It IS the diet

Author: Nanci Bartlett



If you are reading this you may be on a toxic, acne diet. And
you probably didn't even know you were on a diet, did you?

An acne diet consists of foods that trigger acne outbreaks. It
is acidic and toxic to you and your system. These foods are very
individual to YOU. You may have noticed that some of us can eat
all the pizza, greasy foods and carbonated beverages we want and
have clear skin.

Some of us eat very healthy foods and still have outbreaks. It
can only be the way our bodies react to the foods we eat.

Acne is a symptom of internal distress. You are stressing out
your internal organs, especially your liver, kidneys and lungs.

The pro acne diet consists of acidic foods such as meat, wheat
products, sugars and diary products - the normal America diet.
Almost anything that makes you body more acidic, makes it more
prone to acne outbreaks.

Most prescription medicines, food additives, food colorings and
flavor enhancers - and of course the teenager's wild hormones -
make the body acidic.

One of the common symptoms of your body being acidic/toxic is
acne or other skin problems. Rough dry skin, red patches, dry
flaky skin - all these are because your body is out of touch
with itself.

Acne happens to you when your liver, kidneys and bowels try to
process more waste and toxins than they can handle. When this
happens your begin to expel toxins through your skin and lungs.

This causes your natural skin oil production to go into high
gear. It can also cause your skin oil to be thicker which can
cause the pores to become blocked and lead to acne outbreaks.
Your skin becomes a very friendly and fertile place for the acne
causing virus and accompanying bacteria to flourish.

This is when the breakouts start.

The answer is to get your elimination system in order and to
make your skin a bit alkaline. This makes your body unfriendly
to acne and your skin clears up. I don't know why this works,
just that it does.

The way you accomplish this is an anti acne diet.

First - cut back on refined carbohydrates and sugar. They both
increase your production of androgens and sebum by taking
processing time, which slows your elimination of toxins.

Second - start drinking plenty of water as water is used to
expel the toxins in your system. Water will also thin out the
skin oil and allow it to travel through the pores without
clogging them. Lots of water will also help eliminate the toxins
on your skin.

These toxins get into the pores and the bacteria feed on them.
The next thing you know, you have a pimple.

You should drink at least two quarts of water daily.

Third - get plenty of fiber in your diet. Eat more beans,
apples, green vegetables and more bran. These help your colon
expel waste along with the toxins more efficiently.

Fourth - eat rich antioxidant foods. Foods like apples, oranges,
watermelon and almost any other fresh fruit. These will help
heal your skin and help it deal with the acne triggers.

Fifth - take a supplement of zinc. Zinc seems to help heal the
skin, along with vitamin E and A. The supplement should not be a
high dosage, just the normal recommended amount.

Sixth - try an omega3 supplement. I don't really know why it
works, but it seems to be a good long-term acne treatment, in
addition it is good for you.

Following an anti acne diet is not always easy, but will work.
By all means use Tea Tree oil and 2.5% Benzoyl peroxide on your
outbreaks. You will look and feel better for it.

But do follow an anti acne diet for the long run - it will make
you acne free.

Good Luck Nanci

Nanci is currently studying for her masters in electrical
engineering and is very methodical in her pursuit of being acne
free. If this helped you please check out
http://best.acne-cure.ever.com/ for more useful acne
information.

About the author:
I had acne throughout high school and collage and now I am going
back to college for my Masters and see people suffering just
like I did. I finally got the better of acne and am sharing
everything I can with fellow sufferers. I believe that not only
does acne affect us physically but can lead to devastating
social and mental issues later.

Weekly Guide to Hormonal Acne (The Dreaded Menstrual Breakout!)

Author: Shawn ClarkWilt



When skin care products fail to clear up your acne problems, it
is an indication that they could be a result of hormonal
imbalances. Below are some general guidelines on how to tell if
your complexion problems are hormonal:

- You
experience acne breakouts the week before your period, mostly on
the jaw line, chin and neck.
- Irregular periods and/or
excess hair on the face or body in addition to acne could signal
a hormonal disorder. Consult your doctor.
- Your skin
tends to feel much more sensitive during the fourth week of your
monthly menstrual cycle.

Keeping skin acne free
requires more than just diligent skincare. It is also a matter
of timing your skin care according to your monthly hormonal
surges. That is because monthly hormone fluctuations stimulate
the skin’s sebaceous glands to secrete oil. The more oil our
skin produces, the higher the possibility that acne problems
will arise.

THE HORMONAL CYCLE 101
/> Your cycle begins on the first day of your period and can
last anywhere from 21 to 40 days. In the first week after your
period, your estrogen level increases, helping to keep skin
clear (estrogen is the hormone that helps keep oil glands in
check). When ovulation occurs around day 14 of your cycle,
progesterone (another hormone) starts to surge and your
potential for acne blemishes increases and peaks, just days
before your period. That is when you will experience oily skin
and acne breakouts.

WEEK-BY-WEEK SKINCARE/>
Week 1 (The cycle begins on the first day of
your period)

WHAT'S HAPPENING: Hormone levels are
at their monthly low. Skin may appear dull or it could be
recovering from premenstrual acne flare-ups.

WHAT
YOUR SKIN NEEDS: Regular and gentle care.

- Use
mild cleansers that contain soothing ingredients like Aloe,
Chamomile or Green Tea. While washing, massage your face gently
with the pads of your fingertips. Try Youthful Essentials
paraben-free Facial Cleanser.
- Concealers are your skin's
best friends this week. Choose an oil-free one that contains
Salicylic Acid or Sulphur, which can help to unclog pores. /> - Treat skin to a moisturizing or exfoliating mask. Left on
for 10 minutes, an exfoliating mask will remove any flakiness on
the skin and have skin lightening effects on a dull complexion.
The moisturizing element will provide much needed extra skin
hydration.
- Treat lingering acne blemishes with acne
treatment products that contain Salicylic Acid or Tea Tree Oil.
href="http://www.spikesspasecrets.sitecreatorplus.com/catalog/ite
m/4939465/5102178.htm">Try Diva Deva Acne Control Lotion /> TIP: Do not skimp on your moisturizer. Hydrate your skin
regularly and choose moisturizers that are oil-free or
comedogenic.

Week 2 (The week after your
period)

WHAT'S HAPPENING: As estrogen levels are
rising, your skin condition is at its peak with a clear and
balanced complexion.

WHAT YOUR SKIN NEEDS:
Maintenance and prevention

- For most skin types,
ranging from normal to combination skin, this is a good time for
professional pampering. Since your skin is not overly sensitive,
you can get a simple gentle facial.
- If you have very
sensitive skin, do not go for facials as this may have the
effects of over-stimulating your sensitive skin and cause
further problems. Opt for a simple regimen that consists of a
mild cleanser, sunscreen, moisturizer and a good acne treatment
product (if you still experience acne breakouts during this
week).
- Keep using the same mild cleansers you used in
Week 1 and make sure that you keep your skin clean and fresh by
washing your face twice a day. There is no need to carry out
excessive cleansing as this may strip your skin of its natural
sebum.
- Exfoliate your skin with exfoliating products
that contain skin "sloughers" like Glycolic acid, Lactic acid or
Salicylic Acid. However, if your skin is extremely sensitive,
you should avoid using such exfoliating products as they may
further sensitize your skin.

TIP: Always remove
make-up before going to bed. Sleeping with your make-up on can
cause pores to clog and trigger acne breakouts.


Week 3 (Ovulation)

WHAT'S HAPPENING: While
your estrogen levels peak, progesterone surges. These hormonal
fluctuations cause oily skin flare-ups and acne breakouts.


WHAT YOUR SKIN NEEDS: Acne blemishes battling treatments
and moderate exfoliation.

- Keep skin clean and
fresh by washing your face twice a day with a mild cleanser, in
the morning and in the night. Use an alcohol-free toner to
deep-cleanse your pores.
- During other times, cleanse
skin by using water only. Water is the natural healer for skin
and can calm your skin without stripping your skin of its
natural sebum.
- During Week 3 and Week 4, bring
oil-blotting pads with you to mop up excess oil for a matte
complexion.
- Pamper your skin with products that href="http://www.spikesspasecrets.com/catalog/item/4939465/510217
8.htm">prevent acne blemishes. They usually contain
Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Benzyl Peroxide, Chlorhexidine
and Tea Tree Oil.
- Use an acne clearing mask this week.
For normal skin users, the mask can be used 2 times a week,
while sensitive skin users should only use it once a week.


TIP: Resist the urge to squeeze your pimples. Apply a
warm washcloth to the pimples for several minutes and follow
with an antibacterial Benzyl-Peroxide or Chlorhexidine
product.

Week 4 (The week before your
period)

WHAT'S HAPPENING: Your estrogen plummets
while progesterone continues to surge. Your skin is at its
oiliest and painful pimples, bumps or acne cysts flare up.


WHAT YOUR SKIN NEEDS: Tender, loving care.

-
Keep skin clean and fresh by washing your face twice a day with
a href="http://www.spikesspasecrets.com/catalog/item/4964986/499477
0.htm ">mild cleanser, in the morning and in the night. /> - During other times, cleanse skin by using water only. Water
is the natural healer for skin and can calm your skin without
stripping your skin of its natural sebum.
- Treat your
acne blemishes with spot treatments, in the morning and in the
night.
- De-clog your pores by using an acne mask at
least twice this week. Sensitive skin users should only use an
acne mask once a week.
- Look for foundations that
contain Salicylic Acid, which will help clear pores. Also make
sure that your make-up is labeled non-comedogenic so that it
would not clog pores.
- Stay away from any sort of skin
trauma this week. No waxing, laser treatments,
micro-dermabrasion and facials. You are bound to experience
extra discomfort on the acne affected areas if you do.
/> TIP: If the acne affected areas show no improvement and seem
to be getting worse, you should immediately consult a
dermatologist who can prescribe topical acne medication or oral
antibiotics.

About the author:
Spikes Spa Secrets
carries three lines of top quality skin care and anti-aging
products: Diva Deva, Youthful Essentials, and Pure Dead Sea
Minerals. On a periodic basis, Spike also send out newsletters
with tips and specials. You can href="http://www.spikesspasecrets.sitecreatorplus.com/spikes_spa_
newsletter.html">sign up here.

Green and Black Tea are great for your health

Author: Mike Smith





Many cultures around the world drink tea. Some people drink tea
as part of social interaction, and others drink it for their
health. Specific teas, such as black tea and green tea, have
been tested for their positive affects on people's health. And
studies have shown that these two teas can in fact benefit your
body. And not just by providing a little pick me up in the
morning either. Studies have shown that green tea can slow the
growth of cancer cells. Everyone should take notice of these
anti-carcinogenic properties, especially in an age of tremendous
pollution. Studies by the National Cancer Institute, in America,
have shown that powerful plant antioxidants within the tea will
stunt the progression of cancerous cells. The cancer preventing
properties of tea are just one of the wonderful properties of
the drink.

Black tea has been found to increase the presence of certain
anti-bacterial proteins in the body. Not just by a little bit
either, but a considerable amount. When compared to coffee
drinkers, tea drinkers actually had a concentration of disease
preventing protein that was 400% higher. Clearly, these are
significant health benefits to be had from drinking tea. The are
even more benefits though. Mental acuity can be increased as
well. A study of elderly people found that those who drink tea
actually reduce their risk of mental problems by half when
compared to people who don't drink tea. And the tea drinkers
only had to drink a couple cups a day to realize those amazing
benefits.

Green tea can help increase the rate at which calories are
burned in the body. The chemicals found in green tea allow the
body to more efficiently burn fat for energy. Evidence also
exist to show that drinking this type of tea can help the body
reduce chemicals associated with stress. While this tea
forestalls senility, it also more generally improves brain
functioning in all segments of the population. The caffeine
contained in green tea will help improve memory and give one
sharper thinking.

This tea also contains chemicals specific to plants that slow
down the growth of bacteria that cause bad breath. The health
benefits of drinking green and black teas are quite remarkable.
The same chemicals that slow bad breath can also help people
with certain bowel diseases. The bacteria limiting properties of
the tea helps ease the discomfort associated with such
complications. While there are obviously a myriad of health
benefits directly related to the physical properties of these
teas, there is also mental health relaxation that is associated
with preparing a warm beverage. Taking time out of your day to
prepare something that is nourishing to your body can really
allow you to calm down and retreat from the stresses of everyday
life. Learning about all the different types of teas can be
quite an enjoyable experience. Not only will you learn about the
disparate boiling techniques for each tea, but you will learn
each every tea's specific chemical properties.

About the author:
Research the wonders of href="http://www.revolutiontea.com">tea ,and specifically href="http://www.revolutiontea.com/green-tea">green tea and
black tea