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Vegan Nutrition with Marty Davey
 Marty Davey is a Registered Dietitian and has a Masters degree in Food and Nutrition from Marywood University. She became a vegetarian in 1980 when she discovered that the French didn't want our meat products due to factory farming methods and began studying nutrition while cleansing her diet to a totally plant-based lifestyle. She has a private practice specializing in assisting clients transitioning from the conventional Western foods to a plant-based regime.
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I have changed my whole view on food and have become a vegan. I am loving the feeling, of lightness and health. Though I have always been pretty healthy. However my concern is. When I started to go 100% my face broke out in pimples. Is that normal? I would like to know how I can clear this problem up.
A lot of folks who clean up their act feel great and then feel awful. When a person improves their eating regime a whole host of inflammation issues can occur. This can be due to their body cleansing itself. For instance, pesticides are oil based. They store in your fat cells because fat likes fat, [ever mix oil and water, not happening]. When you lose weight (fat) you are having those toxins released from the cells and into the body's fluid systems. The toxins will be seen as bad substances and your immune system will react. Keep your diet clean and it should clear up.
Did you ever have one of those what's-wrong-with-this-picture moments? The first time I attended the North American Vegetarian Summerfest I had to spend an evening with the kids. Pure torture for narcisstic adults like me, however, this is the only payment for having them create this kid center full of activities for your kid morning to night except for meals with you. (Sometimes your kid will even get the hint and eat with other families leaving you to revel in being practically childless for five days.)
Even though my own maternal instincts are developed about as well as my primate tail stem, I do know something about teenagers. I have 17 nieces and nephews (those busy Irish family members). I kept staring at the Summerfest teenagers because something looked out of the ordinary. Aha! All of the vegan kids had perfect skin. I mean no pinky spots, no scars, no nuthin?. The only teenager who wasn't zit-less smoked and didn't follow a vegan diet. I have seen this every year since.
Different ideas came to my head concerning your dilemma, but I googled vegan, acne just to help pick my brain for other stuff. Low and behold, the incredibly intelligent, Dina Aronson, MS, RD came up as a source of, yet more, information on acne. Previously, Dina and I have corresponded via emails and I think she is a pretty smart cookie. So, I am going to give you her 6 points of assistance with my comments in [ ].
- Drink a LOT of water, at least a gallon a day. This will help get those toxins out of your system.
- If you smoke, quit. Omit caffeine, alcohol, added sugars, artificial sweeteners, overly processed food, and refined food (a lot of vegan food is processed or refined, such as white bread, crackers made from refined flour, refined breakfast cereals, sweets, white pasta, candy, etc.). Once your acne clears up and you're feeling better, you may wish to splurge on an occasional cup of coffee, glass of wine, or cookie, but for now, omit these foods and let your body adjust. [I would avoid yeasted or fermented products for a week, also. This includes vinegar, salad dressings or sauces such as BBQ who may have vinegar in their ingredients, soy sauce, (use liquid aminos for flavoring), miso, tofu, tempeh, yeasted breads, autolyzed yeast extracts, maple syrup, sweeteners. Real food doesn't come in boxes. I have had to do this for 6 months. You live on fresh veggies, fruits, whole grains, legumes, oils, nut butter (not peanut) and nuts. You feel fantastic.]
- Take probiotics, such as acidophilus or a probiotic blend, in powder, liquid, or capsule form. Look for it in the refrigerated section of your health food store. Follow the instructions on the label and take for 2 weeks.
- Take a concentrated form of omega-3 fatty acids, either flax seed oil (you can use it in salad dressings), flax oil supplements, or DHA. Take 200-300 mg per day, or 1 tablespoon flax seed oil. [I find that flax meal is easier and cheaper. Get some flax seeds, a cheap coffee grinder, opaque container, (i.e., Toffutti). Grind up a small amount of the flax seeds into meal and keep in the frig. You only need 2 Tablespoons per day, and you can sprinkle it on everything except liquids. It is an egg substitute, so bake with it for ensuring your ingestion of the 2 Tablespoons.]
- Drink a cup or two of good-quality decaffeinated green tea daily, or a mild detox tea like Celestial Seasonings Detox A.M. tea, which contains milk thistle (a cleaning herb), echinacea (which boosts your immune system), and other herbs, and is caffeine free.
- If you suspect that you're reacting from a food such as soy, eliminate it for a week to see if your acne subsides. If it does, then it's likely that you're having a reaction. However, once your body adjusts to your new, healthier diet, you may be able to re-introduce soy (or whatever the food culprit) in small amounts with no negative effects. Experiment with different types of soy and serving sizes to see whether that makes a difference. Keep in mind that the body usually tolerates whole soybeans, edamame, and fermented soy products better than highly processed soy products, like soy burgers and soy lunch meats. [I'd stay clear of all fake meats and processed foods until your condition clears up.]
Ask Marty your nutrition question here.
Disclaimer: The advice given here is for eductional purposes only. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider.
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