Preventing acne with diet by Joel Fuhrman, M.D. 

Acne is the most common skin condition in the U.S. About 85% of people in the Western world experience acne during their teenage years, but it can occur at any age. Acne is more than just pimples - it can leave permanent scars, and in many people, acne (even if it is not severe) can seriously affect quality of life, causing low self-esteem, withdrawal from social situations, anxiety, and depression.1 

What causes acne?

There are four major components of acne: excessive production of oil by the skin, skin cells dividing excessively (hyperproliferation), bacteria, and inflammation.2 A pimple or lesion forms when a pore in the skin begins to clog with old, dead skin cells. Usually these cells are simply shed from the surface of the skin, but if too much oil is being produced, the dead cells can stick together and become trapped inside the pore. Bacteria also play a role – they can grow and multiply inside the pore, resulting in an inflammatory response.1 

Does what we eat really affect acne?

For years doctors have proclaimed that diet has nothing to do with acne. That reflects the nutritional ignorance of physicians and their inexperience in treating disease with superior diet. Scientific studies have demonstrated that the diet is very important, because what we eat can affect the hormones that contribute to the oil production, hyperproliferation, and inflammation that cause acne. The acne-promoting dietary factors that have been most extensively studied are dairy products and high glycemic load foods – these factors influence hormonal (increase IGF-1 levels) and inflammatory factors increasing acne prevalence and severity.3,4 

IGF-1: an important hormone that influences acne

Hormonal influences that affect insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels are key.5 Elevated IGF-1 levels lead to changes in gene expression that cause inflammation, hormonal changes, increased oil production, and development of acne lesions. Protein intake is the major factor that determines circulating IGF-1 levels, especially protein from dairy products.

Dairy products

A three-year prospective study of 9-15 year old girls found a 20% increase in acne prevalence in girls that had 2 or more servings of milk per day compared to less than 1 per week. This association held true for total, whole, low fat, and skim milk.6 The same researchers found a similar association in boys who drank skim milk (milk highest in protein).7 Furthermore, in the Nurses’ Health Study, dairy products eaten during high school were associated with acne during women’s teenage years.8 

High glycemic load foods

Glycemic load (GL) is a measure of the effect of a certain food on blood glucose levels. High-GL foods like refined carbohydrates produce dangerous spikes in blood glucose, leading to excessive insulin levels in the blood (hyperinsulinemia), which contribute to diabetes, heart disease, and several cancers.9,10 Hyperinsulinemia not only promotes inflammation but also raises IGF-1 levels, further contributing to acne. A low glycemic load diet has been shown to improve acne symptoms, and decrease IGF-1 and skin oil production in several studies.11-13 

Protective micronutrients

Blood levels of zinc, carotenoids, and Vitamin E are known to be lower in acne patients compared to those without acne, suggesting that maintaining micronutrient adequacy may help to prevent acne.14,15 Carotenoids are abundant in green and orange vegetables, and vitamin E is abundant in nuts and seeds. Although pumpkin seeds and hemp seeds are rich in zinc, zinc absorption efficiency may be low on a plant-based diet, so a multivitamin and mineral supplement is recommended to assure optimal levels of zinc, iodine, Vitamin D and B12. 


References

1. American Academy of Dermatology: Acne. http://www.aad.org/skin-conditions/dermatology-a-to-z/acne. Accessed June 29, 2011. 
2. Costa A, Lage D, Moises TA: Acne and diet: truth or myth? An Bras Dermatol 2010;85:346-353. 
3. Ferdowsian HR, Levin S: Does diet really affect acne? Skin Therapy Lett 2010;15:1-2, 5. 
4. Melnik BC, Schmitz G: Role of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, hyperglycaemic food and milk consumption in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. Exp Dermatol 2009;18:833-841. 
5. Danby FW: Diet and acne. Clin Dermatol 2008;26:93-96. 
6. Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Berkey CS, et al: Milk consumption and acne in adolescent girls. Dermatol Online J 2006;12:1. 
7. Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Berkey CS, et al: Milk consumption and acne in teenaged boys. J Am Acad Dermatol 2008;58:787-793. 
8. Adebamowo CA, Spiegelman D, Danby FW, et al: High school dietary dairy intake and teenage acne. J Am Acad Dermatol 2005;52:207-214. 
9. Barclay AW, Petocz P, McMillan-Price J, et al: Glycemic index, glycemic load, and chronic disease risk--a meta-analysis of observational studies. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;87:627-637. 
10. Gnagnarella P, Gandini S, La Vecchia C, et al: Glycemic index, glycemic load, and cancer risk: a meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;87:1793-1801. 
11. Smith R, Mann N, Makelainen H, et al: A pilot study to determine the short-term effects of a low glycemic load diet on hormonal markers of acne: a nonrandomized, parallel, controlled feeding trial. Mol Nutr Food Res 2008;52:718-726. 
12. Smith RN, Braue A, Varigos GA, et al: The effect of a low glycemic load diet on acne vulgaris and the fatty acid composition of skin surface triglycerides. J Dermatol Sci 2008;50:41-52. 
13. Smith RN, Mann NJ, Braue A, et al: A low-glycemic-load diet improves symptoms in acne vulgaris patients: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;86:107-115. 
14. El-Akawi Z, Abdel-Latif N, Abdul-Razzak K: Does the plasma level of vitamins A and E affect acne condition? Clin Exp Dermatol 2006;31:430-434. 
15. Amer M, Bahgat MR, Tosson Z, et al: Serum zinc in acne vulgaris. Int J Dermatol 1982;21:481-484. 

STRESS and the CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT

Chiropractic spinal and extra-spinal (other areas of the body) adjustments are one of the fastest ways to reduce the effects of stress on the human body. Why is this when there are so many causes of stress?

First we might list out some of the causes of stress and the effects of stress on the body. Then it will be easier to understand how an adjustment, or a few of them, can make such a dramatic change for the better in so short a time.

Stress is mostly associated with the adrenal glands and the effect adrenal hormones have on your body. It should be noted that some stress is good. No stress is a bore and too much stress is overwhelming emotionally and physically.

Adrenal cortex hormones, called corticoids or cortisols, are known, based on extensive research by Seleye, to suppress the immune and digestive systems. The reason eating while on the go is considered poor form is that when you eat then get immediately active, the corticoids get produced suppressing digestion. 

Some situations that escalate corticoid production, acutely or chronically, are covered here. Fixated joints irritate nerves that affect the "fight or flight" mechanisms of the body. The musculoskeletal system is heavily and directly acted upon by corticoids in order to carry out the "fight or flight" response. An overly demanding interpersonal situation can be stressful. Heavy metal toxicity or any excess of the 60,000 toxic chemicals in the environment can stress the body. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, bad yeasts or parasitic creatures cause stress. Poor posture causes stress on various parts of the body. Continual excessive anything can be a stress. Having nutritional deficiencies stresses the body. And so on. You probably can think of other stresses particular to you.

The nervous system is the primary entrance point of stress. The adrenal glands put out the hormones that cause the stress response in the body. A toxic liver can cause the upper back muscles to tense up and a toxic colon can cause the upper low back muscles to tense up. Every level of the spine can be stressed by arm or leg situations or internal gland or organ unhappiness. Stress can come from many directions and in many guises. You get the picture.

Muscle tension is a direct or indirect effect of stress. Chiropractic bone and muscle adjusting (relaxing) brings about a quick relief on the muscles, bones and nerves. Your various stress factors eventually need to be effectively addressed for optimum health. The adjustment handles the immediate buildup of stress effects in the body to a considerable degree.

Lower the stress factor in your environment. 

Dr. Mike Spearman
Spearman Better Health Center
email: drmikess@yahoo.com 
www.spearmanbetterhealth.com 

Things that hinder the Building Health Nerves  (Worth reading even if you don't have Neuropathy)

While working with our customers to help them build healthy nerves there are some things we learned that can lengthen the time it takes to see an improvement in one’s neuropathy symptoms.

One of the things we found is that some of our customers are unknowingly creating a vitamin B deficiency as a result of their daily activities. B vitamins are vital for healthy nerves!

For example, some of the things that cause a B vitamin deficiency are heavy drinking of coffee, tea and soft drinks. This includes de-caffeinated coffee, tea and soft drinks. These beverages act as diuretics that cause the loss of both water and water-soluble B vitamins from the body.

Also, heavy smoking or drinking of alcohol, antibiotics, birth control pills, and stress can all burn up B vitamins.

And of course, there are many prescription medications that cause neuropathy as a side effect. 

If you are taking one or more of the medications listed below, it can greatly increase the amount of time it will take for you to see results in repairing and reversing your nerve damage.

The following blood pressure medications are known to cause neuropathy as a side effect: 

Aceon, Altace, Hydrochlorothiazide (HCT), Hydrodiuril, Lisinopril, Perindopril, Prinivil, Ramipril, Zestril.

The following cholesterol medications are known to cause neuropathy as a side effect: 

Advicor, Altocor, Altoprev, Atorvastatin, Baycol, Caduet, Cerivastatin, Crestor, Fluvastatin, Lescol, Lescol XL, Lipex, Lipitor, Lipobay, Lovastatin, Mevacor, Pravachol, Pravastatin, Pravigard Pac, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin, Vytorin, Zocor. 

It’s recommended that if you’re taking any of the above mentioned medications, that you speak to your doctor about getting off of these and replacing them with a natural supplement.

Minimally, your doctor should put you on a medication that does not cause neuropathy, so that the  Nerve Support Formula can nourish the cells of your body so that your body can more effectively repair the nerve damage. 

If your doctor is not willing to work with you on this then you should find a doctor who will. 

But remember, if you are trying to put a fire out with one hand, it does not help if you are pouring gasoline on it with the other hand!

"Within just three weeks of starting on your Nerve Support Formula my neuropathy and the pain has decreased dramatically. I am so pleased!” - Betty Latham, Nevada

You can find out more about the  WSN Nerve Support Formula by going here 
http://www.mcvitamins.com/WSN/nerve-support-formula.htm