Acne
What Is It?
Acne is an inflammatory disease involving the sebaceous glands of the skin characterised by pustules or papules. Spots can also form blackheads, whiteheads and in more severe cases cysts. These painful pus-filled lumps are similar to boils and can cause permanent scarring. There are three types of acne vulgaris, conglobata and rosacea.
According to history, King Henry VIII was known to have suffered from a bad complexion which was improved when court physicians had cooks extract small amounts of juice from celery by pounding the leaves and stems.
Cause and Effect
Although similar, the three different types of acne are:
Acne vulgaris - a common disease occurring usually on the face but can also affect the back, shoulders and chest. It is thought to be caused largely by hormone fluctuations in adolescents.
Acne conglobata - More severe than vulgaris and can cause deep pustules.
Acne rosacea - Usually occuring between 35-50 years, the face becomes flushed and covered with pimples similar to acne vulgaris.
The cause of acne is thought to stem from a number of factors including vitamin deficiencies and menopausal imbalance. Acid-forming foods and digestive problems can also greatly exacerbate this problem.
Acne is most commonly linked to changes in hormone levels during puberty as these cause grease-producing glands in the skin to produce larger amounts of oil (abnormal sebum). Around 80 per cent of 11-30-year olds are thought to suffer from acne at some point. It is also more likely you will develop acne if your mother and father also suffered from it. www.nhs.uk
Acne can be highly distressing and can cause sufferers to experience low self-esteem and depression. It is important to explore ways to improve your mood as well as the root skin problem itself. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Although it can be tempting to squeeze spots to try to get rid of them, it is best not to as this is more likely to cause damage to the skin and scarring. Sufferers should aim to keep their skin clean but avoid over-washing. Always remove make-up before bedtime and check products such as make up and moisturiser for ingredients which may exaggerate the condition.
Juice Pharmacy Recommendations
What to Avoid
Acidic foods - Reducing acidic foods in your diet can go a long way to clearing up the disorder. Acid-forming foods to avoid include meats, dairy foods, grains, processed and fried foods as well as fizzy drinks, alcohol and coffee.
Wheat - Many instances have been reported where acne has receded to the point of clearing up by avoiding wheat and wheat-based foods completely.
What to Include
As well as the foods listed below, we would advise on regular exercise since this helps to remove toxins from the body via the lymphatic system. You may also find it beneficial to download and read Juice Master’s Clear Skin Programme or try the Juice Master Skin Deep supplement powder.
Juice Master Skin Deep supplement powder is a powder that contains zinc, lecithin, selenium, burdock root, flax seeds, EFAs, red clover and friendly bacteria, which all contribute to glowing healthy skin. Most of these ingredients are things that you cannot get through juicing alone which is why it is such an important addition. Add one teaspoon of Juice Master Skin Deep supplement powder to a juice or smoothie daily until the skin improves and then reduce to two or three times per week.
Green leafy vegetables - Consume greater amounts of green, leafy vegetables and fruit juice blends. Detoxification, by way of a juice body cleanse, is an ideal way of flooding the body with much-needed nutrients.
Pink Himalayan salt - Used externally as a body scrub and internally by adding a little to water once a day, pink Himalayan salt works by drawing out toxins in the body.
Watermelon - This fruit also works well as a system flush. Always remember to drink plenty of water too.
The Juice Recipes
Shot: The G & T
½ Apple
1 Inch of Ginger Root
1 Inch of Turmeric
1 tsp Juice Master Powergreens (optional)
2-3 Drops of Udo's Choice Ultimate Oil Omega 3-6-9 (optional)
Juice apple, ginger and turmeric together and pour into a shot glass. Add the Udo's oil or Juice Master Powergreens and stir in well. Down it in one!
Juice: Watermelon, Mint Cooler - taken from Jason Vale's 5:2 Juice Diet
1 Pear
½ Cucumber
⅛ Watermelon (skin on)
1 Small Handful of Fresh Mint
Ice
Juice all the ingredients together and pour over ice.
Green Superfood - taken from The Funky Fresh Juice Book
2 Apples
3cm Broccoli stem
½ Celery Stalk
½ Cucumber
1 Large Handful of Spinach
¼ Unwaxed Lemon (rind on)
1cm Ginger Root
Juice everything together, packing the spinach in tightly between the two apples if you have a centrifugal juicer.
Blend: Ultimate Skin Cleanser - taken from Skin Deep Programme.
3 Apples
½ Cucumber
1 Celery Stick
1 Handful of Spinach
½ Avocado (ripe)
1 tsp Juice Master Skin Deep supplement
Juice the apples, cucumber, celery and spinach and then blend with the avocado and Juice Master Skin Deep powder until smooth.
Disclaimer
Please note, it is impossible to give a definitive list as what supports one person can be a trigger food or allergen for another. You must stay your own juice detective at all times and listen to how your own body responds to certain foods and always consult with your healthcare provider when making changes to your diet which may affect your medication. Please be aware that we are not doctors, so it is important to consult with your GP or medical practitioner BEFORE making any changes to your diet. The suggestions above are not meant as an alternative to any current medical treatment so please DO NOT stop taking any medications you are on. They are also not an endorsement of their effectiveness, or a recommendation that they should be followed but instead, are provided for informational purposes. None of the information on the Natural Juice Therapy site is intended or implied to treat, cure or prevent any condition or disease.