Facing Facts Today, thanks to Dr. Wright, I have so much more information
about what works for acne than I did when I was a teenager. And
while, thankfully, my skin has cleared up since then, acne is still a
major problem for many teens and adults, sometimes showing up
again unexpectedly later in life, well after you thought you were
safe. But the medical mainstream doesn't have any better solutions to
this problem than it did when I was in high school. In fact, a recent
study published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association showed clear evidence that yet another mainstream
treatment -- pulsed dye laser therapy -- doesn't work. But despite
the treatment's failure, the researchers still concluded that the
ineffectiveness wouldn't be grounds rule it out as a viable therapy. What I wish the mainstream would realize -- and what I wish I'd
known as a teen -- is that most skin problems, including acne, are
better solved by focusing on what you're putting inside your body,
not what you're slathering…or shining…onto your face. Since our skin is technically an excretory organ -- meaning part of
its function is to excrete toxins -- food sensitivities, allergies, or
just a poor diet are going to show up there first. A little sleuthing
with food elimination and reintroduction might help you pinpoint
exactly what makes your skin erupt, and what foods help keep it
clear. Dr. Wright has always maintained that one of the worst
offenders here is refined sugar, as well as other refined
carbohydrates, so pay particular attention to how these affect you.
And remember that eliminating them altogether will help your
overall health -- including your skin -- tremendously. Beyond foods, there are also some nutrients than can be especially
helpful. While many acne sufferers get some relief from taking
antibiotics, ongoing use of these drugs does more harm than good.
Dr. Wright has found that using zinc in place of antibiotics is much
more effective -- and safe. Adults can take 15-30 mg. daily for
mild acne, or up to 30 mg. two to three times daily for severe
cases. And Dr. Wright always recommends taking copper with
zinc -- 1 mg of copper for every 15 mg of zinc you take. B Vitamins are also very helpful in treating skin problems --
particularly for breakouts that occur in women around their
menstrual cycle. Folic acid (10 mg a day) and vitamin B6 (50 mg.
two to three times a day) work well. In men, selenium seems to
give better results (200 micrograms a day). It's not that topical treatments don't work – many of them work
quite well. Like azelaic acid for acne rosacea or Retin-A (see
"What is…" below). But topical treatments generally don't address
the root causes of skin problems -- they just manage some of the
symptomatic response. But for teenagers and adults alike, acne can be better managed, and
even completely cured, by attending to your overall health, not just
your skin. A health body will most likely have healthy skin to
show for it. *********************************************
DOING SOMETHING GOOD FOR YOUR HEART JUST GOT EASIER
Most doctors will agree--coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is one of
the nutrients we need the most. Used to help maintain heart
health, promote healthy cholesterol levels, boost cellular
energy and fight free-radical production, now you can add
CoQ10 to your daily regimin without having to swallow another pill! This breakthrough in supplement delivery provides a full 100 mg.
of pure CoQ10 in a delicious, orange-flavored, fast-melting tablet.
Nothing to chew and no horse pills to "choke down"...before you
know it, this tasty tablet dissolves--right on your tongue--into a
delicious orange liquid. It will make taking a one-a-day multi
vitamin seem like a chore! Now, doing something good for your heart just got easier. To
learn more, visit the link below: http://www.youreletters.com/t/39382/2873601/614/0/ *********************************************** Red tea, or red herring? Q: I'm always hearing about the health benefits of tea – but I am
sensitive to caffeine. Recently, I saw something called "red tea" in
the stores and the label said it was caffeine-free. Could this version
give me the same health benefits without the caffeine? JVW: That's exactly what the importers and marketers would like
you to think, but it's not quite that simple. "Red tea," or rooibos (pronounced roy-boss), isn't actually tea at
all. It comes from a plant called Aspalanthus linearis that grows
primarily in South Africa. True tea comes from the Camellia
sinensis plant. The only difference between the various teas -- the
black, green, and white varieties -- that come from the camellia
sinensis plant is the amount of time spent in processing. That
process affects how much of the original health benefits remain in
the tea. Generally, the less time tea is processed, the better. White
tea is the least processed of all, and carries the most significant
health benefits. Black tea is the most processed, and thus has the
least of the stellar health benefits -- but they are present,
nonetheless. The tricky part here is that the manufacturers are calling rooibos
tea when, technically, it isn't, and that they're saying it has all the
health benefits that tea offers without the caffeine. That could be
slightly misleading. Rooibos does contain some polyphenols,
which have proven to ward off some forms of cancer. But studies
show it contains about half as many polyphenols as green tea,
although the marketing claims say the polyphenol content is equal.
It also appears to have minimal amounts of calcium, potassium,
zinc, and magnesium than is found in true teas. This isn't to say that rooibos isn't good for you – South Africans
have used it for years to soothe upset stomachs and relieve hay
fever symptoms. But while it might offer its own unique benefits,
rooibos clearly is not real tea's health equivalent. ********************************************
FINALLY! SOMETHING OTHER THAN GLUCOSAMINE
TO STAVE OFF JOINT DISCOMFORT Do you remember the last time you rolled out of bed without
feeling stiff and sore? Can you imagine swinging a golf club,
or spending the afternoon gardening...without paying for it
with days of discomfort? Now you can! Scientists in New Zealand discovered a new alternative in the fight
to keep joints healthy… Let’s face it – today’s typical glucosamine and chondroitin supplements
don’t work for everyone. Leaving thousands to face the discomfort of aging
joints – with not much more than drugs or surgery to look forward to. Now,
there’s a new natural alternative...
It's time to maintain your mobility and freedom - for many painless years
to come. Visit below to find out more: http://www.youreletters.com/t/39382/2873601/584/0/ *********************************************** What is…Retin-A? Retin-A is an active and very strong topical form of vitamin A. It
is often used to improve the appearance and texture of the skin
since it produces a mild, superficial peel of the epidermis or outer
layer of the skin. Although it is technically a natural product, it is
only available by prescription. Yours in good health, Amanda Ross
Managing Editor
Nutrition & Healing Sources:
Orringer JS, et. al. "Treatment of acne vulgaris with a pulsed dye
laser: a randomized controlled trial." JAMA 2004; 291(23): 2,834-
2,839 Marnewick JL, Joubert E, et al. "Modulation of hepatic drug
metabolizing enzymes and oxidative status by rooibos (Aspalathus
linearis) and Honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia), green and black
(Camellia sinensis) teas in rats." J Agric Food Chem 2003; 51(27):
8,113-8,11 | 
