain foods that are high in saturated fats, cholesterol, and calories. Whether you are overweight or not, your body needs saturated fats, cholesterol, and calories to obtain enough fuel and nutrients. If you are counting calories, you can count on still being overweight. The key is what types of foods you are eating which contain cholesterol and saturated fats. These ingredients are not the same in all foods. If you are eating whole foods, these substances are not only safe to eat but are necessary to health.

When you eat unhealthy foods, the calories are irrelevant because most, if not all of those calories, are unhealthy. A diet soda is no healthier than a regular soda because it contains less or no calories. Sodas -- diet in particular -- are full of chemicals your body doesn't recognize. You are better off to discontinue drinking sodas (and juice) altogether due to the high sugar content as well as other ingredients that won't do your body any good.

When you eat healthy foods, those calories are all healthy to consume because they come from nature and give your body everything it needs to absorb and utilize nutrients for health. When doctors tell you to avoid red meat, they are saying this because the typical red meat most people consume is from factory farms -- laden with chemicals, antibiotics, hormones, and the animals whose meat you are eating have been fed the wrong types of food -- corn, soy, and grain (much of it genetically modified and herbicide resistant).

Cattle are meant to consume grass as they are ruminants -- an animal equipped with a stomach specifically designed to digest grasses. When ruminants are fed other types of feed such as grain, soy, and corn, they become ill and farmers administer antibiotics. Farmers in factory farm environments are also concerned with profit and give their animals growth hormones and stabilizers -- all of this translates into unhealthy meat that causes many health problems - including heart disease, cancer, and Diabetes. Factory farm meat is obese meat. Grass fed meat contains the correct ratios of healthy nutrients -- low calorie, high protein, and with higher levels of omega 3s (plus CLA or conjugated linoleic acid). These factors have been found to have favorable effects on health such as helping to maintain proper weight and correct cholesterol levels.

Overweight individuals usually have detoxification issues and digestive disorders. If you have eaten poorly throughout your life, chances are you will have both. Digestive issues are caused by poor eating, leading to the storing of toxins which causes weight gain. When you get control of your toxification issues, you will then be able to lose pounds and arrive at the appropriate weight for your body size and type.

Any diet which encourages an individual to lose more than 5 pounds a month and recommends eating less calories and low-fat foods should raise a red flag. Overweight does not mean starvation nor elimination of important, nutrient-dense foods -- but that's exactly what many diets propose for the person trying to lose weight. Your body still needs fuel, even when you are overweight. And what you are probably lacking in most of all is nutrients that keep your body at normal weight levels and maintain a sense of well-being. An alteration in the way you eat should not be a diet but a lifestyle change. Until you understand this difference, you will likely continue to have weight issues.

If you are underweight, what you eat is still of crucial importance. Some people believe that if they are thin, they can eat poorly and it won't matter because eating that way won't cause weight gain. Even if you are fortunate enough that you don't easily gain weight, you can still damage your health from maintaining such a philosophy. Don't eat junk food to gain weight; if you truly need to gain some pounds, make your diet as healthy as possible. Eat plenty of organic fruits and vegetables, grass-fed, organic meats (both domestic and wild), safe fish, moderate amounts of sprouted, whole grains (avoid products made of flour), sprouted nuts and seeds, healthy oils such as butter, tallow and lard from healthy animals on pasture, extra virgin olive oil, raw, organic dairy products, and moderate amounts of legumes and rice.

Exercise, proper sleep, and stress reduction is also critical in the overall picture of health and maintaining proper weight. Employ a moderate exercise program that you engage in 3-4 times weekly and is appropriate for your fitness level. It is especially important to find something you enjoy and look forward to that is a source of stress release as well as exercise. If you are in doubt, consult with your health care practitioner or a personal trainer. 

Excessive, unaddressed stress, anxiety, or depression can also cause an individual to harbor excess weight or cause the inability to gain weight. If you need stress reduction, consider yoga, pilates, prayer, meditation, or counseling which focuses on varying forms of cognitive therapy (as opposed to pharmaceutical intervention which can often make problems worse or only be a band-aid).

Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night is important, and making sure you retire around 10 p.m. is also critical toward helping maintain proper weight.

If you are unable to lose or gain weight after eating a truly healthy diet, you may need to address toxification and digestive issues. In many cases, these problems can be easily solved naturally without drugs or surgery. Consult with a knowledgeable health care practitioner about the correct type of detox and/or digestive remedy for your individual needs. Good individuals to inquire with include a naturopathic doctor, a certified nutritional therapist, a chiropractor, or a nutritional counselor who can refer you to another qualified professional.

Let's do a comparison of several different types of foods. Decide which are healthier to eat:

• Packaged bread or grain product or real, whole, sprouted grains that have been soaked or fermented
  
• Pasteurized, homogenized, 2 percent milk or whole, raw milk
• Lean, "low-fat" ground turkey which has been fed grains, corn and soy (possibly with growth hormones and antibiotics ) or natural, organic grass-fed ground beef with no chemicals, growth hormones, or antibiotics
• Tofu or pasture-raised, natural eggs (no antibiotics, chemicals)
• Conventional produce or sustainable produce grown without chemicals

In all cases, any foods which are processed and contain chemicals will contribute to weight issues and health disorders. Natural, healthy foods with saturated fats and cholesterol are necessary for health. Proper cholesterol cannot be maintained without these foods, and weight trouble and health issues will arise from eating processed low-fat foods such as soy, dairy, and meats which are "engineered" by technology through administration of chemicals/hormones/antibiotics and the feeding of unnatural types of feeds such as soy, grains, and corn.

As these foods represent the bulk of what is available in mainstream grocery stores and markets, these foods are eaten by the majority of people. These are also the main kinds of foods recommended by many conventional health professionals to be consumed. This is the reason why America has such an obesity and health epidemic. When we can finally make the distinction between real, whole foods for tools of healing and health, our chronic diseases and illnesses will finally be an exception rather than a rule.



This post is part of Pennywise Platter Thursday hosted by The Nourishing Gourmet and Simple Lives Thursday hosted by Gnowfglins.

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Four Herbs for Restoring Liver Health

In our literally toxic modern society, maintaining liver health is more important than ever. Bruce Fife had some very interesting things to day about the liver in The Detox Book:

"The liver performs hundreds of functions, more than any other gland, necessary for us not only to maintain good health, but to sustain life itself. The liver is the body's primary detoxification organ and manufacturing plant. It cleans alcohol, drugs, bacterial products, poisons, various waste products, and worn-out red blood cells from the body. It produces amino acids, proteins, and fats, and stores fat and glucose (the energy source for cellular metabolism)."

"The liver also controls the metabolism of dietary fat. It manufactures bile, which is stored in the gallbladder, and is necessary for the digestion of dietary fat."

"The liver also functions in the formation of lymph--a vital body fluid which provides the medium in which white blood cells circulate throughout the body, fighting infection and removing toxins."

Once you understand the role liver plays in overall health and digestion, it's easy to see why maintaining liver health is vital. However, for most of us maintenance is not quite enough. Many of us have had poor dietary and lifestyle habits in the past that have taken a tole on our liver health. In these cases, herbal remedies can be extremely helpful in restoring liver function. These natural herbs in particular provide potent results in detoxifying and restoring the liver:

Milk Thistle. (pictured above) By far the most famous herb for liver health, milk thistle contains a potent compound called silymarin, which protect liver cells from damage by preventing toxin absorption and enhancing actual regeneration of liver cells. Milk thistle is a part of most popular liver tonics, and it can also be ground fresh and sprinkled over food.

Artichoke. Thought to have a protective effect on liver cells, artichoke can aid liver regeneration and improve its function. It also supports bile production, which is important for digestion and assimilating valuable nutrients. Some clinical studies show artichoke can lower triglyceride levels, as well.

Dandelion. This herb makes an ideal liver treatment because it is highly effective and generally very safe (it is also quite inexpensive). All parts of the flower can be useful, but dandelion root is the most popular liver remedy, while the leaves are known for promoting kidney health.

Licorice. This herb was often used in Eastern medicine to treat liver problems. One study reported licorice increased the production of interferon, which may explain this herb’s unique ability to defend liver health from harmful toxins.

Keep in mind that any of these herbs should be used in conjunction with lifestyle factors which promote liver health, such as avoiding alcohol, caffeine and tobacco; staying active with regular exercise (even walking and yoga are highly beneficial); avoiding processed foods filled with junk sugars and chemical additives; and finally, learning to manage stress and developing healthy sleeping habits.

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Detox Month Post Round-Up: 10 Exciting Posts on Detoxification

In case you missed it, June was Detox Month at The Nourished Life. I set out last month in search of some solid information on cleansing and detoxing. And I'm happy to say that--while I still don't have all the answers--there's definitely been some progress, and detox doesn't seem all smoke and mirrors to me anymore.

#1 Review of The Detox Book by Bruce Fife

While it was the last post I made in June, I feel compelled to mention it first as this was by far the most comprehensive detox source I was able to find. In spite of a few quibbles I had with the book, it's still a solid source for detox information. I recommend it to all detoxification newbies (and even experienced detox folks will probably find a lot of useful info here).

Plus, Dr. Fife sent me an email and I've added an update to the review about what he said!

#2 Color Me... Toxic? A Doctor's Take on Artificial Colors in Our Food

Dr. Michael Teplitsky shares some vital information about the toxic nature of food dyes, and gives me another reason to think twice before grabbing that bag of gummy worms.

#3 Natural Heavy Metal Detox With Spirulina and Chlorella

Who knew natural algae had so many benefits? These mean green machines have been shown to help purge toxic metals from our bodies.

#4 Cookware: What is Safe and What is Toxic

This one got some attention. While I hate the idea of replacing my cookware, writing this post helped me renew my goal to find a way to afford some new pots and pans. My old gear is definitely toxic! (It also renewed my love for my wonderful cast iron frying pan!)

#5 Detox Q & A: Is Cleansing Order Really Important?

Doing cleanses in a certain order may sound like an old wive's tale, but there is some merit in this teaching.

#6 Learn Why Detoxification is So Important, Part One

Dr. Teplitsky does it again with these great guest posts on how our bodies become toxic and what we can do about it.

#7 Learn Why Detoxification is So Important, Part Two

Part two of the post listed above, this guest post delves into the connection between gut health and toxification.

#8 Exercise for Detoxification: Which Exercise is Best for Detox?

Jumping jitterbugs! (That's your clue for the ultimate detox exercise I talk about in this post.)

#9 In Bad Taste: Why Man-Made Flavors are Bad for Your Health

Are "natural" flavors really natural? I think you can guess the answer to that...

#10 Learn How to Detox With a Coconut Oil Cleanse

Coconut oil helped saturated fat make its comeback, it's great for the thyroid and can boost immunity. No surprise that it's great for detoxing too!

Even in a month's time, I didn't come close to covering all topics I wanted to about detoxification. So you can look forward to many more posts on detox in the future here at The Nourished Life. It's a subject I will certainly continue to study and hopefully we can find some more answers!

This post is part of Pennywise Platter Thursday at The Nourishing Gourmet and Fight Back Friday at Food Renegade.

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Book of the Month Review: The Detox Book by Bruce Fife

I set out this month to find some solid information about detoxification. Internet searches only reveal so much, and it's hard to separate fact and fiction when web sites are constantly blurring the line between real information and product promotion.

I picked The Detox Book because I know Bruce Fife from his prolific literature on coconut oil. I thought he might have an interesting take on detox. For the most part, I think this is a great book if you're interested in learning the fundamental principles of detoxification. Here's the scoop:

The Good:

There's a lot of good in this book (remember that when you're reading the next two parts of this review). Most people would definitely learn a lot about numerous detox principles and regimens, including:

- Having the right attitude about nutrition and detoxification

- Eating a clean diet as strong foundation for good health

- Avoiding food chemicals and modern franken-foods that compromise health

- What is the healing crisis and what to expect

- Fasting and juicing

- Exercise and activity for health and detox

- Oxygen therapy (including deep breathing, food-grade hydrogen peroxide, etc.)

- Heat therapy

- Colon, kidney and liver cleansing (read about those here)

- How to use cleansing herbs (and which herbs to use)

- Cleansing the mind

And all of these subjects are covered thoroughly, so you'll know what your options are, what supplies you need and exactly how to do everything listed above. Trust me, you're not left standing there with a brand-new bottle of food-grade hydrogen peroxide wondering what the heck to do with it. Fife wrote his book for those who are exploring self care, and he explains everything step by step. Since his book covers such a wide range of therapies, it makes it much easier to search out options that will work best for you.

... the Bad:

Where has all the science gone?

Don't get me wrong, Fife's work is not too shabby. There are even some studies referenced through the book. But the skeptic in me was left somewhat unsatisfied. Fife used a lot of visual analogies to explain certain detoxification processes. It made it easy to understand, but I know anyone who likes things backed with solid science would be rightfully skeptical. Using visualization is often how medical experts pull the wool over our eyes. Just because I'm told something in a way that visually makes sense doesn't mean it's in any way true. (Think "artery-clogging-saturated-fats." It makes sense visually but it's a complete farce.)

Sometimes I got the feeling I was being told, "You'll just have to take my word for it." This seems to be thread that runs through most natural health venues, since really there hasn't been a lot of extensive research into this subject. Many times Fife's explanation was more than satisfactory, but other times I left the book feeling like I needed more concrete answers to really understand how all this worked.

... and the Ugly:

Depressing Dietary Advice (Again)

Ah, this is always the section in books that gets my goat. I've yet to find a book that really completely addresses the topic of nutrition. Most are very one-sided and this book is no different. Take, for instance, this sentence from page 51:

"Remember, cows don't eat meat to get their protein, nor do they drink milk after weaning."

Why, that's just pure genius. Comparing our dietary needs to a cow's? Now, maybe if we could find a way to squeeze a few more stomachs into our guts that would make more sense. But until I start regurgitating and chewing my cud, I'm not going to make any rash assumptions that my diet should be anything like a cow's. But then maybe I'm just not that big on grass.

Then Fife counters that with an insightful paragraph like this:  

"People have been eating fat, even saturated fat, for thousands of years without heart disease or hardening of the arteries. It's only been over the past century that fat consumption has become a problem. Studies show that we haven't increased our animal fat consumption, in fact, animal fat consumption has decreased while heart disease has increased. But the fats we eat nowadays are different from what our ancestors ate."

Well, he got that right. So, yeah, you could say there's some apparent discrepancies regarding nutrition here. In fact, not two pages away in the same chapter we come across charts aiming to show the correlation between fat consumption and disease.

Fife does say it's the quality of the animal foods that matters, that plenty of previous cultures did well on animal foods, that animal fats contain important vitamins not found in other foods, and that we don't really need to be vegetarians. But in spite of those redeeming points, anyone who was approaching this book for dietary advice would definitely come away with the feeling that we should all be at least part time vegetarians (or even that the USDA pyramid is a good guideline for nutrition!). And I don't think that's advice I'm going to handing out anytime soon.

So read through the nutrition chapter with a grain of salt. And if you're like me, remember to take a few deep breaths so you don't hurl the book at the wall.

The Verdict

Overall, I liked The Detox Book. I found it personally useful and it gave me a sense of direction in what I needed to research in the future to learn more about detoxification. You do have to wade through a bit of hype and melodrama along the way, but I found it worth a read even though it didn't blow me away in amazement.

You'd be hard-pressed not to find something in this book worth learning. And if you haven't done extensive research about detoxification before, then you'll probably learn quite a bit from The Detox Book. If you can get past the negative points above, I'm sure you'll find it worth the read.

Personally, this book inspired me to find a way to work a few more organic foods into our budget. I've also been rebounding for at least a few minutes several days a week (learn more about rebounding on this post). And I really learned a lot about liver health and how a properly functioning liver should work.

I came to this book seeking to learn more about detoxification so I could implement some new strategies in my own life, so in that light I did get a lot out of this book.

Buy The Detox Book by Bruce Fife today.

UPDATE: Dr. Fife was gracious enough to send me an email thanking me for this review, and also clarifying his current stance on nutrition. Here is what he said:

"When I initially wrote the book some 14 years ago, I was leaning towards vegetarianism, the Weston A. Price Foundation had not been formed, and I had not yet begun my research on coconut oil. I spent several years studying fats and oils in depth, reading many hundreds of research papers on the topic. It was from this experience that I learned that vegetarianism is not the way to go and that saturated fats and cholesterol were not the evil dietary villains they were made out to be, as I was taught in school. In 2001 I went back and updated a few things in the book to reflect this, but really needed to do a major rewrite on the diet sections, but the lack of time prevented me from doing so. Consequently, there are, as you noted, some discrepancies in the book, which I need to correct. I have been planning to update the book more completely and I will do this in the near future. In the meantime, all the detox procedures described are accurate and can be used with great benefit."

I thought you guys would be interested in hearing what Dr. Fife has to say, and since I have a great respect for his work (especially regarding coconut oil in recent years), I thought it was only fair that he had a chance to share his views and clarify his position. Thanks, Dr. Fife!

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Interested in hearing my reviews on other popular alternative health books? Check these out:

The Gabriel Method by Jon Gabriel

Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes

Adrenal Fatigue by James L. Wilson

The Schwarzbein Principle (the whole series) by Diana Schwarzbein

The Mood Cure by Julia Ross

Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Mary Enig and Sally Fallon

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Color Me... Toxic? A Doctor's Take on Artificial Colors in Our Food

This is a guest post by Dr. Michael Teplitsky, author of Nutrition and Your Health. His book is a great guide to the basics of real food eating, including why saturated fat and cholesterol are healthy, which supplements are the best and more. I think this is a great resource, plus coming from a doctor it could be a great way to get those stubborn relatives into real food, too! You can read my interview with Dr. Teplitsky at this post and find out more about his book here.

Artificial colors are man-made, synthetic chemicals that are used to make processed foods look better. They are also added to drugs and cosmetic products. These chemicals do not make you healthy. In fact, your body does not need them at all. By definition, you will not find them in real, unprocessed foods, the kind that your body was designed to thrive on.

Artificial colors have to be listed on the label, so look for them. There are quite a few of them approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They usually start with the letters FD&C, which stands for Food, Drugs and Cosmetics.

Here is a partial list:

FD&C Blue No. 1

FD&C Blue No. 2

FD&C Green No. 3

Orange B

Citrus Red No. 2

FD&C Red No. 3

FD&C Red No. 40

FD&C Yellow No. 5

FD&C Yellow No. 6

The colors come in two basic forms – dyes and lakes. Dyes are water-soluble, lakes are not. Regardless of the form, all artificial colors contain dangerous chemicals, including toxic metals, such as mercury, lead, and arsenic.

These chemicals accumulate in the body and can cause health problems. This is especially true in kids, who are particularly sensitive to the effect of toxic chemicals. Artificial colors have been linked to hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder in children.

The best way to avoid artificial colors is to not eat processed foods. I mean anything that comes in a box, can, or any other kind of package. Most processed foods have additives, such as colors, flavors, preservatives, and other unnatural things.

Think of apple, broccoli or steak. These are examples of natural, unprocessed foods that you should make the cornerstone of your diet.

Elizabeth here: Toxic metals in food coloring? Ew. I just did a post on detoxing from these metals here. Check it out if you've ever eaten fruit roll-ups or the like (haven't we all? I did, like, every day for lunch when I was a kid!).

Oh, and I announced the winner of the Renew You 2010 MP3 giveaway earlier today. Check it out here. Even if you didn't win you can contact me to get a great coupon code if you want to purchase the MP3 package!

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Natural Heavy Metal Detox With Chlorella and Spirulina

From aluminum in deodorant to mercury in dental fillings, metal toxicity comes at us from every angle these days. The presence of these heavy metals (and others such as arsenic, cadmium and lead) has increased as industrialization and its waste products spread. We can work to avoid these substances as much as possible, but some exposure is still bound to occur. Since even small amounts of heavy metals in the body can cause negative side effects like fatigue, headaches, digestive problems and skin conditions, it’s important to use natural methods to cleanse your body of these toxins.

Why Spirulina and Chlorella Are Effective for Heavy Metal Detox

The answer to natural heavy metal detoxification is as simple as a single-celled organism. Spirulina and chlorella are two separate micro-algae organisms which have existed on earth since the dawn of time. Both were revered as powerful superfoods in many traditional societies, and today are more relevant than ever for achieving overall health and well-being.

Spirulina has been shown as an effective chelating agent for removing toxins such as mercury, and even radioactive substances from the body. It has also been used to remove cadmium and lead from waste water.

While some detoxifying supplements simply release toxins from cells and tissues, chlorella is particularly adept at binding to toxic metals and ushering them out of the entire system. Chlorella contains proteins and peptides which are designed to bind to these substances and carry them out of the body. The chlorophyll in chlorella also aids heavy metal detoxification.

Other Amazing Health Benefits

Just as important as their ability to detox heavy metals, both spirulina and chlorella exhibit strong healing and regenerating capabilities. They are filled with beneficial vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats which work together in a synergistic way to provide energy and vitality.

Appropriate Dosage

Spirulina and chlorella can be used in very high doses for heavy metal detox. This is because they are essentially foods, not manufactured supplements. Because they are so effective at binding toxins and purging them from the body, they can actually reduce some of the common side effects associated with detoxification.

A typical dosage of spirulina or chlorella for heavy metal detox is about 20 - 30 grams per day. They can be used together if desired. You may want to start with as little as 500mg daily and work up as needed to allow your body to adjust. After completing detox, you can taper down to a maintenance dosage of 3 - 6 grams per day.

It’s important to find a manufacturer of spirulina or chlorella who takes the proper steps to ensure a clean and digestible product free from fillers and additives. A little research can reveal which manufacturers are the most reputable. Natural spirulina from Hawaii is one of the most highly recommended. Chlorella is a little more difficult to source but there are some reputable brands out there.

On a side note: I've heard that iodine can also aid metal detox in high doses. There is some controversy about mega-dosing on iodine, but experts like David Brownstein claim that adults need a daily dose of 12.5 mg (waaaaay higher than the RDA). You can read more about this in his book Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It and decide for yourself. Ann Marie from Cheeseslave also did some great posts on iodine here and here.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for the Renew You 2010 teleseminar on MP3! Read more about it here. You can also find a preview of the free online seminar here and listen to some of these amazing women speak about everything from ending sugar addiction to budgeting to sex. You can listen to the whole teleseminar for RIGHT NOW and until Monday the 28th (sign up here). After that MP3s will be available for purchase.

This post is part of Pennywise Platter Thursday at The Nourishing Gourmet and Fight Back Friday at Food Renegade!

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Detox Q & A: Is Cleansing Order Really Important?

 

Question: I've heard you have to do cleanses in a certain order or they don't work. Is this true?

Answer: I questioned this too when I first heard about it. It kind of sounded silly to worry about cleansing in a specific order. After all, if in the end we're cleansing all our organs of toxins, does it really matter which one we do first?

Well, the truth is that it does. Here's the order in which cleanses should generally be done:

1. Colon
2. Kidneys
3. Liver

The colon and kidneys need to be cleanses before attempting other cleanses because these systems are the ones that remove toxic waste from the body. So, you don't really want to release a flood of toxins into a system that's not capable of properly discarding them. By improving the health of your colon and kidneys, you're getting the body in shape for not only removing toxins through cleansing, but also tackling the daily toxin load as well.

How do you cleanse these organs?

There's not enough room in this post for thoroughly discussing all of the cleanses above, but I can give a brief overview plus point you to some great resources.

1. Colon Cleansing

You don't have to take harsh laxatives and spend hours on the commode to do this. The main point is to get the digestive system rolling and functioning efficiently. A sluggish bowel allows toxins to sit around and wreak havoc. For many people, eating a clean, real food diet that includes probiotic foods may be enough to keep thing running smoothly down there. Others may need some supplemental help like digestive bitters (read my post about those here), probiotic supplements like Bio-kult or magnesium citrate powder to restore gut health and regularity. Enemas or colonics might be highly beneficial if your bowel's in pretty bad shape.

2. Kidney Cleansing

Eating a clean diet should also help with this one a lot, but you can also supplement with herbs to cleanse the kidneys and help dissolve away stones. Beneficial herbs for kidney health include:

- Hydrangea Root

- Marshmallow Root

- Uva Ursi

- Horsetail

- Parsley

- Ginger Root

I've also heard that eating a monofood diet of watermelons for several days can help flush out kidney stones. I can't vouch for this personally, but there's some interesting anecdotal accounts out there about doing a cleansing watermelon diet. Heck, I love watermelon so I might have to try this myself for fun!

3. Liver Cleansing

Raine Saunders from The Agriculture Society blog did a great post about this here. Her post is really thorough and I highly recommend checking it out if you want to know more about this. The liver/gallbladder flush typically results in the elimination of numerous gallstones through the bowels (see why you need good colon health, first?). This helps the liver function far more effectively.

Of course, no one should be considering doing cleanses if they aren't committed to living a healthy lifestyle in the first place. You can do all the cleanses you want, but if you're constantly exposing yourself to a boatload of toxins the benefits are going to be minimal. So make some healthy lifestyle changes in addition to cleansing and you've got a winning formula.

The book I'm reading this month really covers these cleanses in great detail (plus many other ways to detox). I've gotten a ton a ideas from this book that I feel are going to be easy to implement in my life--which is great, because if you can't stick with it, what's the point? If you're interested in learning more about detoxification I think this is a good resource to have around: The Detox Book by Bruce Fife, N.D.

This post is part of Fight Back Friday at Food Renegade!

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Learn Why Detoxification is So Imporant, Part Two

This is part two in a short guest post series. See part one here.

In many people, their own gastrointestinal system contributes to the pollution of the body. The purpose of the GI system is to digest and absorb the nutrients and to eliminate the undigested portions of food along with waste products, harmful microorganisms and toxins.

Many people do not have perfectly healthy bowels, as evidenced by various gastro-intestinal problems, such as heartburn, indigestion, bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea and so on. In fact, more drugs are sold to treat GI symptoms than for any other organ.

There are many reasons why most people have unhealthy GI tract. We do not eat the right foods, we do not get enough physical activity, fresh air or sunshine. Alcohol, antibiotics, painkillers and other medications - all these disrupt normal bowel function. Plus, as we get older, the stomach, pancreas and small intestine produce less digestive enzymes. This leads to decreased digestion and absorption of nutrients and increased accumulation of undigested food material and putrefied fecal matter in the intestine.

This creates a condition known as dysbiosis – a decline in good bacteria and an increase in pathogenic micro-organisms, such as parasites, viruses and yeasts, especially Candida albicans. In turn, this leads to leaky gut syndrome – a condition that allows many toxic substances that were intended to be eliminated to get into the blood stream and pollute the body.

The bottom line is that everybody has extra toxins in his or her body that need to be eliminated. This is the purpose of the detoxification program.

There are literally dozens of different detoxification programs on the market today, but most of them do not address the real needs of the body. The vast majority of them are glorified laxatives that make you have more frequent and bulkier bowel movements. They generally do not support the liver or the kidneys nor do they improve the health of the GI tract.

Since we are exposed to toxins every day of our lives, it is important to understand that detoxification activities should be a part of your daily routine. The way I approach detoxification is by doing a little bit every day and doing a lot once or a few times a year.

First, try to minimize the amount of toxins getting inside your body. Avoid using plastic utensils, plastic bottles, etc. Do not use medications, either over the counter or prescription, unless your life depends on it. Do not eat junk food that is highly processed and filled with preservatives, flavoring agents, and artificial colors.

Eat a variety of foods, both of plant and animal origin. Make sure to get enough fiber to keep your bowels clean and moving. Eat food that is as close to its natural state as possible. Use garlic to fight bad bacteria in the intestine and eat fermented foods that supply good bacteria. I am talking about yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, etc. It is okay to take probiotic supplements, but I prefer getting them from food.

At least once a year I recommend to all my patients a 3-week purification program from Standard Process. It uses special supplements that specifically support the liver and the kidneys, and help clean the intestine at the same time.

You want your body to be as clean as possible for better health. Protect it from all the toxins that are constantly assaulting it from inside and from outside.

This is a guest post by Dr. Michael Teplitsky, author of Nutrition and Your Health. His book is a great guide to the basics of real food eating, including why saturated fat and cholesterol are healthy, which supplements are the best and more. I think this is a great resource, plus coming from a doctor it could be a great way to get those stubborn relatives into real food, too! You can read my interview with Dr. Teplitsky at this post and find out more about his book here.

This post is part of Real Food Wednesday hosted by Kelly the Kitchen Kop!



And don't forget to try these probiotic recipes:

• How to Make Raw Milk Kefir
• How to Make Raw Milk Yogurt

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Learn Why Detoxification is So Imporant, Part One

A toxin is any substance that has a potential to cause us harm. There are three categories of toxins that humans have to deal with:

1. Those produced by the normal physiological processes within the body

2. Those produced by the abnormally functioning gastrointestinal (GI) tract

3. Substances that come from outside

The first two categories are called endotoxins, which means coming from inside, from the Green work endon or within. The third category is called exotoxins, from ex or outside.

There are 50 to 100 trillion cells in an average body. Each cell produces waste products and dumps them into the blood. These toxins need to be dealt with and eliminated. Fortunately, we have a special detoxification system that is designed to remove waste products from the body. It consists of the liver, kidneys, intestine, lungs, and the skin. Our detoxification system can usually handle internally produced toxins without difficulties.

The problem is that today there are tens of thousands of synthetic chemicals in our environment that are potentially toxic. Industrial chemicals, pesticides, components of plastic, medications, toxic metals (lead, mercury, aluminum, cadmium), cleaning products, hair sprays and other personal care products, the list goes on and on.

Just a few days ago McDonald’s announced a recall of 12 million of commemorative Shrek glasses because they contained cadmium.

The environmental toxins get inside the body through the air, food and water. Some get in through the skin. The liver and the kidneys are constantly working to eliminate as many of them as possible, but there are just too many and it is simply not possible to remove all of them.

As a result, practically everyone has many different toxins in their body. And this is not only true about people. Toxins have been also detected in all kinds of animals, from whales to turtles.

The endotoxins, the ones that we make ourselves, are water-soluble. They require only minimal processing and are easily removed by the kidneys. Not so with the exotoxins. Most of them are fat-soluble, so they do not dissolve in the blood. Instead, they accumulate in the fatty tissues and in organs, such as abdominal fat, brain, heart, etc.

They interfere with normal function of the tissues and organs, causing deterioration in performance, unpleasant symptoms, and may even contribute to disease.

Don't miss part two of this short series later this week, where we'll discuss the relationship between gut health and toxic build-up!

This is a guest post by Dr. Michael Teplitsky, author of Nutrition and Your Health. His book is a great guide to the basics of real food eating, including why saturated fat and cholesterol are healthy, which supplements are the best and more. I think this is a great resource, plus coming from a doctor it could be a great way to get those stubborn relatives into real food, too! You can read my interview with Dr. Teplitsky at this post and find out more about his book here.

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