Elimination Diets....Are They Worth the Trouble?

Elimination diets are popular, and often prescribed by nutritionists and endocrinologists trying to get to the bottom of a patient's GI issues. 

Yesterday I shared my own journey back to good health, and how I did not eliminate, but reduced gluten and dairy.

For people who are not having serious health concerns, the concept of eliminating their favorite food groups for 30 days is a short-lived idea. Short-lived because it requires planning ahead for grocery shopping, recipes, and more. Finding a great support system is key for success, and I am fortunate to be a part of a great group of people in a private Facebook forum that focuses on healthy living. We share recipes, and store bought foods that we have found, with great joy and diligence in label reading, that meet the elimination diet criteria.

If the thought of eliminating a food group 100% for thirty days seems overwhelming, I encourage you to cut back on ONE food group (gluten/wheat or dairy are two food groups that are typically prime suspect for a host of symptoms) for four weeks.  These two food groups are most often associated with skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and more. Keep in mind that cutting back can help one lose weight, but as long as a food group is still in the diet, a skin condition or other ailment is not likely to go away.

If weight loss is your goal - counting calories is not necessary, and you don't need to measure or weigh yourself unless you wish to....your clothes will let you know if your body is losing body fat through the mid-section and elsewhere, and in all likelihood, your joints and overall sense of wellness will be tell tale signs of how your body is responding.

It is imperative to find an alkaline-based (aka vegetable/plant-based food) substitute to take the place of the glutenous foods you are eliminating. Whether it is breakfast cereal, toast or bagel, or sandwich or pizza - you want to fuel your body with food that does not fuel diseased cells. Fresh, raw plant-based foods are a great choice. For me personally, a vegan, low-glycemic protein shake  free of soy (thyroid disruptor), and artificial ingredients, was key to my success. I added Arbonne Fiber Boost to my shake as well, as my diet seriously lacked fiber (important for colon cancer prevention) and the combo of protein and fiber helped me to feel full well past the lunch hour (as a strawberry smoothie was my breakfast meal replacement).

Now that farmer's markets are back in season, it is a great time to cut back on gluten, and instead, indulge in nutrient-dense foods for a healthier and happier life.

May you feel great, look great and live great!
Rita S.

Are the chemicals in your Acne Treatment okay?

If you are a user of acne treatment products that use BENZOYL PEROXIDE (BPO), you may find the linens in your linen closet riddled with white spots, or bleached areas. I have heard many complain about the ruining of towels, pillowcases, sheets, from benzoyl peroxide.

Food for thought for today - if a chemical in skin care bleaches your fabrics, do you feel it is safe for your skin and body?  Personally, I am not saying it is dangerous, but think about that for a moment....

For my own family, we have found a product line of which the active ingredient is salisylic acid, formulated with other botanicals, for an effective, non irritating treatment of facial acne. Abbi, above is one person who has benefited from the product line and saw visible results within a few weeks.

Benzoyl Peroxide, found in the most popular acne treatment product line advertised on television today, can irritate the skin of many - leaving it very dry. I've talked to a number of teens who dread using their acne treatment products because it makes their skin feel so dry and itchy, yet they don't want blemishes, or they are "threatened" by a parent who invested in the product, i.e. "use it or else..."

The top-selling brand, ProActive, when asked why they do not use BPO in their acne treatment products targeted for the body, state on their site why they utilize BPO only in the face products:
 "...Because BPO is known to bleach fabrics, while salicylic acid does not, we opted to leave it to our customers to decide whether they want to take the extra care required when using BPO products on the body. If you decide to take that route, we recommend that you wear white clothing, use white towels and sleep on white sheets; or at a minimum, wear a white T-shirt under your clothing and sleep in nightwear you don't care about bleaching so that the treated areas of your body don't make contact with your sheets." 

Now, I know people prefer studies about such ingredients, and I found one on BPO done way back in 2002. I am sure if I kept looking I would find some additional info uncovered by now. If you read the study, in general, you wouldn't get too concerned. (if you don't have concern for a chemical that bleaches your towels is ok for your body) ... http://www.chem.unep.ch/irptc/sids/oecdsids/BENZOYLPER.pdf

I did find this sentence on page 18 a bit disconcerting: "Benzoyl peroxide is not likely to be a complete carcinogen and/or initiator, but it seems to be a tumor promoter in mouse skin in an experimental two-stage model of carcinogenesis."

In my mind, an "INCOMPLETE carcinogen" is not okay...nor are tumor promoters. Obviously, doses of BPO at each application must be small, or people everywhere would have serious reactions to products using BPO. From the books and articles on endocrine disruptors that I have read, it is not the small amount in each "dose", but the build up of these chemicals in the body over a period of time, that contribute to problems down the line. I would venture a geuss that most people who use ProActive use if for more than a year, as they go through their hormonal change/teenage years.  As a parent, I am glad I can offer our son a safe approach to acne treatment.

A few other interesting google search finds on BPO - a hazardous material handling sheet on Benzoyl Peroxide from the US Department of Labor.
Holy cow Batman!  Why is this an okay ingredient to apply to our children's skin day in, day out?

When BPO was first scrutinized at its introduction to the market (whatever that may entail),  the FDA  classified Benzoyl Peroxide as a Category 1 chemical, in other words, safe to use.  However, in 1991 the FDA took another look at BPO and changed the chemical to a Category 3 "more data needed"  due to it's tumor promoting tendencies in more than one strain of mice, as well as in hamsters.  

This time of year, many are preparing for their wedding day, desperately trying to clear up blemishes and such prior to the big day when photos will be taken that will be with them the rest of their lives. As well, upcoming seniors often have their senior pictures taken during the summer prior to their last year of high school. I encourage parents to research the products they decide to purchase for their child, or encourage their young adult to be aware that ingredients in acne treatment products can and may:

1. turn your linens into a white dot design pattern

2. dry out and irritate skin, making them regret having to use it

3. can potentially be harmful with use

Safe and effective products are available, and some even come with a 45 day money back guarantee. As always, for the sake of your health, I hope you have found today's post informative and empowering to help you make smarter choices for smarter living, that can help you...

Feel better, look better, and live better!

Rita S.