To Those Who Say Changing Diet Cures Acne

[SweetJade1]

ewww...as much as I care about you guys (lots and lots), this is why I don't come here as often. I can exhaust myself til I am sick and it still won't change some people's perceptions about what we say and do.

Everything is a combination of Gene-Environment Interactions. That being said, the differences that we've all noticed among others and amongst ourselves on this board is due to not just a Difference in our Genes, but also a difference in our Environment.

We all have different opinions of what is Healthy and may eat accordingly (environment). We all are not exposed to the same toxins, water, air, foods, etc in our environment. We all are not sensitive to the same skin care ingredients (environment). Yet no matter what, they will or will not have an impact on us physiologically.

Of course, what will determine the Environment's effects on us physically, is our Biological Makeup....our Genes. As we grow and age, there are genes that are naturally shutting down or turning on. Depending on our environment, there are genes that we can cause to mutate, to shut down, or to activate. Along with that, it means that we can cause Enzymes, Hormones, Proteins, Fats to become defective, inactive, or overactive.

So the kicker is, not whether it's the environment or your genes, for they are NOT mutually exclusive, but whether it's the DIFFERENCES in your Environment OR your Genes that is having the biggest role on your health.

If you look at it that way (anyone getting this?), then we can say that there is a Difference in the genes of acne sufferers, that makes us more susceptible to our environment than it does "normal" people. Yet, there is a Difference in the genes of those with Obesity that makes them more susceptible to their environment. There's a Difference in the genes of those that get Cancer that makes them more susceptible to toxins, among other things, in their environment. See where I'm going here?

Even the slightest change in ones environment can have the biggest impact on how you develop. Those genes would never be triggered if there wasn't something in our environment, that was triggering it. The exception here, for example, would be Puberty and Pregnancy. These both require that our bodies go through a Temporary State of Insulin Resistance in order for our bodies (or the babies) to grow. However, once that period is over, the body should no longer be Insulin Resistant, but that's not what's happening here.

What's happening here is that we are STILL consuming Plenty of foods that are very good, extremely good at producing fat and hormones. Puberty will happen wether you eat these foods or not, but not everyone is getting acne are they? No, others gained weight, became obese, or became diabetic and others...."nothing" happened. The differences between these groups of people had to do with not just their genes, but the environment (food, nutrients, toxins, etc).

Therefore, if you can control your environment as BEST as you can, you can control the way certain genes will behave. That's the prediction and it's been tested over and over in so many ways for so many diseases and disorders and it falls true every time. So the real question is, how do YOU want to control your environment?

Some ways are Better than others, but of course it does depend on whether your genes or your environment play the BIGGEST role.
For example, Alcoholism is a Disease that wouldn't exist if there was no alcohol to be addicted to. Even if it's inherited, if they never touch a drop of alcohol, they would never become an alcholic (not that all become addicted). Furthermore, without a doubt I KNOW hormones is what has caused my many hormonal problems, yet changing what I brought from my external environment, internally is all I had to do. See what I'm getting at? Some of these problems would NEVER exist if the very thing that TRIGGERED that Gene, was NEVER present. It just wouldn't happen, the disease would NOT exist! Therefore, while it may be inherited, it does not mean that you will get it.

Along with that, YES, just like Prometheus, I can say without a doubt that if you change your diet (the right way), you will produce less hormones. I KNOW this not based on just personal experience and testimones, but based on test results and hundreds of Peer Reviewed Scientific, Medical, & Nutritional Studies.

I know that if you starve, you can reduce those hormones.

I know that if you stop eating Grains, you can reduce those hormones.

I know if you "Low Carb", you will reduces those hormones.

I know that if you consume less animal protein (red meat), you will reduce those hormones.

I know that if you consume less Dairy you will reduce those hormones

I know that if you consume less hydrogenated oils, etc you will reduce those hormones.

I've found all this, 100s upon 100s of hours of research (some of which is wrapped up nicely in a $40 ebook...lol) and I haven't even told you what happens when you INCLUDE those with Allergies and Intolerances! When you focus on the role food plays in these individuals it gets far more complicated, yet in the end, the foods they avoid produce hormones too, and usually they avoid the same foods as the rest of us.


This is WHY certain diets work better than others. Certain diets are better at Controlling, or PREVENTING rather, hormonal and nutrient imbalances. So I can GUARANTEE that if you alter your diet to a more "Human Diet" as Prometheus calls it, that involves optimal nutrition and consequently hormonal balance, those pesky Hormones (Androgens, IGF-1, Insulin) WILL REDUCE, if not entirely Normalize! Yet, what I can't guarentee is what changes you will see and feel....that's left up to your genes.

Remember people following the very same/similar diets have had Cancer, Diabetes, PCOS, Acne, Hirsutism, Hyperthyroidism, Rheumatiod Arthritis, ADHD, (Autism), Celiac's Disease, Allergies, Intolerances, Constipation, Crohn's Disease, Irritable Bowel Sydrome, Candida, Menstrual problems, Weight Problems, Benign Prostate Hyperplasia, Heart Disease, etc. I'm not making it up or relying on someone else's word, I've looked these up and more, myself! LOL, so you really think that there are "normal" people out there that are NOT affected by their diet????? A very very tiny percentage probably do exist, but obviously, we are not among that special group.


That's the COLD hard truth, I'm sorry if people aren't ready to handle it. I am so far from perfect, but I am doing what I currently can. That's all any of us can really do, but to throw our hands up and say that it's IMPOSSIBLE, is wrong. You don't have to be perfect, to see some results. The more results you see, perhaps the more willing one will be to go even further to improve their diets.

The most brilliant point that someone mentioned was...."but they gained the weight back" and I promise you that if we STOPPED our current healthy dietary habits, we will get the acne, the menstrual cramps, the hair loss, the the weight, the constipation, the headaches, the rashes, etc BACK TOO! I can pretty much guarantee that. Does anyone understand exacty WHY that would happen???

[SweetJade1]

......No matter what you do to treat your chronic health problems (acne is one), you will probably always have to continue with that form of treatment if you wish to control or prevent it. The difference is for those with severe acne, topicals control (beats it back) and oral treatments prevent (stops from occuring). So I firmly believe that if you want the best treatments, you should take something from your environment, and fight it from the inside =)

Has anyone ever noticed that with every medical treatment protocol, it always mentions eating a good balanced diet and reducing your sugar and fat intake??? That unfortunately is more than a mere suggestion. I've come across enough people with various health problems, but what sticks out the most is that those that truly work on improving their diets, rely on LESS or NO Medication/Supplements. While there's dozens of people I can name off, I myself am proof, Vortex is proof and Prometheus is proof that if you follow a hormonally & nutritionally balanced diet 100%, you'll need No medications or supplements what so ever!


I've played this game for over decade (16 years) and I know how a good amount of works now. I thought Birth Control would be the answer and it did reduce my Free Testosterone levels by 50% (thanks to it boosting SHBG levels), but my acne only decreased by 50%. I thought adding Spironolactone to the mix would solve everything (blocks 30% of androgens) and well...it reduced my hirsutism and my acne only another 30%. Of course, I was only 80% clear during the Summer...otherwise, I went back to being 60% clear during the Fall/Winter months because that's when our bodies naturally produce even MORE testostrone!

So 3 years later, I find out that this all due to being either Insulin Resistant or PCOS, they use the same drugs above as well as using Insulin Balancing Drugs (for Diabeties type II). I thought well hey, I'm already underwieght, why should I Low Carb, if I don't need to loose weight (over 2 years ago)???? LOL, I am beyond thankful that I ran into these boards, for I would still have that mentality and I wouldn't be where I am today now.

Well to answer my own question, you Low Carb, or rather reduce ore eliminate the consumption of foods that are REALLY good at producing Fats and Hormones, because....Duh, they produce they produce Hormones!

-Carbohydrates = Sugar = Fat = Hormones....it's beautiful story, thats how it supposed to work.

-BAD Carbohydrates = MORE Sugar = MORE Fat = Insulin Mimicking Hormones = IGF-1 Mimicking Chemicals = a Reduction in vital Hormones (IGFBP-3, IGFBP-2, SHBG) = a Reduction in Nutrient Metabolism (phytic acid, uric acid, oaxlic acid - anti-nutrients) = an Increase in unfavorable Hormones (Insulin, IGF-1, Androgens, DHT Enzymes, DHT) = an Increase in an unfavorable amount of Health Disorders.

That doesn't even include Dairy (a carb & a protein), certain types of Protein, and Bad Oils, but they generally do what Bad Carbohydrates do. So, I guess the POINT, since that's what we seem to be doing here, is that we eat:

A) Too Many of these Bad Carbohydrates, etc

or

B) We have No business eating these particular foods at all


I personally only care about what these particular foods do to us internally. I can tell you that the reason Diet worked so well for me and many others, was because we REDUCED our OVERALL Production of these Hormones. Whereas, before my Diet was antagonistic to the prescriptions that I was taking. Sure BC helped bind some Testosterone, and Spironolactone Helped BLOCK some androgens effects, and Avandia helped reduce some of my Insulin Resistance, but because I was STILL eating (plenty of) the foods that were creating the Imbalance, they were NEVER effective enough!

I would have had to take more medication or higher doses to make them work and I was already pretty high. In fact my doctor wanted to increase my Avandia and we were looking to see if I had other hormonal problems (more medications). So I was at the point of potentially taking 30 pills a day (supplements and meds) and using several skin care products in hopes that would fix everything, but I decided that changing my diet would be easier. Over the years, since I was 12, I had changed my diet 3x before and had failed, but I never thought it was impossible. 18 months ago, I wasn't desperate, but FINALLY knowledgable and realized if this worked, I could not only save money, but regain some freedom I had lost. It took me months before it finally sunk in that my diet was working. I could see it, my menstrual cramps were gone, but because I had also increased my dose of Avandia (4mg), I didn't know what to give credit too. I was afraid to go off of Avandia, because I was in the middle of my breakout period (winter). Yet, for another reason I did.... and nothing bad happened =)

Oh, and another good example is taking Cholestorol Lowering Drugs. They tell you that you have to watch your diet, even though you are taking a drug that is supposed to do all the work. Usually a Single Drug, can't do all the work and it probably wouldn't be neccessary if the person would watch what they ate. Yet, if the person improves his diet, his cholesterol improves. If the person completely altered his diet, not only would his cholestorol improve, but the medication no longer serves any purpose and thus is no longer needed. =)

Now I ask, why take medication to block the effects of something, when you can naturally reduce the amount you produce, by altering your diet? I can't guarantee that you can always reduce your sensitivity (to any amount), but I know you can reduce these hormones.

So, I blame the government, the Food Industry, and our Ancestors for the way we think about food today. Yet, once you become educated, the blame falls upon you. There is no guilt or stress, if you do all that you can, at that time, to improve your dietary circumstances. The more of us that FIGHT by boycotting these fast food places, etc because they offer nothing that we can eat, or DEMAND that they change things, by eating their healthier options, or asking for foods to be prepared a certain way, then one day it won't be "Impossible" to do the right things. For, the Right thing will be all around us...and we'll have no choice ;-)

Anyway, sorry for this being so long (as usual), but I've been through a myriad of treatments, internal and external, and am open-minded enough to say that there IS more than one way to treat acne, etc. Yet, I also know that for a good percentage of us, if we had done the RIGHT things to begin with, we wouldn't need those other treatments. We wouldnt have the problems in the first place...

[prometheus]

Aquarius,

"But let's not talk about it as if it's something that most people should try"

Maybe it worked for them and they think everyone should try it? What's the problem? Let people share their experience, give their advice and you give yours. I'm not going to tell them they shouldn't talk about it as if (insert supposed problem). I'm not supposed to talk about something as if its the only way. I'm not supposed to talk about something as if it is easy. And now I'm not supposed to talk about it as if I think it is something most people should try? Relax a bit. If you think the way you or other people emotionally react is a product of what people say or what they imply or if you think you need to control the way they say things and what they imply in order to feel better then you may very well lead an unfulfilled life.

If you don't like the fact that I believe and find credence in the idea that acne is caused by diet and can be healed by diet, then tell me it and then get over it.

Trying to change my opinion is only going to make you unhappy. It is what I believe and I find more reason in that (diet/acne) research than anything else.

[CursedSkin]

i feel sorry for people who spend their life denying themselves goodfood..there was no way in hell im eating tofu, veggies and soy milk my whole life...i took some b5 pills and called it a day

it cleared me up and i can eat whatever i want..just ate a ton of choclates on v-day and i pretty much know im not going to break out from it

[Neca]

Originally Posted by CursedSkin

i can eat whatever i want..just ate a ton of choclates on v-day and i pretty much know im not going to break out from it

I wish I was as lucky as you! Ohhh the last time I had chocolate was light years ago, I don't think I can even really remember what it tastes like.