Acne and Sickness

I hear from patients that they are "often sick and lately have had quite a problem with acne. Why?"

In most cases the answer is quite simple. We’re brought into this earth with a defense system planted within our bodies called immunity. To survive here, this defense system must maintain normal and optimum levels of function as it’s constantly being bombarded with germs, allergens, and foreign substances. Immunity is also tied very closely with skin health. That is one reason why many doctors now give antibiotics for acne (definitely not something I recommend).

Germs and those tiny, invisible entities floating around in the air are not the enemy. An inability to adapt and cope with your environment and all that floats in it is the problem. You are in charge, not some microscopic speck. Most of us spend an entire day working to lower our defenses and strain our immune systems rather than working on behalf of immunity and to strengthen it.

For example:

1. Exercise increases immunity to cancer, infection, allergies, etc. 30 – 80% depending on what research you read. Therefore, if you’re inactive, your immune system is 30-80% depleted, less active and efficient.

2. Sugar, caffeine, chemicals, refined carbohydrates, fast and fried foods, and any processed foods all deplete the immune system. Additionally, they lack any real nutrients so do not give the organs of immunity the nutrition they so desperately need. On the other hand, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds all support and boost immunity and pack it full of vital nutrients.

3. Negative stress zaps nutrients from the system and dramatically depletes immune energy. A double dose of immune damage.

4. Antibiotics, while killing bacteria, also destroy important bacteria necessary for a healthy, immune body. So ironically, while antibiotics may help with a cold or flu, the net is more sickness.

5. Flu vaccines, even more than other drugs, contain many harmful products like mercury and aluminum. Unless you’re body is significantly immune compromised, you absolutely refuse to take care of yourself, or you’re in an emergency state, the less often you use medication, if at all, the better. All chemicals lower health and immunity, the most toxic of which are drugs.

Bottom line? Get up and move every day, make 80% of your diet foods that contain actual nutrients and are foods that don’t kill immunity, and learn to manage your time and reprogram the way you look at life so as not to suffer from the deadly effects of stress. When seeing a physician, ask if you really need the drugs; most MD's assume you want them or feel pressured. I personally have found that if you ask not to be given a drug, they will generally give you some time to heal without the use of dangerous medications. If you don’t heal, you may in fact need the drugs.

REGARDING YOUR SKIN:  Your skin is the reflection of your blood stream. Toxins floating around in the intestine and poisons in the blood stream will eventually show themselves as blemishes, acne, discolorations, and wrinkles. A healthy blood stream with the right kinds of fats to help balance hormones will give you your best chance at cleaner, younger looking skin. In other words, all that we mentioned to improve immunity, improves your skin ... without the use of dangerous prescriptions and antibiotics.