Defy Age Naturally

If you are feeling suboptimal and less than your most beautiful self, chances are you might be eating something that you are intolerant to. Intolerances are different than allergies. Allergies make us have extreme responses like rashes or tightening throats. Food intolerances make us feel lousy and may cause less obvious problems such as tiredness or bloating. Personally, I have battled acne all of my life. I spent years going to dermatologists. Many of them told me that acne is not caused by what you eat. It wasn’t until I got into holistic health care and food intolerance testing that I realized I was seriously intolerant to cow’s milk. To this day, if I have even the slightest bit of cow’s milk, butter or cheese, I will have the red spots to prove it. Last week I was at my parent’s house and milk chocolate and peanut butter was on offer. Fortunately, I live in England where this is generally seen as a strange combo. As an American, I grew up on this treat…and it is without question my biggest food weakness. I never get zits any more because I never have cow's milk. But two days after the chocolate peanut butter episode, the spots appeared and my overall skin appearance declined. Was it worth it? Definitely not! (But I won't deny that it was dang good. Fortunately there is always raw chocolate and almond butter!) There are two ways to find out if you have an intolerance. You could have a food intolerance test. I do food intolerance testing using kinesiology, AKA muscle testing. You can also do an elimination diet (cut out all the foods and then slowly reintroduce them.) Avoiding the foods that we are intolerant to is a giant step towards fighting obesity, heart disease, digestive disorder, fatigue, and pretty much any other illness. Sugar If refined sugar was discovered today, it might be classed as a poison. It gives nothing to the body of any value. It causes the energy levels to become imbalanced, and a whole range of other possible symptoms including extreme fatigue. While it may give people with low energy a quick boost, there will be a low that follows, which causes sugar craving. Cravings are associated with obesity and many illnesses. Fortunately there are many amazing alternatives to sugar that are on the list of alkaline foods. Wheat Wheat can zap your energy and cause foggy head. It is also a common culprit of irritable bowel syndrome. Many people find that their weight begins to drop and they can think more clearly when they reduce or give up wheat. Gluten Gluten includes wheat, oats, rye and barley. While wheat is the most common problem, some people need to take the extra step and avoid all gluten-containing foods. Cow's Milk For many people, cow's milk can cause bloating and digestive problems. It can also create excessive mucus production resulting in a runny nose, difficult breathing, and coughing. It is also a definite cause of acne…I should know! Caffeine Many people live on caffeinated drinks such as coffee, coke, or red bull because of the short but sweet energy rush. However, caffeine causes adrenal gland exhaustion, which is a foundation for fatigue and ill health. If you are a caffeine junkie, try more natural, healthier forms such as green tea or raw chocolate. Yeast Yeast overgrowth (also known as Candida) is a major player in some illnesses. While some people who have yeast overgrowth in their body can still consume yeast without negative consequences, others feel much better when they avoid it completely. Nightshade Family The nightshade family (green peppers, eggplant (aubergine), tomatoes and white potatoes) is known to increase pain for some people. Avoiding these could be beneficial for people with chronic pain. Alcohol Many people find that they feel much better when they reduce or cut out alcohol. Some people can have one type of alcohol and need to avoid other types. Chemical Food Additives Chemical food additives are chemicals that are put in food for taste or preserving. They can cause a range of symptoms including foggy head, hyperactivity, and fatigue. They include aspartame, monosodium glutamate, and many E numbers (preservatives). It is best to eat primarily freshly prepared, chemical free food to optimize health. Related Posts

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 12th, 2008 at 11:24 pm and is filed under diet, natural skin care.

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