Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (70 page)

Refined sugars.

Refined grains.

Spirits, wine, beer, coffee, black tea, carbonated drinks, soft drinks, and sweetened fruit juices.

All drugs and tobacco.

HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS

Green superfoods such as wheat grass and herbal teas.

Agar-agar (a seaweed used to make jellied desserts).

Cayenne pepper.

EXTRA TIPS

Deep breathing, meditation, and relaxation techniques that reduce stress are helpful.

Taking 2 to 3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar before a meal can help people with overly acidic tummies.

Bathing in Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) can help to alkalize the skin and tissues.

Chewing food thoroughly increases alkalinity, as saliva is alkaline.

ACNE

Acne is the most common skin complaint. It can range from blackheads and red pimples to wide, reddened pores and noticeable, scarred tissue. If you scratch or squeeze pimples, you risk infection and spreading the acne.

Although acne most frequently occurs in the teenage years, many adults go through life with pimply faces as well as pimpled backs, chests, and necks. New moms are susceptible, too, because of wildly fluctuating hormones and a tendency not to eat properly while taking care of the new baby. Acne is often due to a hormone imbalance that stimulates the sebaceous glands to increase oil output. Teens are supposedly victims of glands in overdrive. If traces of sebum become trapped inside skin pores, tissues can attract bacteria, resulting in inflammation and blemishes. But have you ever really looked at a spotty teenager’s diet?

CAUSES MAY INCLUDE

Zinc or vitamin A deficiency.