Earlier last week the federal government released new dietary guidelines. The new guidelines disregard advice from the Nutrition Coalition to reduce sugar intake from 10 percent of daily calories to 6 percent and limiting alcohol intake to one drink a day.

Photo: Adobe Stock

The average American consumes 2.3 gallons of alcohol a year and 57 pounds of added sugar a year. Both sugar and alcohol play a large role in overall health.

A scientific advisory board recommended reducing added sugars and alcohol for a reason. More than two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, which is associated with a higher risk of developing serious diseases, like COVID-19. Plus, the science is leaning toward the fact that drinking more alcohol may increase the risk of death. 

New dietary guidelines fail to recommend further reducing sugar and alcohol intake

Federal dietary guidelines are updated every five years. They create guidelines for federal programs like SNAP, and the national school lunch program.

Related: Sugar Leads to Depression – World’s First Trial Proves Gut and Brain are Linked (Protocol Included)

At OLM we know that sugar and alcohol go way beyond just contributing to chronic illnesses. Sugar and alcohol feed infection and allow candida and other harmful bacteria to take over the body. Cutting out refined sugars, including alcohol, is one of the most important steps you can take to living an organic lifestyle.

Vitamin D seems to be the new cure-all for many health problems today. The reality is many of us are low on vitamin D, and with people just now figuring that out, it seems to be fixing many problems.

Low vitamin D levels have been shown to contribute to many diseases including but not limited to cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and most recently, severe covid-19.

Related: Natural Coronavirus Prevention

Despite the correlation some have found between vitamin D levels and disease, other studies have found no health benefits to taking a vitamin D supplement.

A new study may explain the reason for this. Scientists at the University of California have found a link between gut health and vitamin D.

When measuring how much active vitamin D older males had in their blood, the UC San Diego researchers found that its levels correlated with the diversity of the community of bacteria living in their gut, or gut microbiome.

Gut bacteria and vitamin D: What is the link?

The results, published in Nature Communications, show that the body’s ability to convert inactive vitamin D into active vitamin D may make all the difference. Having healthy gut bacteria that are able to metabolize vitamin D is more important than having high levels of vitamin D.

Fatal freshwater skin disease in bottlenose dolphins is now said to be caused by the increase in devastating storms. A team from the Marine Mammal center worked with Australian researchers to conduct their findings. The results were published in Scientific Reports.

Image credit: Bottlenose dolphin

Freshwater Skin disease first appeared in bottlenose dolphins 15 years ago, after Hurricane Katrina. Where outbreaks of the disease occur, an extreme drop in the saltiness of the water is the common factor. Severe storms like hurricanes and cyclones can dump excessive amounts of freshwater into saltwater areas.

With a record hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico this year and more intense storm systems worldwide due to climate change, we can absolutely expect to see more of these devastating outbreaks killing dolphins.”

Fatal skin disease in dolphins linked to climate crisis

Additionally, all four of the known freshwater dolphin species are at risk of extinction largely due to the climate crisis.

At OLM we believe the health of the environment is largely intertwined with our individual health. Consuming organically and consciously can make a big difference in your carbon footprint. Along with your organic lifestyle, the biggest thing you can do to help is compost your food waste.

Mexico has put out a decree stating its plans to phase out glyphosate over the next four years. Glyphosate will not be used in any government-sponsored programs throughout the transition period. Mexico will also revoke existing and future permits for the cultivation of GMO corn as well as the use of GMO corn for human consumption. The use of GMO corn in human consumption is to be phased out no later than January 31st, 2024.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the herbicide Round-up. It’s commonly known to cause numerous types of cancer, along with other health problems. Round-up has also caused detrimental damage to the environment.

Mexico’s Organic Producers’ Society has welcomed the proposal but has proposed a special label to certify certain products that are free of glyphosate.

“We do not use glyphosate on our crops, but we have been the victims of external contamination by this substance anyway. This has caused economic losses for organic producers, mainly of coffee and honey.”

Homero Blas Bustamante, president of the organic society.

This decree comes after the Secretariat of Environment and natural resources said that glyphosate-based herbicides would be phased out to protect the environment and human health.

Mexico has begun preparing government campaigns with the purpose of informing the public of the dangers involved in glyphosate and other herbicides.

A new study has linked antibiotics in children under two, to illnesses and conditions later in life. Children under the age of two who received one dose of antibiotics were more likely to develop asthma, eczema, hay fever, food allergies, celiac disease, ADD, ADHD, and obesity, or general weight problems. Multiple doses of antibiotics were linked to multiple conditions. Conditions differed depending on the child’s age, gender, type of medication, dose, and number of doses.

“When antibiotics were first developed and deployed, the overwhelming consideration was control of pathogens. We now realize that their widespread application has considerable collateral effect on the microbiome, which may be of special importance in developing children,”

Antibiotic use in babies linked to allergies, asthma and other conditions, study finds

The study, published in Mayo Clinic proceedings, analyzed data from more than 14,500 children. Data showed that 70% of the children in the study received at least one antibiotic. Between one and two antibiotics prescriptions was linked to a higher risk of asthma and celiac disease in girls. Three to four antibiotic doses were linked to higher cases of asthma, atopic dermatitis, and excess weight gain in females, and obesity in boys. Babies who received five or more prescriptions were more likely to develop asthma, allergic rhinitis, obesity, and ADHD.

Antibiotics wipe out all your gut bacteria, both good and bad. Antibiotics at an early age can wipe out critical gut bacteria that you never get back. Read this article to learn how to detoxify from antibiotics.

Many members of the Paris Climate Agreement have made pledges to reach zero emissions by the year 2060 in order to be on track to limit warming to 2.1 degrees C by 2100. Japan, South Korea, and China are all among countries promising to reach zero emissions by 2060.

Image Credit: Dan Riedlhuber | Reuters

The U.S is not currently part of the Paris Climate agreement but president-elect Joe Biden has plans to rejoin. Additionally, the Biden administration has rolled out plans for the promise of being net-zero by 2050.

Unfortunately, many countries are already behind schedule for their emissions promises. Many countries have plans to increase fossil fuel production by two percent annually.

That being said, a new study by Princeton University presents many different paths for the U.S to get to net emissions by 2050. The U.S has serious work to do before it reaches its 2050 zero-emissions goal.

One such path requires an investment in solar and wind manufacturing, which offers long-term domestic employment opportunities without incurring too many additional technology costs. The caveat? Manufacturing capacity for turbines and photovoltaics would have to increase drastically by 2050 — up to 45 times for wind and 120 times for solar.

Yes, the U.S. can go carbon neutral by 2050, says new Princeton study

The health of our environment and our own health are very intertwined. Sustainable, organic, whole foods do good for our environment whereas overly processed junk food leaves behind a significant carbon footprint, in most cases. One of the best things you can do for the environment is to take care of yourself in a sustainable way.

Although many people view acne as merely a part of life, it is definitely a health problem. In simplistic terms, it’s caused by too much toxicity in the body.

It’s estimated that nearly 85% of Americans have dealt with acne at one time or another. The good news is that with proper diet and time you should be able to completely eliminate acne.

The pores in our skin produce sebum, a waxy substance that coats the skin. Sebum that gets clogged inside the pores forms whiteheads or blackheads. When the pores become infected, they form pimples. Infection in the body is caused by poor diet and poor nutrition, an abundance of candida, and toxicity in the body.

The Acne Diet Connection

Many studies have shown a connection between acne and diet. Certain foods have been shown to help with acne whereas other foods, and food groups, have been shown to trigger outbreaks or make acne worse.

Gluten, dairy, refined sugars, and other refined foods have all been shown to play a significant role in worsening or prompting breakouts.

Studies have found that low-glycemic diets (diets rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes) can help prevent acne. One study found that after patients followed a low-glycemic diet, almost all of them improved.

USA: 2,258 patients were placed on a low-glycemic diet so that they could lose weight. This diet also reduced their acne, with 87% of patients saying they had less acne and 91% saying they needed less acne medication.¹

Australia: 43 males with acne (aged 15 to 25 years of age) ate either their normal diet or switched to a low-glycemic diet for 12 weeks. At the end of 12 weeks, those who followed the low-glycemic diet had significantly less acne than those who ate their normal diet.²

Korea: 32 patients with acne (aged 20 to 27 years old) ate either their normal diet or a low-glycemic diet for 10 weeks. Those following the low-glycemic diet had significantly less acne at the end of 10 weeks than the patients who ate their normal diet.³

Turkey: 86 patients (50 with acne) kept food logs for 7 days. Those with the most severe acne consumed a high-glycemic diet.⁴

CAN THE RIGHT DIET GET RID OF ACNE?

Studies have also found a correlation between gut health and acne, and improvements in the skin were seen after fixing the gut. People with gastrointestinal illnesses often have skin problems, showing just how connected our gut and skin can be. Inflammation can also be a key contributor to acne, in addition to creating problems in the gut.

Through complex immune mechanisms, the influence of the gut microbiome extends to involve distant organ systems including the skin. With intentional modulation of the microbiome, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics have proven beneficial in the prevention and/or treatment of inflammatory skin diseases including acne vulgaris, AD, and psoriasis.

The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis

You are what you eat. If you live off greasy fast food and refined sugar, it shows in your skin, hair, eyes, and teeth. The same can be said for when you eat fresh whole foods. If you want to truly fix the root of your skin problems, you need to fix your gut first, as opposed to treating the problem topically. This article goes into how to fix the gut. It’s not complicated. Cut out refined sugar and other refined foods, start eating salads every day, and always cook at home from scratch.

Every morning I start off the day with a salad and drink lots of cranberry lemonade (click here for recipes for both). For lunch, I’ll have a scramble with eggs lots of vegetables, or maybe a smoothie. For dinner, I’ll have grains and legumes with lots of vegetables.

The Problem with Your Face Wash

Topical acne treatments are not going to fix the root of your problem, and in many cases it can be difficult or impossible to treat the problem entirely without fixing the root cause.

Chemically laden conventional skin care can seriously age the skin. And the skin can become dependent on its use. For instance, oily skin seems to be controlled by the chemical cocktail that causes the sebaceous glands to produce more oil. Or dry skin feels better for an hour or two, but the sebaceous glands don’t produce more oil.

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR ACNE

Chances are, your face wash has all the same problems your regular soap does. You can read more about the problems with your soap and over showering in this article. Many face washes can strip your skin of its natural oil and cause irritation. Often times your facial cleansers are full of harsh chemicals and toxins that are counterproductive to what your skin actually needs.

Parabens, fragrances, Propylene Glycol, petroleum, and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate are all among the harsh chemicals you find in your face wash that you do not want to use on your skin.

If you’ve ever turned over the packaging of your favorite facial cleanser, you noticed a long list of ingredients you didn’t recognize. From sulfates to parabens, the cosmetic industry uses all kinds of chemicals in its products.

5 Ingredients to Avoid in Your Face Wash

While you’re detoxing the body from the inside, you can treat topically to speed the process along with natural products. When my skin does start to break out, I use coconut oil and apple cider vinegar on my whole face. This is good to do on a regular basis while you’re fixing your skin.

Coconut oil acts as a mild antimicrobial and helps coat the skin as a lube to help the sebum escape without clogging the pores. Apple cider vinegar is antibacterial and it helps balance the pH of the skin, allowing the skin to maintain a healthy microbiome. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and it is also known to help with sunburn and wrinkles.

I don’t use soap on my face, and I rarely shower. You can read more about that in this article. I also don’t wear makeup, ever. I view it as a credit card. The more you use it now, the more you’ll pay for it later. Makeup is not good for you or your skin and makes it much harder to give it up later on. The reason I’m able to do these things is due to my diet. Eating a salad every day and cutting out refined sugars and other refined food has given me a balanced microbiome that keeps my skin clean all on its own.

If you’re searching for skincare products, stick to products that are organic, and have minimal ingredients. I don’t have many personal recommendations. The only soap I’ve used on my skin in the last year and a half is Moon Valley Organics bar soap.

Conclusion

When you begin detoxing through a healthy diet you may notice your skin break out even more than before. Although this isn’t fun, it’s normal and part of the detoxification process. I often find that if I’m traveling and not taking great care of myself, my skin doesn’t break out until I get home and start eating properly again. As frustrating as this can be, don’t give up!

My skin isn’t perfect. Up close, you can still see blackheads and other problem spots. My diet isn’t perfect either. I’ve also lost lots of weight throughout the process of fixing my skin. If you are trying to lose weight, fixing your skin will likely take longer as the fat cells in your body continue to release toxins. Additionally, if you’re young (18-24) you are more prone to breakouts than those who are older.

My advice is to stay diligent. Keep with the diet and know that fixing problems like this takes time when you’re doing it right. Remember, as slow as the process may be to fix all the problems on the outside, you’ll feel radically better in just a short amount of time.

Sources:

• 5 Ingredients to Avoid in Your Face Wash
• Effects of soap and detergents on skin surface pH, stratum corneum hydration and fat content in infants
• What *Really* Happens to Your Skin When You Are Not Washing Your Face
• NATURAL REMEDIES FOR ACNE
• The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis
• CAN THE RIGHT DIET GET RID OF ACNE?