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The 7 day skin detox for Summer

October 25th 2008 04:46
Have you been indulging in too many wines, take away or just too much stress? All of these factors can play havoc with your skin. If your complexion suffers when life becomes a little stressful, there are solutions to help you improve dark circles, dry or red blotchy skin, breakouts and puffy eyes.

Making some simple changes to your diet and lifestyle will result in significant changes in skin health. Skin cells start to respond immediately to positive changes and changes in skin tone and colour will start to occur within 3 days. By the end of 7 days your skin will already start to look and feel better. Follow these simple guidelines and expect changes:


Step 1:
Avoid foods that increase aging and skin inflammation…

Diet is one of the key factors in skin health. What we eat either supports our overall health including our skin or it damages it. Significantly there are certain foods and food groups that contribute to inflammatory based skin changes promoting skin conditions in those that are prone and ultimately leading to accelerated skin aging. The enormous variety of foods available to us coupled with often contradictory information in the media about diets, making good food choices can be a confusing process.

While no single food is the cause of skin inflammation, there are groups of foods that have a pro-inflammatory and therefore pro-aging effect. In addition many foods that we consume also play havoc with our blood sugars, are nutritionally deficient and overload our digestion system and liver. Fortunately there are also foods that do the exact opposite!
What foods should I avoid to feel and look great?

They key foods to avoid are those that cause inflammation and cause blood sugar inbalances as these spark a whole range of biochemical changes in our bodies which in the short term makes us feel tried and lacking in energy and in the longer term, advance rapid skin inflammation and aging.

I am a huge advocate of moderation in all things, including dietary changes. To really see a difference in your skin however, I recommend following a 90:10 ratio of anti-inflammatory to inflammatory foods. Treats are necessary but once they become part of every day, they cease to become treats. Keep them to 10% of your overall diet and when you do have them, REALLY enjoy them. Lastly go for quality - eat real chocolate rather than a confectionary bar, have real espresso coffee and drink expensive red wine!

Avoid these pro-inflammatory foods over the next 7 days:

o sugar - not only avoid adding sugar to drinks and cereals but also sugary foods such as soft drinks, sweets, jams, many cereals, biscuits, cakes and desserts
o refined carbohydrates such as any foods containing white flour - bread, biscuits, cakes, pastries, pastas
o chemicals added to food which includes most canned, preserved or processed foods
o fried foods and those containing trans fats such as margarine, ice cream and dairy desserts
o processed foods - most processed foods contain trans-fats and sugar
o preservatives, artificial colours & flavours – read food labels and if it has more than 5 ingredients or has ingredients you can’t identify as foods, put it back on the shelf.

This seems like a big list but one way of avoiding these foods is by avoiding the middle aisles of the supermarket and gravitating towards those on the periphery as this is where you will find REAL foods. Tomorrow you will receive guidance on the foods you can eat in abundance.

Take home tip:
See if you can go one day without any of the above foods. All it takes is 24 hours to start making change. Even better, try three days and then you will really start to see a difference in your skin.

Step 2 is due in my next blog post...
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Good Oils for Skin Conditions

October 8th 2008 06:14
The British Journal of Nutrition recently published a paper reporting that select nutrients have a significant effect on skin properties. In the study two groups of women ingested flaxseed or borage oil for 12 weeks. Dose was 2•2 g total fatty acids including both omega 3 & 6 fatty acids in the borage and flax seed groups. The control group received a placebo containing medium-chain fatty acids.

At weeks 6 and 12, skin irritation was performed by nicotinate treatment, and changes in skin reddening and blood flow were monitored. Compared to week 0, skin reddening was diminished in both groups; blood flow was also lowered. In addition, skin hydration was significantly increased after 12 weeks of treatment compared to week 0, with flaxseed or borage oil. Transepidermal water loss was decreased in both oil groups by about 10 % after 6 weeks of supplementation. A further decrease was determined after 12 weeks in the flaxseed oil group. Surface evaluation of living skin revealed that roughness and scaling of the skin were significantly decreased with flaxseed and borage oil comparing week 0 and week 12. Except for hydration, none of the parameters was affected in the placebo group.

So what does all this mean…most importantly that flaxseed oil and to a lesser extent borage oil consumption can significantly reduce the symptoms associated with red, scaly and inflamed skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis and allergies. Importantly it also showed that oils, in this case regardless of the type, increased skin hydration and reduced water loss. The dosage equivalent is about 6 x 1000mg flax oil tablets per day. While this may seem high, initially the higher doses are needed to really shift the inflammatory cascade in the body.

I have written about the benefits of essential fatty acids or “the good oils” previously and it is so good to see research being published that confirms the excellent skin effects of these oils.
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The answer to fad diets!

April 6th 2008 07:21
Diets are short term, good habits last for a lifetime. Habits for a lifelong healthy eating

Eat whole foods
o Whole foods have one ingredient – itself. They are un- or minimally processed and don’t contain a raft of additives. Some examples of whole foods include fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Think of the colour. Fruit and vegetables are all the colours of the rainbow and grains, nuts, seeds and legumes are often shades of brown. There is no white food in this mix. Think colour when you think whole foods.
o Whole foods are rich in nutrients and provide your body more of what it needs for optimal wellbeing.

Choose your carbohydrates well
o If you want carbohydrates in your diet go right ahead but choose wisely. Choose unrefined complex carbohydrates. Go for whole meal (brown!) varieties of grain. They have a lower glycemic index, provide sustained energy and contain in nutrients that promote good digestion and energy production
o Alternate your grains. If we eat one grain as the basis of our diet, in Australia it is wheat, then we are more likely to develop intolerance. Mix it up by choosing from the whole meal or brown varieties of spelt, amaranth, rice, buckwheat, quinoa and rye.
o Try more legumes such as beans, split peas, legumes, kidney beans etc. They are a great source of sustained energy and nutrients.

Choose good oils
o Good oils are found in nuts and seeds, deep sea fish, refined oils such as olive, sesame and coconut oil.
o Avoid trans and hydrogenated fats. Any oil that was once liquid and is now solid has undergone the process of hydrogenation. A diet high in hydrogenated oils is directly linked to an increase in cardiovascular disease.
o Processed foods tend to contain hydrogenated fats (and lots of sugar) so are best avoided.

Eat red meat in moderation
o Red meat is a valuable source of protein, as are chicken and fish. Protein is important for maintenance and repair and so is essential but we can also obtain protein from food such as whole grains, legumes and eggs.

Practice moderation in general
o If you want a treat, have it. Don’t deny yourself or you may focus on the very thing you want to avoid. But practice moderation and choose your treats wisely. For example go for good quality chocolate, coffee or alcohol and when you do, take a moment to savor the experience.

Read Labels
o Find out what you are eating by reading labels. You may be surprised. If you see ingredients such as flavour enhancers, additives, colours, preservatives etc, think about whether you want to eat that food. If you do choose to eat it, know that your body will have to detoxify it at some later stage.

Ananda Mahony ND is a naturopath and holistic skin specialist. Her practice focuses on the treatment of skin conditions and Food As Medicine. Ananda also owns Vitale Natural Skin & Body Care, a natural & organic skin care store in Paddington. www.vitalenatural.com.au


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A critique of the latest diets.

April 5th 2008 07:17
Casting a critical eye over some of the most common diets and dietary trends highlights some potential issues.

Low fat or non-fat foods.
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Diets abound! Everywhere we turn another best-selling, weight busting, body shaping diet is the latest answer to our eating problems. Atkins, Zone, South Beach, low carb, low fat, low protein – if it’s possible it has been offered as a solution to our dietary woes. But stop and think for a moment - if any of these diets was “the” solution, why is it that Australia is the second most overweight nation in the world? And indeed why are diseases common to Western nations such as Diabetes type 2 and cardiovascular disease on the rise instead of on the decrease?

What is wrong with the way we eat and why is what we eat contributing to the proliferation of disease states? Well it’s nothing you won’t have already read about. We eat too much sugar, too much refined and processed food, too much of the wrong kind of fat, too many preservatives and artificial sweeteners and sometimes just too much! Basically the Western style diet that predominates in Australia is calorie rich and nutrient poor. We aren’t getting what we need from our food, so our bodies crave more nutrition and we respond by eating more of the wrong foods. This cycle leaves us nutritionally deficient and often a few kilos heavier than we want to be


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If you had any doubts about drinking water here are 10 good reasons. Ideally drink at least 6-8 x 300ml glasses per day. One good way to start the day is with 300mls of warm water with the juice of half a lemon.

1. Drinking enough water helps to maintain good energy levels. Even mild dehydration can lead to fatigue


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Sorbitol is made from corn syrup and only has half the sweetness of sugar. Sorbitol is less likely to cause intestinal upset than mannitol however is not recommend for diabetics as it is not readily excreted and high levels can contribute to microvasculature damage. Ironically, it is often found in “sugar-free” gums and candy recommended to diabetics. Sorbitol can also cause laxative effects.

Frequently used in chewing gums and hard candy Mannitol is extracted from seaweed for use in food prodution. Less sweet than sugar, more is required to match the relative sweetness of sugar. Mannitol is most likely to cause bloating and have a laxative effect and as such a label warning is often seen to that effect


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A minor problem arises when foods containing sugar alcohols claim to be “sugar-free” or “low-sugar”. While technically correct, consumers may assume that the food will therefore have little or no impact on blood sugars. As discussed in the last blog, sugar alcohols reduce the energy density of foods and therefore have less impact on blood sugars however, there is still some impact which diabetics need to take into account. It is considered safe to assume that sugar alcohols will have approximately half the impact of sugar on blood sugar levels 1.

Due to the incomplete digestion and absorption, a portion of the sugar alcohol remains in the gut. This can lead to fermentation by bacteria in the intestine and issues such as bloating and excess. Additionally, sugar alcohols hold a lot of water in the bowel and for this reason they may cause diarrhoea. Manufacturers state that this effect is usually an initial response and that increased tolerance usually comes with repeat consumption. However, with some consumers, digestive issues may be an ongoing issue


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Sugar Alcohols

“Sugar-free, low sugar, zero sugar”. These are marketing claims seen on many packaged foods such as yoghurt, lollies, chewing gum, biscuits and diet foods promoted as “health” foods due to their low sugar content. The question is how can these foods have a sweet taste and yet contain little or no sugar and no artificial sweeteners? In a market that is more health savvy, sugar alcohols such as xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol are commonly being used in foods to replace sugar and artificial sweeteners


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Ethonobotanicals from Africa

January 23rd 2008 01:30
Continuing on from Part 1 of Lisa Phipps.

Now, these two really are hidden treasures


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Fat Fads 3

November 30th 2007 01:03
Leading on from Fat Fads 2, the ratios of EFAs in the diet are the source of some consideration. Various optimal ratios have been recommended from 1:1, 2:1 to 5:1. These ratios are based on the traditional hunter-gatherer diet. Interestingly the World Health Organisation recommends a ratio as high as 10:1 but that may be because it reflects the ratios in a typical Western diet.

Why are ratios important? The reason is that EFA imbalances are directly involved in inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, eczema, allergies and IBS. Inflammation is also a contributing factor in many chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease so the less inflammation we have being created the our long term health


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Myth Busting Fat Fads 2

November 23rd 2007 03:39
I have been on holidays in rainy Auckland and so took a break from everything including this blog. I did however learn about healing after slamming my finger in the car door. Injuries aside I am back on track now so in part two of Fat Fads I want to look at good fats versus bad fats. I have written some on this topic before but would like to explore this topic more.

Today I particularly want to discuss the balance of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). The general gist, well supported by research is that essential fatty acids (called essential because you need them to survive and the body cannot produce its own source) are the most important biological fats. There are two types of EFAs, omega 3 fatty acids and omega 6 fatty acids


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Myth Busting the Fat Fad

October 25th 2007 04:06
Fats have a bad reputation. They are blamed for the obesity epidemic we are currently experiencing as well as many of chronic diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. But are fats the “bad” food we make them out to be?

In this fat blog, I address myth that fats cause heart disease and obesity


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A Food As Medicine Seminar Series

October 20th 2007 01:28
As part of this blog I have decided to do a 8 part series called:

Food As Medicine - the Basics.
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