| Archive for Active No-Carber Forums A veggie-free zone |
| Peter_UofIllinois |
Rosacea is healing on a zero carbohydrate dietHello,I am a 25-year-old caucasian male and a graduate student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I came across this forum only about 1 week ago, and already the information here has dramatically changed my life for the better. I have been suffering from rosacea off and on for about 10 years. My nose, cheeks, and ears have been chronically red (flushed) and ultra-sensitive to environmental stimuli. For a couple of years I have suspected that these symptoms were somehow related to what I was eating or drinking. I have tried many different diets (Paleo, Zone, Perricone, pH miracle, vegetarian, to name a few) but my rosacea still persisted and my overall digestive abilities remained poor (heartburn, stomach aches, gas/bloating). Most recently, I have been on a plan similar to Atkins maintenance which included fish, chicken, eggs, nuts, seeds, soy, dairy, lots of vegetables, fruit, coffee, and tea. I estimate my daily carb intake was approx 100 g. After reading a number of illuminating posts on this forum and the classic articles written by Vilhjalmur Stefansson, I was compelled to radically alter my diet to zero carbohydrates beginning on Thursday, September 14. I believed that this diet had the potential to cure my rosacea and improve my overall health. However, I also knew that such a diet would not be easy and that my body would rebel in the short term against the removal of carbs (sugar). Since Thursday, I have been eating high-fat marbled steak, hamburger meat, eggs, sardines, lamb, and dark-meat chicken. I have supplemented with a GNC Mega Man multi, GNC Fish Body Oils, and small quantities of sea salt and olive oil. Only water to drink. It's amazing - with less variety in my diet, the food I've been eating tastes better. I look forward to each meal, I savor each bite, and I feel fantastic after eating - no more digestive complaints. This morning I looked at myself in the mirror and I couldn't believe my eyes. My nose and cheeks were pink rather than bright red and my skin felt smoother and softer to the touch. To already be seeing improvement in just 3 days is awesome! I look forward to what the future has in store for me as I remain on this WOE for a longer period of time. A heartfelt thanks to all of you who inspired me to make such a dramatic dietary transition! -Peter |
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| NikkiLC |
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| adwred |
I used to have rosacea too. No more.
Welcome! 
Red |
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| Peter_UofIllinois |
Red - how long did it take on the meat and egg (zero-carb) WOE for your rosacea to completely clear? Which rosacea symptoms did you suffer from? I have never had pimples or acne-like breakouts; for me I've always had red, somewhat puffy, cheeks, a red nose and ears, and dry skin that is ultra-sensitive to the sun, wind, and any soaps or moisturizers.
I've never been able to tan - I always burn if I'm out in the sun without sunscreen. Needless to say, these symptoms have negatively affected my ability to comfortably navigate most social situations. I am excited about the positive changes that the zero-carb WOE is going to have on my mind, body, and soul in the weeks and months ahead! One final question - did you find any specific foods or dietary supplements to be especially beneficial in healing your rosacea? Thanks and best wishes, Peter |
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| adwred |
I, too, mainly had pink cheeks and a pinkish nose - no real pimples, really. Not only can I not tan, but get a horrible blistering sunburn in a matter of minutes and sometimes get hives from the sun. I'm also allergic to sunscreen. I am allergic to EVERYTHING, actually. All sorts of creams, moisturizers, soaps. There are very few products I can use more than once without getting hives from them.
I actually went on a salicylate and additive-free diet for about 4 months prior to zero-carb, so my rosacea had already gone away once (it took about about 3 or 4 weeks to go away on that diet). But then, I had a bit of a relapse and ate a bunch of vegetables I shouldn't have and drank a bunch of diet soda (also a bad idea) for a few weeks and it started to flood back, plus I started to get acne on top of it. Then I found the all-meat diet and it was all gone again in a week.
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| adwred |
Oh, and no supplements necessary. Just meat is enough! |
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| Peter_UofIllinois |
Hi Red,
Thank you for your helpful reply! It seems that we react in similar ways to carbohydrates, the sun, and various additives & chemicals. Have you discovered any soaps and shampoos that are minimally irritating? If so, are they widely available? I usually wash my hair with baby shampoo; for soap I use Dove for Sensitive Skin. I wash my face with Aveeno ultra-calming foaming cleanser. These 3 products seem to work okay for me (i.e., they haven't made my rosacea any worse). But perhaps you have noticed that the all-meat diet has reduced your environmental & chemical sensitivity in general. If so, that is great! I hope I experience similar results. Another clarifying question I have is when you refer to your all-meat diet, does this include eggs, fish, poultry, etc? Or do you just eat red meat like beef and lamb? From what I've read, zero carbohydrate is the unifying theme for the members of this forum and individuals adjust their specific food choices based upon taste, convenience, and other factors. Thanks again for your help. I will stay keep the Forum updated on my progress as I forge ahead with this wonderful new diet! I want to start reading up on how all of you deal with social situations like business dinners or family get-togethers where there could be pressure to waver from the diet. -Peter |
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| Scout Finch |
Peter, welcome.
I have a couple of ways of dealing with social situations. It just depends on the situation. For my friends, they don't give a rat's ass what I eat (nor I them), so I just order whatever I want when we go out to eat. Generally, I meet them for breakfast, but last night I ate out with the girls. I ordered a New York steak and a side of green veggies, and one of my girlfriends took my veggies home in a doggie bag. I have a super-judgmental and not sympathetic family, however. So when I visit them, which is usually just 2-3 times a year, I eat whatever food they are serving, which is the usual lame-ass carby fare plus some meat that is generally overcooked by my asshole Republican brother-in-law. My sister thinks she is Martha Stewart (without the electronic monitoring device), so she's always concocting these desserts that took, like, 83 days to make, and they are always dry as sand, but nobody says anything. I will usually take a sliver and push it around on my plate. I try to eat smaller servings of the carby shit, but the amount of meat they put on a serving plate for the entire family is what I can eat in one sitting. So it's frustrating. They never even knew I was on Atkins, which I was on for 7 years - 7 years! - prior to going carnivore. They never knew because I knew I'd get a shitload of grief from them about it. I just didn't want to go there with them. It ain't none of their business what I put in my mouth. My meals with my family, since they are so rare, I consider just a carby fall-off-the-wagon day, and I leave it at that. No biggie. I don't crave when I get home; on the contrary, I just get right back on my own plan. None of the men I've dated in the past 1 1/2 years (how long I've been carn.) have given a damn about what I order in restaurants. Of course, if they made a fuss about it, they know they're not coming home with me! (I love how men are so accommodating, don't you?!) 
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| Peter_UofIllinois |
Scout,
Thank you for the advice and also for making me smile on a Monday morning. I'm always up for some witty, sarcastic humor. The way you treat family dinners is similar to how I've treated them in recent memory. Generally I go heavy on the meat and fat (butter, rich sauces, etc.) with small servings of low-carb veggies while avoiding at all costs bread, pasta, sweet stuff, etc. But when dessert is served, I often get pressured into sampling something loaded with sugar that I have no desire to eat. Then I pay for it for several days afterwards, with poor digestion and a rosacea flare-up. Over the past few days on zero carb, I can honestly say that I haven't craved carbs at all. I've been making sure to eat my fill of high-fat meat and eggs, so I haven't felt hungry for 4 or 5 hours between meals. It's amazing when you start eating the foods that are right for your body, you just know deep down that you're doing the right thing. I'll follow up later this week to let the Forum know how I am doing. Best wishes, Peter |
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| Rob21370 |
Welcome Peter and congratulations. You pretty much nailed the hammer on the head regarding zero carb.
Have you ever been tested for food allergies? My complexion improved a lot since I'm allergic to wheat and soybean. |
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| adwred |
Hi again Peter, The meat diet has indeed reduced my chemical sensitivity, especially to soaps, etc. I do use only fragrance and salicylate-free at home, though, to minimize my exposure to them (if I'm staying at a hotel, though, and have to use their little complimentary shampoo, I don't get any kind of reaction). I could probably use generic shampoo and conditioner, but I don't more because I know they are full of salicylates and my body will just have to detox them, not because I'm worried about a reaction. I'm lucky because here in toronto, there is a company called 'The Toronto Soap Company' that makes pure glycerine soap in a lquid form, which I use as an all-purpose shampoo/body wash. If I couldn't get this product, I would just use any fragrance-free product. Whatever you're using is probably fine. I can use perfume, but I only spray it on my clothes, not my skin. I use Tide Free or Sunlight Free as a detergent, which is fine for me. As far as the types of food I eat, right now I'm purely meat only, but I started with eggs and dairy too and the positive effects on my skin were immediate. The meat only thing is just a personal experiment - not necessary for my skin. I eat poultry and fish often because I love them, but they are not necessary for health. I would start with an unlimited meat (including poultry and fish) and egg diet, with limited amounts of full-fat cream and if that helps on it's own then you have the diet that will work for you, right there. If you still have rosacea, you can start eliminating things to see if it helps. You probably won't have to (possibly dairy, but that's all). If you still have problems, then the offender is probably environmental (a soap, for example). I have a feeling that if you've improved this much already, you won't have a problem. As far as dealing with social situations, I am expert on being sneaky. Watching me at a business lunch or family event is like watching an episode of Mr. Bean. I've pushed things around on my plate... taken drinks from people then left them full or dumped them in the sink when no one's looking... taken bites of cake then spit them into napkins or disposable cups... all sorts of crazy things. Just be sure to be subtle or people are going to think you're nuts. And dispose of the evidence!! I just try to put it like this - what would I rather do? Fit in, or eat something poisonous? Red |
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| adwred |
Hey Rob, What's more likely than a food allergy is a multiple food chemical sensitivity, for which there is no medical test and often is the culprit for rosacea and eczema. Although, a food allergy is also possible. If you eat vegetation, only an elimination diet will reveal this. Allergy tests are a bit unreliable because you can test positive for something when you're not necessarily allergic to it because it may be a naturally histamine-producing food. Or, alternately, you may be testing negative to things that you are very much sensitive to, but not allergic to. The truth is, the chemicals in vegetables are something that everyone has to detox naturally - some people are just better at it than others because their detox pathways are not disfunctional. I say, why take a bunch of supplements that screw with your detox pathways to try and fix something when you can just eliminate the thing you're body is trying so hard to get rid of, at the source?! Luckily, the all-meat diet takes care of most offenders and frees up your liver to detox anything that is leftover (environmental factors and naturally occurring amines in aged meat). See? All-meat to the rescue, once again! 
Woo, that was long-winded! Red |
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| Scout Finch |
Red,
When I bought my Mini Cooper, I got the yellow one because I heart Mr. Bean! He is so funny! I'll think about spitting into a napkin the next time I'm with the family! 
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| WesleyT |
congrats peter 
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| Peter_UofIllinois |
Rob - I haven't been tested for food allergies. But I am ultra-sensitive to wheat and most other grains - they tie my stomach in knots and give me a severe headache. I used to get allergy shots as a teenager to help with seasonal allergies to grasses, pollen, etc.
Red - thanks for the heads up about salicylates. Perhaps I am sensitive to them as well. It can't hurt to minimize exposure to them; my body is already working hard enough making the adjustment to zero carb living. You may be interested in the following page which lists salicylate-free products. http://www.myfibrosite.com/users/...ward/salicylate_free_products.htm From this comprehensive list, I should be able to locate salicylate-free replacements for the personal care products I currently use. I will also start using Tide Free for my laundry. Red, I think I will heed your advice and pass on the supplements (GNC multi and fish oil) for the time being just to see what the diet alone can do for me. And there is also the risk that megadoses of vitamins & minerals may compromise my own detox pathways. Excellent point. Also, your methods for handling social situations had me laughing out loud. Wesley - thanks for the encouragement. It's so great to find other people who have made a conscious decision to improve their lives by going zero carb, despite all of the cultural influences that seek to have us up to our ears in carbohydrates. One final note - I haven't had a BM since last Thursday, when I embarked on the zero carb WOE. Should this be a cause for concern? I suspect that my body is in a state of flux right now as I adjust to zero carbs and that the constipation will pass with time. Can any of you recommend any "home remedies?" What about black coffee? Thank you all for encouragement and I look forward to being an active participant on this forum. Peter |
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| WesleyT |
your poop is just dead bacteria that live on carbs, so if you go zero, you will have to go less to the badroom
besides, i never understood what ppl mean with constipation, i have to go every 4 days, sometimes once a week i think the less is better, in my "healthy diet" time i had to every day because of the fibre, i really hated it |
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| ReddyMcMeaty |
agreed with the bm thing. Most people who start meat and egg or some very low carb program complain about "constipation" because they're not going...and freak out and get into enemas and spinach bingeing etc. There is just less to come out... that is all. | ||
| unintelligible |
I agree with this. Meat is much more efficiently digested and absorbed than fibrous plant foods, and thus generates very little waste in comparison. I only go once every couple of days. |
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| Peter_UofIllinois |
Thanks for the reassurance that most likely I am not "constipated" but rather my body is simply generating less waste since the food I am eating (animal protein and fat) is being more efficiently utilized.
I took 500 mg of Magnesium before bed last night, as was suggested by a member of this forum, and early this morning the I got the intended result. Overall, I am feeling fantastic with plenty of energy to exercise and get my work done during the day. I am so excited about the positive impact this WOE is going to have on my life. Peter |
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| adwred |
Ok, so I got cocky. I decided to try a new shampoo because I couldn't resist the smell (alert! fragrance!) and, as if on cue, my face lit up like a Christmas tree. I guess I'm not immune! Back to ye olde glycerine soap. Zero-carb really does help in ways you can't even begin to measure, though. I should have known better than to try a smelly soap. 
Red |
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| teknodamage |
low and behold 
I've had a light skin rash problem on my face and forehead for about a year and a half and it's almost gone! I just started doing zero carb 4 days ago. Also, I had ashy elbows before and they seem to be going away too. Dermatologists wouldn't want anyone to know about this! screw proactiv go zero-carb!
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| Dave |
Wow Peter! Congratulations!
I know since doing a fairly low carb plan that my acne has completely gone. But your story is fantastic!
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| Peter_UofIllinois |
Hi everyone,
I wanted to provide all of you with an update on my progress. I have been on the zero carb WOE since Thursday, September 14. Here are a few things I've learned over the past 9 days: 1) I am sensitive to dairy products, even those without any carbohydrates like butter and heavy cream. My face becomes increasingly red and puffy, and the skin at the side of my nose becomes very dry and flaky. I consumed about 2 sticks of butter and a pint of heavy cream over a three-day period earlier in the week, and definitely experienced I negative reaction. I have been off dairy completely for 2 days and am feeling much better! 2) I absoutely love red meat. The smell, the taste, everything. The more ground beef, steak, lamb, and veal that I eat, the better they taste. Meat satisfies my body and also leaves me feeling content & peaceful emotionally. Digestion over the past 2 days has been great without any dairy products. Also, I haven't been using any salt or Mrs. Dash with my meat; I've come to savor its natural flavor. 3) I've been able to maintain my strength and my energy levels are getting higher each day. This morning I worked out with a buddy for about 2 hours - intense weight training and outdoor running. Zero carbohydrates actually energizes me in the gym and allows me to lift heavier weights and do more repetitions. Running was effortless. I kept thinking to myself - This is awesome! 4) Tea and coffee (even decaf) are not good for my system. Even green tea, with its purported health benefits, leaves me feeling anxious, like I am on edge. I quit both tea and coffee at the same time that I gave up dairy on Thursday of this week. I've experienced intermittent mild headaches over the past 2 days, but I expect the withdrawal symptoms will pass over the next few days. 5) I don't miss vegetation at all! I love how light and energetic I feel after eating a zero carb meal compared to when I used to eat large quantities of salad, cooked vegetables, and fruit with my protein. The meat and egg WOE is shaping up to be a plan for a lifetime! I am hoping that my rosacea will heal dramatically in the weeks ahead, especially now that I have removed foods & drinks from my diet that I am sensitive to. I will keep you posted on my improvement. Thanks again to all of you for your encouragement. Best wishes, Peter |
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| adwred |
Wonderful! I'm so glad you're having such a great transition. It will only get better.
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| Dave |
That's great Peter! | ||
| dhania |
I found that rhassoul, a very fine powdered clay / mud from North Africa, is an excellent cleanser for hair and skin, it is just mixed with water and - if you have something you don't react to - you could add essential oils (I use very little lavender or tea tree oil). I think the Body Shop sold some products made with rhassoul (probably with a ton of flavoring added). I get the pure powdered stuff at my local organic food store. dhania, de-lurking |
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| Peter_UofIllinois |
Hello everyone,
Tomorrow will mark four weeks of zero-carbohydrate eating. It's been an amazing four weeks, not only proving to myself once and for all that carbs are not essential to human existence but that my body actually thrives on a high-protein, high-fat, zero-carb way of eating. My rosacea is healing, albeit slowly. My skin on face is much less dry and less prone to redness and inflammation. I've discovered that my rosacea is even sensitive to certain zero-carb items like coffee, tea, dairy, pepper and other spices, olive oil, and potentially eggs. I have suspended consumption of eggs until my rosacea is entirely healed. Then I will gradually introduce them to see if any problems arise. My diet at this point includes generous portions of high-fat cuts of steak, hamburger, lamb, veal, and dark-meat chicken (w/ skin). I also eat a small piece of chicken liver with most of my meals. I sprinkle sea salt on my meat but am gradually reducing the amount I use. My primary hobby is weight lifting, and I've observed some pretty cool effects from the zero-carb diet over the past four weeks. First, I've gotten considerably stronger on every exercise. Second, I never feel sore or run down, even the morning after an intense workout. Rather, I feel energized and very "zen." I used to have a problem with joint stiffness and muscle tightness when I was eating carbs (even just vegetables), but these symptoms have vanished entirely! My flexibility has improved, my knees are robust, and I've stopped getting leg cramps. I've also gained about 4 pounds over the past four weeks while simultaneously reducing by body fat percentage. I've never experienced anything like this before. I suspect that my body can now dedicate resources previously used to deal with carbohydrates (glucose "poisoning"?) to healing my skin, my digestive tract, and building up my body. Thank you for your support and for all of the inspiring posts that you all make every day. Every evening I look forward to checking the Active No-Carber Forum and I always seem to come away with new piece of knowledge. I have committed myself to maintaining a zero-carb WOE for life; there is no way I can turn back now after I've witnessed first-hand the myriad positive changes (physical and emotional) that have occurred over the past four weeks. Peter |
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| adwred |
What a great, inspiring post! Great to hear, Peter! Congrats. | ||
| teknodamage |
yes this is a very inspiring post! thanks for sharing this with us! | ||
| Carolyn |
WOW Peter! Sounds like you're doing great. keep it up and thanks for sharing. | ||
| paleogirl |
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