The toxins that your body may accumulate to include fats stored as a result of problems with their digestion or due to taking lots of them. The other reasons for acne include food allergies, reactions to chemicals and the build up of hormones. This build up of chemicals and other toxins will result in the malfunctioning of your primary waste removal organs , and you face acne when your body seeks to remove these toxins through other organs such as the lungs and skin.

The type of food that you usually eat may also cause skin problems . Do you constantly eat red meat, dairy products and other food items that contain lots of saturated fat? Research shows that you will increase the chances of getting acne if these foods are your main diet. The cases of experiencing the acne problem are very low if you consume vegetable and plant based foods combined with little meat products.

You may also experience acne as a result of the hormone levels in your body. The levels increase during some stages like puberty, and this is why you may currently have acne. When the hormones increase, your skin will produce a lot of sebum. Sebaceous glands generally produce oils which keep your skin soft by lubricating it, and they are numerous in your face, back, shoulders and chest. But , if the oil produced by these glands does not leave, bacteria will multiply in the follicles resulting in inflammation of the skin and this causes pimples. The pimples then get an infection and form pustules leading to skin problems including acne.

For women, the hormone levels in the body increases during menstruation and pregnancy, and they can experience acne because of the increased levels of the progesterone hormone that the body releases after ovulation. Your body’s reaction to medications like anabolic steroids, anti-tuberculosis drugs like isoniazid and rifampin, anti-epileptic drugs, lithium and other medications containing iodine can cause acne. You may also experience acne if you exert a lot of pressure to your skin as may happen when carrying a heavy backpack or by wearing a helmet.

Do you know that your work environment can also contribute to the acne problem? If you work in industrial environments where you are in constant contact with chemicals like chlorinated dioxins, oils, dust and pollution, you may experience this skin problem . You can also get breakouts if the level of stress in your lifestyle is high. An instance is if you lack sufficient hours of sleep. Remember, , some skin care products can also cause acne particularly those that do not allow your pores to breathe adequately .

Is there anyone in your family who has experienced acne or other skin problems? If there is , it can happen to you as well, because heredity is one of the reasons for acne. Oily skin types are generally prone to acne. Anther reason for acne is if you do not have foods that contain essential nutrients that are needed for skin care. Drinking insufficient amounts of water and not doing exercise also can contribute to the acne problem.

Successful prevention of acne demands proper knowledge about the reasons that cause it. There are scientifically proven vitamin treatments for acne including vitamin b5 treatment. Acne problem can be cured simply if you treat it properly.

Celebrity fad diets seem to be all the rage at the moment, but are a few pounds of weight loss worth risking your health? Health care professionals are now advising dieters to avoid all forms of detox diets, due to adverse health effects associated with these fad weight loss programs. It was recently reported that a women was hospitalised and actually suffered minor brain damage, just by following this type of diet.

Detox diets often require that the dieter drinks excessive amounts of water, in order to lose weight. Drinking too much water can actually have an adverse effect on the body, and eventually reduces the amount of essential salt needed in the blood. In severe cases, the additional water can cause organs such as the brain to swell, which can lead to a number of very serious health problems, such as seizures.

In addition to this, regular detoxing and antioxidant detox products has recently been linked to an increase in diabetes. The sharp increase of antioxidants can be just too much for our bodies to handle, and can in some cases, end up damaging our cells.

Detox diets can be effective and in some cases beneficial, but they must always be followed properly. Many dieters are still taking their detoxes too far, by starving themselves and causing a whole host of health complications. The hydration based detox plans should be avoided at all cost, as these are often the most dangerous dieting programs.

Doctors are now suggesting that the detox fad is just another new way for the dieting industry to make money, and simply a waste of our time and money. Eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and drinking enough water each and everyday, is far more effective than regular detoxes. Our bodies are well equipped to cope with the build up unhealthy toxins, and our livers and kidneys are able to get rid of them effectively, without the need for harsh and harmful detox plans.

Short term fad diets and detox plans can never offer long term solutions to weight loss, and dieters often find that they quickly re-gain the weight after using such programs. The best way to lose weight, is to follow a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Losing more than 1-2 pounds per week is dangerous, and can be damaging to your health.

There is still no real proof to suggest that detoxing your body, or fashionable celebrity cleanse diets actually work, or have any real beneficial effects on your overall health. Health care professionals have now suggested that plenty of water (tap – not bottled) and a enough sleep each and every night, is far more beneficial than any detox diet or plan out there. So, there’s no need to waste your hard earned cash on detoxifying foods, books or products. Instead, all you need in order to stay healthy is top up your tap water in-take, and get a good nights sleep.

Some folks just seem to be lucky enough to eat whatever they want, and never seem to gain an ounce of weight. Well, it has nothing to do with luck. It’s all to do with our individual metabolic rates. And when it comes to metabolisms, we’re all very different.

Some of us have fast metabolisms, whilst others seem painfully slow. Many people blame their weight gain, or their slow weight loss on their metabolisms, but in actual fact, it usually has more to do with the foods you eat, and how many calories you’re burning.

The first step you need to take is to look at your daily intake. Men need around 2000 calories each and every day, whilst women only need 1500. If you regularly consume more than your recommended allowance, you’re likely to gain weight. If you’re already overweight, there is a good chance that you’re eating more than you daily allowance.

Counting your calories is a great way to find out if you’re eating too much. All you need to do is write down what you eat each and everyday, and work our how many calories those foods contain. When people start counting calories, they’re often surprised at just how much they’re over eating. Our bodies don’t need huge amounts of food, and this excess daily intake is what makes us fat, and can make us ill in the long run. So, if you eat less, or burn enough calories throughout the day, you’re far more likely to see some healthy steady weight loss.

Don’t worry, if you do have a sluggish metabolism, there’s a quick and easy way to speed it up and boost your weight loss efforts… exercise. The more you exercise, the more likely you are to increase your metabolic rate naturally, and kick start your weight loss efforts. By turning your fat into muscle you will make your body far more efficient, and this will help you to maintain a healthy weight.

The great news is… just one hour of exercising each and everyday can be enough to help you burn away excess calories, and help you to start losing weight. But, the bad news is… the older we get, the slower or metabolisms get. This is why many people pile on the pounds as they age. If you want to stay thinner for longer, all you have to do is watch what you eat, and keep exercising. Not only will this help you live longer, but it will help to keep you metabolism nice and fast.

The fat issue can be understood by putting it into two groups: Regular fat and essential fat. Omega-6 is known as regular fat and omega-3 is the essential fat. When the ratio of regular fat to essential fat is out of proportion, the body begins to experience health issues. Both fats are important but if there is too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3 in the cells, problems begin to manifest. The ratio of regular fat to essential fat should range between 2:1 and 4:1, but the typical American diet has a ratio between 10:1 and 30:1.

The culprits for this out of proportion fat intake are corn-derived products, corn-fed beef and animal fats. Fast and fried foods that are high in trans fats and hydrogenated oils and the lack of nuts, seafood and seeds in the diet, also play a role in our fat imbalance. In order to get our fat ratio inline, a diet consisting omega-3 foods like seafood, eggs, nuts, flaxseed and pumpkin seeds, as well as canola and hempseed oil should be implemented. Omega-6 foods like corn, soybean, sunflower and evening primrose oils should also be added to balance the ratio.

Vegans as well as all vegetarians can get omega-3 and omega-6 fats from the plant kingdom. People have lived for thousands of years as healthy vegetarians by using plant sources for omega-3 as well as for omega-6 fatty acids, but the fat ratio can get out of control. Vegetarians consume foods that contain the omega-3 and omega-6 (EFA and DHA) molecules ALA and LA, but some vegans and vegetarians bodies may have an issue converting those molecules to omega-3 or omega-6 fats. Vitamins B6 and B7 as well as copper, zinc, calcium and magnesium help improve the conversion activity from ALA or LA to EFA and DHA.

Vegan and vegetarian diets should be built on fresh whole plant food, like soy, nuts, seeds, olives and avocados, as well as vitamin and mineral supplements for conversion purposes. Concentrated oils and fats like olive canola and nut oil should be used for cooking and all processed and fried foods that are rich in omega-6 fatty acids and trans fat should be eliminated.

Guest post provided by V Pure – specialists in vegetarian omega 3 supplements and vegan diet supplements.

This article should be regarded as a reference source only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Seek the advice of your doctor before beginning any protocol. The author disclaims any liability arising from the use of information on these pages.

Eat wholemeal foods instead of starchy white carbohydrates (bread, rice, cereal). Instead of using white cane sugar, try dried sugar cane juice, agave syrup; maple syrup, brown rice syrup in small amounts or honey. Local honey is said to help build up resistance to the pollen in your area. Try a teaspoon a day on its own, in tea of coffee or on cereal.

Caffeine makes it more difficult for the body to cope with stress and stops minerals being absorbed. You could substitute caffeinated teas and coffees with rooibos tea, green tea or other herbal teas (see below), as well as decaffeinated tea or coffee.

Quercetin is a natural antihistamine. Antihistamines combat the effects of histamine, which is produced by the body when it reacts with pollen. Quercetin is found in red onions and apples and red wine. Pinaapples contain bromelain which helps the body absorb quercetin.
Betacarotene is high in vitamin C and helps boost the immune system, therefore helping the body to fight hayfever symptoms. Orange, red and dark green fruit and vegetables all are high in betacarotene. Try oranges, red apples, orange and red pepper, watercress, rocket, spinach, broccoli, green beans, kale, nettles and seaweed.

Eating the most natural and fresh produce possible could be vital. Sufferers have reported re-lapses of hayfever when eating synthetic cream instead of fresh cream and margarine instead of butter. Always buy high quality, organic ingredients. They contain more vitamins and less synthetic pesticides.

Other things that may help include yoghurt, which is cooling and has a mild antihistamine effect and garlic which can help to reduce catarrh associated with hayfever – try a garlic supplement or eat two cloves a day on their own or in food. Oats are high in B vitamins and minerals which boost the body’s immune system.

Detoxing will cleanse your body and help ensure you are at your healthiest to fight any unwanted hayfever symptoms. Carrot juice and green vegetables are powerful natural detoxificants which can help to cleanse your system.

Herbal teas can be beneficial as they cleanse the system and can soothe and calm as well as acting as a natural antihistamine.

Nettle is a powerful natural antihistamine and eases coughs and other respiratory problems. Drink as a juice or tea, or make nettle soup from local nettles. Aloe Vera juice is also calming and soothing, and so is camomile tea. Plantain is another natural antihistamine.

Pine needles, eucalyptus leaves and rosehips have soothing and decongestant properties. Goldenrod helps to cleanse the body, aids digestion, helps prevent and clear mucus. Liquorice is a delicious herbal tea which helps to clear nasal congestion and has other health benefits including anti-viral properties. It has a rich and warming flavour.

Lemon tea lifts the spirits and relaxes the mind and body. Rosemary relieves throat and nasal congestion associated with colds and hayfever. Dandelion tea or dandelion coffee is said to be the nicest tasting herbal tea and also generally the most beneficial to the health.

Above all, it’s a process of trial and error. Try some of these tips and see if they work for you, perhaps in conjunction with other things, like antihistamine drugs, a natural nasal spray or eye drops, other alternative therapies or other conventional medicinal treatments. There are also relatively new things on the market like the hay band, the sneeze beam and the pollen barrier balm (try HayMax) which may help you.

It is possible to take a food sensitivity test to find out if you are allergic to certain things. A wheat allergy may exacerbate hayfever symptoms. For more information or for a more individually tailored advice see a dietician or nutritionist. The Nutrition Society can help you find a registered nutritionist.

Rachel Brown is a website copywriter with a health background based in Godalming, Surrey. Contact – rmbrown@live.co.uk.

This article should be regarded as a reference source only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Seek the advice of your doctor before beginning any protocol. The author disclaims any liability arising from the use of information on these pages.

Broccoli

Broccoli is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family and has fantastic medicinal properties. It is high in nutrients such as vitamin C, beta-carotene (pro vitamin A), these immune boosting vitamins will help to protect against colds and infections (Prabhala et al. 1993; Wintergerst et al. 2006). It is also rich in other beneficial nutrients such as folate, iron and calcium. Most cruciferous vegetables also contain indoles (a type of phytochemical), these special nutrients have been found to have a protective effect against breast cancer. The mechanism for this is still being researched but it is thought that the indoles modify oestrogen metabolism to increase the formation of a type of oestrogen which is less carcinogenic and reduce the type of oestrogen which encourages breast cell replication (Fowke, 2000).

Cauliflower

Cauliflower, another cruciferous vegetable is rich in vitamin C and other nutrients contained in broccoli but contains little beta carotene except in the green outer leaves. (O’Neill and Murray 2002) The fibre contained in cauliflower and other vegetables will help to lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and raise HDL (good cholesterol) thereby providing protection against heart disease (Zunft et al. 2003). Folic acid, a B vitamin found in cruciferous vegetables will help to reduce levels of homocysteine, a toxic intermediary product that has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease. (May et al 2007).

Cabbage

As well as being high in the same nutrients found in broccoli and cauliflower, cabbage is rich in anthocyanidins, these are a group of phyto nutrients that scavenge free radicals and protect tissues from oxidative damage (Wang, 2002), so will help to slow the ageing process and reduce the risk of degenerative diseases. It is this phyto chemical which gives the cabbage its colour which can range from green to purple. Cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts also contain allyl isothiocyanate, a phytochemical that can destroy cancerous cells by causing them to self destruct (Gamet-Payrastre et al. 2000).

Carrots

Carrots are crammed with beneficial nutrients –they are a great provider of vitamins B, C and calcium which are great for giving the immune system a boost and phosphorus, iron and magnesium which help to increase energy levels. They are also one of the best sources of carotenoids such as beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. The beta carotene can be converted to vitamin A in the body which is important for the health of bones, teeth, skin, and eyes. The carotenoids themselves are powerful antioxidants and studies have shown that they provide many health benefits such as protection from damaging free radicals which have been linked to cancer (Sies and Stahl 1995), those who eat carotene rich foods have also been shown to have a lower risk of heart disease (Ito Y et al. 2006). The antioxidant properties of lutein and zeaxanthin means that they help to protect the eyes from macular degeneration – a leading cause of blindness in the elderly (Nolan et al. 2007). Carrots are also high in vitamin E which has caused much excitement recently over its heart protective effects, vitamin E can prevent LDL (bad) cholesterol from being oxidised and causing damage to the arteries. (Traber, 2007)

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are a great source of vitamin C and they also contain vitamin B, potassium, iron and phosphorus which are energy boosting nutrients. They are also very high in the anti oxidant beta carotene. Concentrated tomato products such as tomato sauce or paste provide even higher concentrations of nutrients.

Tomatoes are rich in a special phytochemical called lycopene (a type of carotenoid) which is the pigment that makes tomatoes red. Lycopene has recently been investigated for its cancer fighting properties and has been shown to lower the incidence of prostate cancer in men (Edinger and Koff 2006). This particular antioxidant is found in high levels in tomatoes but even more in tomato products such as tomato puree, it is released when the tomato is processed. Lycopene also suppresses synthesis of cholesterol and has been shown to reduce atherosclerosis which is the build up of plaque in the arteries associated with heart disease (Blum, 2006).

About the Author

Kate is based at the Healthy Living Centre in Islington and has been practicing nutritional therapy since graduating from the UK college of nutrition and health with distinction in 2007. For further information about her practice and booking appointments, please go to her website: www.kateosborne.co.uk.

This article should be regarded as a reference source only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Seek the advice of your doctor before beginning any protocol. The author disclaims any liability arising from the use of information on these pages.

This greater understanding has, in some quarters, changed the concept of what cancer actually is. A recent scientific paper suggests that a tumour has a lot of similarities to a wound, and has been likened to ‘a wound that doesn’t heal’. A wound induces rapid growth but then switches off the growth when the wound has healed – in cancer that ‘off switch’ fails.

We do know that a diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables can greatly reduce our chances of getting cancer, and also, being overweight can increase our chances of getting cancer. What has been missing up until now has been the fine detail of the processes involved.

Fresh fruit and vegetables, nutritional supplements and herbs contain a multitude of anti cancer nutrients. Research from parts of the world that have a mixture of Eastern and Western philosophies, such as India, China and Japan, have been showing how powerful some nutrients are.

A search of PubMed, the online library of medical studies and reviews, returns almost 400 papers to the search words ‘turmeric’ and ‘cancer’ and almost 600 papers for ‘mushroom’ and ‘cancer’ For such well researched foods/nutrients it’s a shame that they are not more widely used in cancer support.

The spice turmeric has a blocking effect on a cellular protein called NF kappa B. This protein acts like an accelerator pedal for cell growth and so blocking its action is vital to slow down the growth of tumours. NF kappa B is also implicated in the resistance of tumours to the toxicity of chemotherapy. Some studies show that turmeric can greatly increase the effectiveness of some chemotherapy drugs. I have prescribed turmeric to help support a client with mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer.

In the Far East, mushrooms have a long history of being used for medicinal purposes.
Sugars within the mushrooms, known as polysaccharides, have been found to be the active components that stimulate the immune system and give the mushrooms their anti cancer properties. Beta glucan is the most well studied of the saccharides and has the ability to stimulate the production of Natural Killer cells. Natural Killer cells are a vital part of the immune system’s response to cancer cells.

Fat cells, more correctly called adipocytes, also produce NF kappa B which then triggers inflammation. Inflammation causes cells to proliferate and so is a major risk factor for cancer. Saturated fat can also trigger NF kappa B production but only if the fat is over a certain length. Fats are made from chains of carbon atoms and if the chain is 16 carbons or over, it can trigger NF kappa B. Under 16 carbons and it can protect against cancer!

Butyric acid is a saturated fat that makes up 3% of the fat in butter. It is 4 carbons in length and has strong anti cancer properties. Studies have found it to be supportive in both colon and liver cancer. Caprylic acid is 8 carbons long and is a strong anti fungal, and lauric acid is 12 carbons long and has anti viral properties. Lauric acid is one of the main fats in coconut oil. When we talk about saturated fat being bad for us, it’s important to differentiate between good and bad saturated fats.

The fish oils DHA and EPA and another oil CLA all have anti cancer properties and influence a group of receptors called PPAR within a cell. PPARs trigger the cell to make anti inflammatory chemicals that have anti cancer properties. PPARs also have a beneficial effect on blood sugar and fat metabolism and it is at this level that the connection between cancer, blood sugar balance and weight management can be seen more clearly.

The life of a cell

The life of a healthy cell starts with growth, then it goes through a maturing stage called differentiation. Once it has differentiated, it becomes a functional cell until it wears out and then undergoes programmed cell death or apoptosis. With a cancer cell, the same growth stage occurs but the maturing stage fails to occur. Without differentiation the cell continues to grow and if enough cells fail to differentiate, a tumour can form.

The growth stage of a cell’s life is called cell cycle progression. Nutrients can work at all stages of cell cycle progression to both slow down cell growth and to encourage a cell to move out of the growth stage, differentiate and move on to programmed cell death.

Most literature we see talks about food and nutrients supporting and protecting against cancer in a non specific way. New research shows that we can be very specific and may even be able to combine several nutrients to target cell growth, differentiation, and cell death simultaneously. The non toxicity or low toxicity of nutrients makes this possible.

Vitamin A, vitamin D, lycopene from tomatoes, resveratrol from grapes, ellagic acid from raspberries, broccoli extracts, lactoferrin from milk and not forgetting turmeric and Japanese mushrooms – these are all examples of the many nutrients and foods that can help reduce the risk of getting cancer and also support cancer patients alongside their mainstream treatment.

It is essential that the patient’s oncologist is advised of any nutritional protocols. If they are unaware of the wealth of positive research supporting the use of nutrition with cancer, then I feel it’s important to bring it to their attention!

Working with clients

I have nutritionally supported seven clients so far with cancer or tumours, and see the work as helping deal with metabolic issues around tumour growth. I have used similar protocols with clients with psoriasis and inflammatory disorders – the proliferation of cells occurs in both conditions.

I use Kinesiology, a form of muscle testing developed by chiropractors, to work out which supplements might be of benefit to a client. As mentioned above, the relative low cost and low toxicity of supplements means that several metabolic pathways can be addressed at the same time. Some nutrients might be contraindicated in some forms of cancer, so it is extremely important to thoroughly research a protocol.

Ray Griffiths has been working as a Nutritional Therapist/Kinesiologist for the last ten years and is based in Surrey UK.

Contact: Tel 01276 479814
Website: www.nutritionsupport.org.uk
© Ray Griffiths 2009 All rights reserved

This article should be regarded as a reference source only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Seek the advice of your doctor before beginning any protocol. The author disclaims any liability arising from the use of information on these pages.