Warning. This can be a mind bender.
Most people don’t really get holistic health. Many people trying to cure acne with natural methods think they do. But as you discover there’s nothing holistic (or natural) about flushing your liver, cleansing your colon or any other natural health fantasies (treatments).
They are all based on the same idea as Western medicine is.
Because, whether we like it or not, human body is a holistic system and you have to treat it as such if you want to permanently get rid of your acne.
I just learned a good example to illustrate this.
Think of a flower.
Where does this thing we have agreed to call flower end? Or what does it include? Most people would say it includes roots, stem and leaves. Because that’s what we’ve all agreed. Probably because that’s what comes out when you pull it out of the soil.
So we’ve defined flower as its physical limits. But that’s entirely arbitrary definition. We do it with most ‘things’. The sun for example. We’ve defined the sun by the extent of its visible flames. But it would be equally ‘correct’ to define it by the extent of its heat or its light. Keep this in mind as we get back to our flower example.
Flower interacts with the soil and the microorganisms that live there. They all depend on ‘each other’ for existence (dead plant matter turns into soil). So it’s really like a flower-soil-micro organism system. But the flower also interacts with air and sunlight. So you should add those into the system also.
What about bees? Flower and bees depend on each other. So it should really be a flower-soil-micro organism-air-sun light-bees system.
I hope you see that we could go on forever with this.
Nature is really one big system, and each part of the system affect and depend on each other for existence. And that system is always in perfect balance. For example let’s say something brings down the number of bees. Soon the number of flowers goes down also and the system reaches a new balance.
For some reason we’ve just agreed to chop that system into different parts based on their physical limits. Then we agreed that those parts are separate. But then we noticed that those different parts interact and even depend on each other. That’s why we came up with symbiosis to compensate for the limits of this physical-based definition.
But wouldn’t it have been just as logical to define it all as one system?
We’ve gone even further. We’ve taken a snapshot of the system in equilibrium (balance state) and defined that this is how the system should be. If the system moves from this one balanced state we say something is wrong. Then we compare it against our idea of how it should be (our snapshot) and look for differences. When we find one, we say this is the problem. Then we try to frantically fix that part that doesn’t match our snapshot.
It would have been just as logical (in fact even more so) to say that the system moved into a new balance state. Something affected the system and it reached a new balance.
Now think of your body and you’ll notice that we’ve done the same thing with it.
We’ve defined it as a collection of different organs based on their physical limits. Well actually, all the organs are physically connected to one other with blood and lymph ducts. To get over this ‘problem’ we chopped the ducts off and pretended that they don’t count.
As you can see we’ve made quite a few leaps of faith with our idea of the human body.
Then we took a snapshot of the body and defined it as healthy. Different deviations from our snapshot are different diseases, and must be ‘fixed’. And we fix things by manipulating the ‘parts’ that don’t match our snapshot of health.
Here’s where we get really confused.
Based on our genes we are all little bit different. We have different strengths and weaknesses. So the same conditions or inputs cause different balance states (diseases) in different people.
Acne victims in their drive to exactly define what’s causing their problem fall for this trap. Look around at acne forums. They are full of threads where someone claims on having zeroed on the real cause of acne. Of course as soon as the thread goes live someone bunks the theory by saying that doesn’t cause acne for me, therefore it can’t be the cause of acne. If they ever discover perpetual motion, it’s going to be based on this debate.
No wonder many acne victims are confused.
My friend, acne and all diseases, as we understand them, are illusions. They are different balance states the system called your body is in. And the state of your body depends on the inputs or conditions it faces (such as diet, lifestyle, mental state and the environment).
So save yourself a big bundle of headaches by trying to figure out what caused your acne, because nothing did. And more importantly stop trying to fix what you think caused your acne.
Fix the conditions and your body moves to a state where acne doesn’t exist. And it won’t go there until you do your part.
This is the reason why following Clear for Life works so well for most people. Clear for Life takes you out of that fixing mentality and shows the easiest way to give your body the ideal conditions for getting rid of acne.
—
Clear for Life - The Fun, Easy and Delicious Solution to Permanently Clear Skin.
Give me your email address and I'll take the mystery out of curing acne.
For immediate access just fill in this simple form, and start on the road to clear skin already today.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:50 am
WO, that was intense. Good stuff
October 9th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Hi, can i get clear for life for free..? lol
October 9th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
this is very deep and very abstract.
i have followed your blogs for a while now and you seem to be getting further off track every time, and repeating yourself all the while. this is the most philosophical explanation of acne treatment that i have ever heard and if it were true it would be wonderful, but it isn’t that easy. living a healthy life just doesn’t do it for many people.
take a break from writing these for a while until you get back to the basics.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
yes, i am starting to “get it”. but i will say that it is hard to adapt to that way of thinking.
it’s easier to place blame on something
like your liver or you were just born with oily skin and there’s nothing you can do about it.
this message gives a more rounded viewpoint of the condition. pretty interesting! pretty good stuff!
—harvey
October 9th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Well, Senator Obama, you’ve just spent 7 minutes explaining absolutlely nothing, but you’ve done so with beautiful verbage and picturesque metaphors.
“Save yourself a big bundle of headaches by trying to figure out what caused your acne, because nothing did.” WRONG. You, yourself said that an imbalance in the flower-water-soil-whatever system caused it to find balance at another level. Likewise, something caused your body to balance itself out where you’ve got acne. Until you know what has caused this new balance, you cannot possibly rebalance your body to exist without acne.
October 9th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I don’t understand how some people can be so rude. This guy is taking time out to help others - like it or hate it. If I read correctly, he didn’t say that ONLY living a healthy lifestyle helped cure acne, but it was a combination of several things. For me, this makes sense. I’ve seen a tremendous difference in not only my acne, but my overall health. These blogs are free as well as the 101, which have great info. I myself purchased the “Get Clear” and I have to tell you that in my opinion was a great investment.
God bless you all & thanks Seppo
October 10th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Zach, and everybody else wanting to go back to basics. I agree that I didn’t give you the 7 wonder tips that’ll keep you clear for life, but it doesn’t get any more basic than this.
Einstein once said:
The reductionist type of thinking created acne and other health problems you may face. The kind of reductionist thinking I referred to in this post.
This kind of thinking gave you acne:
With that kind of thinking you can try and try until the end of the world to solve your acne problem, but you’ll never find the permanent freedom you are looking for. You may get clear temporarily, but, unless you are really lucky, your acne keeps coming back.
Acne 101, this and many other blog posts and my attempt to offer you a different way of looking at the problem; different level of thinking. Something you could use to actually solve your problems.
Like Harvey said, adopting this kind of thinking is not easy. It’s not easy because you have to accept responsibility. When you look at the mirror you know that you are looking at the root cause of your problems.
It’s far easier to place the blame on someone else.
You don’t have to believe me. You can just as well forget this post and go back to your ‘normal’ life. Nothing bad will happen to you. You just remain the way you were before.
It’s your skin and your life. If you like them the way they are then there’s no need to change anything.
The question is, do you?
October 10th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Heather,
I actually said a lot in this post. I just gave you The Secret to permanently clear skin.
But most people in their quest for 7 wonder tips never see it. They just zoom right pass this to the next article that promises to tell about a wonderful supplement that balances their hormones, or eradicates Candida, or whatever they happen to think causes their acne.
I can see that you didn’t like this post. So feel free to twist my words if that makes you happy.
But perhaps the real question you should ask yourself is why you get so worked up by this post?
It’s just word on your screen. It didn’t cost you anything.
Because in moments like this you can find your greatest ‘treasures’. We get defensive and worked up when something bumps against our beliefs. And we depend our beliefs to tooth and nail.
So what do you believe that I bumped against? And does that belief help you in getting what you want (clear skin I presume)?
Something you might want to ponder over.
Because if you read my post without layering your own meaning over it, you’ll notice that I meant something else.
I meant that there’s no single cause for your acne. It’s not your hormones, or Candida, or your liver or anything else for that matter. It’s probably a combination of many different things we have no idea of.
I believe it would serve you to stop looking for it, so that you could stop trying to fix the things you have decided causes your acne. Instead focus on what matters.
And that’s your diet and lifestyle.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:39 am
CB,
Thanks!
October 10th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Ever since I read your 101 tips I have changed my lifestyle completely. I now eat fruit and vegetables daily and now I see a cake or crisps as a treat and not something I want to eat every day. My energy and mood has improved and in turn so has my skin!
Thankyou for your advice, it really has been fantastic and hasn’t cost me anything..
The people who insult you are just looking for a way out of having to make such simple changes in their lives.. I’m afraid, some people you just cannot help.. Thankyou.. xxx
October 10th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
i can not believe how many people are hating on your articles. i mean you take time out of your day to try and help people out thats a great thing and people should respect that even if they do not agree. For those who believe that healthy lifestyle does not work they are missing the point, staying positive mind set is one of the keys to helping acne so even if one had acne, but kept a good mind set it would be better just for the simple fact they feel better about thier acne, themselves, and life in general. If you put your mind to something you can do anything if you want it bad enough, the human mind is that powerful of a tool so just use it.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:06 am
There is nothing more powerful than a personal, hands-on experience. That is why I believe in Seppo. I have been following his advices and tips, not because they look good and hip to try, but because they make sense. And I can say now that I am a lot healthier (overall, including the best skin I ever had) than I used to be. So rather than being negative about his ideas, why don’t you at least try it, be disciplined, work on it, and I assure you, you will never regret it.
October 17th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
u guys got it all wrong acne has 100% to do with ur health because u wasnt born with acne and its not natural to have!!! acne results in years of deteriorating ur health living the wrong lifestyle resulting in acne its really common sense and life is common sense the more naturally u live the more healthy ull be period and no acne, i never new this before but once i learned it makes erfect sense,just try clear for life it works for me and changed my life…
October 18th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Very interesting post - and something in which I fully agree with. To get clear we have to improve our health, there’s no two ways about it. Acne should never be thought of as a problem in isolation.
My skin and mood has improved considerably since taking up your advice, and I feel clarity is finally achievable. Although I must admit, I have slipped up a bit recently in terms of diet. Just started uni, and convenience is a big issue. More over, I have some very generous housemates who have no problem with sharing their food/snacks, so temptation is only a stone’s throw away.
However I do always read the ingredients list on the back of food items, and if they do contain very harmful crap (hydrogenated fat, MSG etc) I do avoid eating them all together.
But I’m going back on the straight and narrow asap :p
October 30th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Seppo, you are very special. Thank you for your refreshing clarity of mind, this is the most important post I’ve ever read on acne. You are helping people scratch the surface of reality. Also, I’ve been reading Clear For Life with great pleasure because, even though I know some changes are going to be a challenge, I am aware that you are helping my entire being. Plus, I actually WANT to change, which accounts for a lot. Thank you for being a light for people.
-Suzanne
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Thanks for the encouraging comments everybody. Seeing people understand this and getting results really makes doing this worthwhile.
November 4th, 2008 at 6:17 am
thank you for this.
it really makes sense. i understand that sometimes these simple truths can be very complex for a mind that has been conditioned to see things very black and white. i really appreciate the patience and over-standing that you have.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:00 am
This was a good article although I think I have a reasonable diet (organics, fruit, veggies, whole grains where ever possible) but it’s one thing to know all this stuff and quite anothr to do it!! So for all of you out there dissing Seppo you don’t have to read these or care but there is no reason to disrespect his opinion and thoughts just b/c you don’t agree or don’t want to change b/c you are blaming something else on your problems:)
Thanks,
Seppo
November 18th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
The more I think of it the easier understanding this thing comes. The only thing it takes is to stop thinking of your body as a machine put together by some celestial watchmaker. As I showed you, though in a very superficial way, looking at the body that way doesn’t make sense at all, and is actually very bizarre when you think of it.
And the only reason you can keep thinking of your body as a machine is because of these arbitrary definitions of things. Since everybody has agreed to believe into those arbitrary definitions it seems normal and ‘the way things are’.
But that’s not the way things are. Nature and your body is one organic system. And I would suggest you start treating your body like it.
In practical terms this means stopping all the fiddling, tinkering and trying to fix things. They are all just illusions anyway. Because you don’t know what’s going on inside of your body. You just think you know because you’ve read about it in a book or a website. But in reality you don’t. And neither did those people who wrote those books and websites. They are as clueless as you and I are.
Accepting this is very liberating. You can stop trying to change the balance state your body is in. Because it’s a fight you’ll never win. It’s a bit like running on a treadmill. It takes a lot of energy and doesn’t really get you anywhere.
Instead you can just relax to the inevitable cause and effect of your actions, largely diet and lifestyle choices. You understand that acne is just a symptom of a balance state that’s a result of your diet and lifestyle choices.
To change acne you need to change the balance state. So you can just get on doing it, relax and allow your body to do its job without fighting it at every opportunity.
I remember one person mentioning at a acne forum that Clear for Life is liberating in its simplicity.
I couldn’t agree more.
December 7th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I wish to add something to this idea of not tinkering though.
The use of probiotics and natural antibiotics can be your only help if things are completely out of balance in your gut.
I know this by experience.
I started learning about the idea of different diets about 7 years ago. I ate in a vegan way and have also experimented with raw food.
I never had acne, only a bit in my youth (and then I didn’t avoid any foods).
Now what happened was that I was curious to see what happened if I took only fruit juice and vegetable juice. I did also add extra fiber to it.
As I did that I got acne after about 14 days. Bad acne and cysts.
It should be pretty obvious this was caused by the juice as it was the only thing I was taking and I never had acne before that.
I am a pretty knowledgeable guy being fully aware of this same holistic paradigm, knowing it should go away if I give the body food it would be taking in nature.
However, after stopping with the juice and eating a vegan diet (which I do normally anyway) the acne only grew less and did not go away (not even after six months). Whenever I would take something sweet to test (as this was obviously sugar related) it would flare up again.
It was evident the juice imbalanced something in my gut as the problem did not exist earlier.
I started taking a very heavy probiotic (after trying out some normal ones with ~1 billion bacteria that did not work) with 450 billion bacteria per dose (8 different strains). I took two dose a day.
Within THREE DAYS the acne was gone.
Bacterial imbalances are difficult things and only a diet change does not need to be enough to change it. If you read up about Irritable Bowel Syndrome you can see how widespread the symptoms of these imbalances can be in people. Some are unable to sustain healthy gut flora.
Somehow those good bacteria need to get in there, your body can not generate them.
Most people may not know what happens in their body indeed because they have lost connection with their body and get their ideas from books, but if you actually look at how your body reacts to different foods and draw conclusions from that you can most certainly tell if what is happening inside is good or bad for it.
The middle way is better. There can indeed be times when you know and can fix it. Especially if you broke it yourself and it was not a natural problem.
December 10th, 2008 at 6:10 am
First congratulations for getting rid of your acne.
Obviously there are special cases and exceptions to every principle. One always has to look at the individual and their situation.
And probiotics are among the few supplements I would recommend to anyone. Still, I think in most cases they are unnecessary. Simply eating plenty of greens and vegetable fiber and abstaining from unhealthy foods is enough to restore the bacterial balance in the gut.
The appendix is sort of a safe house for beneficial bacteria in the gut. As long as it is working nicely and you don’t contribute to the problem by eating foods that feed harmful bacteria the bacterial balance should restore itself.
I don’t know what you ate so I can’t comment on you specifically. But I do know that most vegetarian diets are quite unhealthy. Not because they are vegetarian, but because they rely too much on grains and tofu.
December 31st, 2008 at 6:09 pm
i did 4 days of DETOX with aples, water and clear colon with enema bag, NOTHING CHANGED……now is my 5 day, i drink water, tea, made aple juice from aple, and ate as dinner mixed soap from bio nature vegetable. because of corse i cannot start normaly eat. I READ hundred of this STUPID net blogs about healing acne with diet! THINK, if somebody has starting diabetes and he dont know that he have it /that he have problem with inzulin/ THIS SHITS about 3 or 4 or 7 days diet can kill him…..THINK about the other side also MAN !!!! before u starts with MEGA blogs and notes of healing acne, how it appear and ETC. …………………………………………
WE are not the same, everybody is another type of person, and everybody is special…so u cannot tell to everybody …come …BUY my boook, and diet WILL cure u…….JUST think…….Nice day.
December 31st, 2008 at 6:31 pm
…the problem is that this free blogs can see young person as i am , who dont know a lot about some thinks, and DO detox without doctor assistant is sometimes big risk. Just what i want to write is, that if somebody write about diet, he also is obliged to write attention ! U never know who will read it and he can can not only help him slef but also damage his self….BECAUSE lot of acne people, are low noice people sitting in the corner with deprrressed mind….if in this moment of BAD day he will read it and do exatly the diet, without consultation to doctor or parents…..it can be lot of think what will happened…..As Happened also to me….MZ mother now when she know it, she is full of fear and scared about me….NIce NEW year, i dont want to be hard, or to write some bad notes, just i want to say THAT everythink has two sides……
January 1st, 2009 at 7:27 am
You do know that the terms and conditions of this website deny access to under 18-years old? So you shouldn’t even be reading this.
January 5th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Seppo: I agree and can relate to everything you are saying. I have been only reading your articles for just a little now, . A bright light came over my head. I listened to my body. I suffered from acne after my second son. I told my Dermo that I think certain foods were causing my acne.She pretty much laughed in my face and told me that it was not true. At that point I knew i did not want to see her anymore. Mind you, I was on different medications for years. My white blood count kept dropping, funny thing I had to request mine own bloodwork. After My white Blood cells kept dropping below average, I knew I was definetaly through with taking any advice from a doctor who wanted me on medication, and creams that didn’t work. At that moment in my life, i was starting a diet. I lost 44 pounds from this diet, AND i COULD NOT BELIEVE MY PROGRESS IN THE FOODS i ATE. My point here is My Face Was Beautiful, It has been the best it’s ever been after giving birth to my son, or as can remember. I knew it was the food I was eating. In my diet, it requested to have lots of fruits and Veggies. I stayed away from bad sugars and other refined foods. I knew FOOD was the Key for me. I just had that gut feeling inside of me, I kept listening to my body. Now the downfall, After my diet, i was able to put my fats and refined sugars back into my diet slowly. I think I got a little bit carried away a few months ago, because now I have acne again. And all i changed was adding ref sugars and certain carbs and fatty foods. The key is I beleive I would have been fine if I consumed it sparingly, but I let a bad habbit come back. A little, wasn’t a little for me it became alot. I ‘m still doing well on maintaining what I had lost, but struggling with my acne, Iv’e tried Pro-active, Murad, ect. They DO Not Work. I’m learning That I need to change my bad Habbits I’m still learning. I’m sharing this with everyone, and skepticals, I know first hand now, Food Is a Big Key….and I’m Still Learning. I will be investing my time and energy with Seppo’s Literature. I want to educate myself better on how to be clear for life, because to me it is very important to me. I’m sure it is to everyone else. I
Thanks Again for investing your time with people like me, helping us find a healthy alternantive to being clear for life……
January 5th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
sorry forgot to mention, My white blood cell count was back to normal after stopping all of my acne medication….. I did take vitamins to dispose of all of theses meds that i have been taking for years.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Well you said… this is about building good good habits and healthy lifestyle. What you do day in, day out is the key, not what you do once in a while for a little while.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Sorry to hear your acne came back, but at least you now know you can beat it.
January 21st, 2009 at 1:07 am
Why do you insist on charging people for knowledge? You claim
“First, I agree that with diet alone it’s very difficult to get clear.
But this isn’t just about diet. Or even about diet and exercise. Diet is just one tool in your clear skin toolbox, but it’s not the only tool. Trying to get clear with diet alone is like trying to fix a car with only a screwdriver. Or to do a wedding makeup with just a lipstick. You won’t get very far.”
But you never tell us what the other tools are…What else besides diet and exercise do we need to know? Dr. Mercola says it’s grains and sugars that cause acne and has science to back it up. Where is your science? In places where refined sugars are not in their community, acne is non existent. What other tools are involved?
January 21st, 2009 at 4:23 am
If I wouldn’t make any money, this blog, Acne 101 and none of the free information you’ve read would exist.
Look at the lesson 7 in Acne 101, you’ll find all the elements of health there. And I’ve mentioned them numerous time in my blog posts and other articles. Besides they are quite common sense.
What would you say to those numerous people who have followed Dr. Mercola’s advice and seen no improvement on their skin? Despite all the science backing him for some reason many people don’t get clear following him.
Look, getting clear is very common sense. You can discover everything you need even without buying Clear for Life. You just have to use your brain a little and do a bit of research.
Interesting that you make is sound like I have an obligation to help you to get clear, and that by charging for information I’m somehow breaking that obligation and letting you down…
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:06 pm
I am 36 years old and suffering from horrible acne again for the first time in YEARS! I just started eating more fruits and I am TRYING to drink more water. I started all this three days ago. I notice a slight difference already. My problem area for acne now is my neck and jawline. I put tea tree oil on it overnight this weekend, soaked a cottonball and applied to area with a bandaid. I overdid it on that and now have burns, but I think my ance is gone where the burns are now. ARGH!
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:49 am
Hi Seppo,
Is there a shipping charge with the $39.97? If so, How much?
Thanks :+}
Ab
February 23rd, 2009 at 9:45 am
Clear for Life is an ebook, at the moment at least. So there are no shipping charges, you can just download everything from my website.
April 30th, 2009 at 8:13 am
stop hating! Seppo takes time out of his own kindness to post this and try to teach/help people who are suffering, and trust me he knows what he’s talking bout.
i only found out about him/his website/links etc, 2 days ago. 2 days ago! and since i read what he was saying, i changed my terrible eating habbits.
xoxox
im not fat, but i have a high metabalism and am a teen, so i would eat anything, like chips, cakes, fatty, oily and greasy foods and hardly ever eat healthy, because it wasnt affecting my weight so i didnt care. resulting in break outs on my face. so when i read wat Seppo had to say, i felt ashamed and realised he was right. so, from that moment on, only 2 days ago, i started to eat healthier foods such as apples, bananas, carots, celery etc etc etc and started drinking lots of water, bringing bottles water with me wherever i went such as school and the shops, and after the first day i was feeling better on the inside. I woke up the very next morning and my face was looking alright. that afternoon, i came home from a day out, also eating healthy foods and avoiding non healthy foods for another day, and when i came home and looked in the mirror, i was so shocked to see my skin had cleared. CLEARED! not completely, but most of my breakouts had gone. Now today, my face is getting better and i plan on living a healthier lifestyle from now on, not only for future acne and breakouts, but for diseases i may come across in years to come such as heart disease and even obesity and getting tired easily etc. i hope you people who have been hating Seppo can get over yourselves and start appreciating people in the world like him who only want to HELP. and yes, he has helped me and i am so, so, so thankful
May 28th, 2009 at 6:50 am
i’ve been a vegetarian for almost two years and am now soy free, gluten wheat free,vegan. My diet for a long time has consisted of rice/beans and fruits and vegetables (a lot of apples,bananas,broccoli,carrots, and handfuls of cilantro every night). On top of that I exercise at least an hour everyday (internal chi gong and some shaolin kung fu). I’m not mr. universe by any means but I would definitely condider myself healthy but with all of that I still have acne on my back. Its been reoccurring for 6 years now and all the dietary changes haven’t effected it at all. I’ve of been drinking water and green tea since I was about 18 and am now 24. Aside from the crappy tetracycline that I took when I was 19, I have whole heartedly believed in going the natural and “big picture” route. I use a baking soda/green tea scrub in the shower every day and have been following up with aloe vera to moisturize. My skin just feels really smooth but the spots are still there. I dunno Seppo, what the hell am I doing wrong? I downloaded you free ebook would greatly appreciate any wisdom you have to share concerning my condition or maybe even a nudge in the right condition. Thanks
May 28th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Hi Bobby,
Curing acne is a learning experience. It’s about learning to get to know your body and what works for you.
Contrary to what I may have said earlier there’s not a single diet that works for everybody. There’s actually a lot of differences between people. Something the raw food and vegan gurus don’t want to admit, and actually fight really hard to deny while promoting their programs as the answer to everybody.
That said, I noticed you are a vegetarian. Earlier I would have said that’s good for you, but I’ve learned better. Most humans need some animal products to remain in perfect health. Not everybody but most do.
So my first tip would be to include some animal products into your diet. At the very least you should get some long-chain fatty acids (DHA & EPA). The best, and possibly only, source is seafood. If you are deficient in those you’ll run the risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease or some other severe neurological condition later on in life. It’s also a fact that those good fats can help with acne.
You didn’t give me too many details so it’s difficult to say much more. The things you told me seem ok. There are just many pieces in the puzzle and weakness in one area of health can hold you back tremendously. I’ve gotten emails from people who say that just a bit of sunlight was all they needed to get clear.
Your health is as strong as your weakest link. You need to figure out your weak link and start working on it.
Finally, I’ve come to realize the importance of healthy self-image on getting clear. If you don’t think much of yourself you can unconsciously sabotage yourself from getting clear. I know this may sound ridiculous, but I’ve seen it happen with other people as well as in my own life. The best advice I can give you now is to march into the self-development section in your local bookstore and grab few books that seems to interest you. I especially like the material Anthony Robbins puts out, but that’s just me.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:08 pm
-accutane is the best
-I had acne couple years
- I even got rid of them couple times through being good boy
- but i finaly got accutane, after 2 weeks of struggling I m finaly happy about my new face
Balance as equilibrium is very important.
For example,
If you have not regular fat thru your body structure them you have problem.
Many people with acne got ass and legs very fattiii but upper body is skini.
Then it is very important to get body equally lean every where.
June 8th, 2009 at 5:35 am
Very logical :). Quite a concept for the young mind to grasp (a young mind may be in the body of an 80 year old)… but with persistint promotion of logically progressive thought - this is a stop on the path to enlightenment. The pimple is as much part of the person as the person is part of the earth, as much as the earth is part of the sun, and so on into whatever may be. Acne is a reflection of self in universe… its not a problem, it is an effect that self caused.
Seppo speaks my mind, I’ve been there with all the drugs and creams and depression… and the whole of the solution really is contained within this post.
Unraveling the mystery is as easy as asking “why”… “why” do I like the things I like, “why” do I feel this way, “why” does my physical appearance reflect my lifestyle?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts, thank you for taking the time to post it
June 24th, 2009 at 6:15 am
First and foremost, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I really appreciate what you done. I’m an acne sufferer ever since I’m at the age of 16, now I’m 19 year old but yet my acne is left undone.
Up till now, I’m taking medicine daily. The name of the medicine I’m taking is NIMEGEN, I have been taking more than 6 months. However after getting to know above your advise, I really wanna stop taking NIMEGEN, because I know that a Natural way is a better option.
So now I’ll tell you something which I’m doing so far after reading your article, every morning I take my breakfast, I only ate bananas or an apple in the morning. Before I depart from my house to work I will take a spoon of Cod Liver Oil. The brand of Cod Liver Oil I’m taking is called Scott Emulsion.
For lunch, I used to eat only vegetables, fish meat with rice. Is fish a part of red meat? If I am able to avoid taking red meat then it will be better for digestion, is that so? So I would like to make clear about it. After having my lunch (1300-1400), around this time (1600-1800) I will normally eat whole meal bread. Actually is it okay to do that?
I used to do some exercise at this time (1920-2000) daily. And for dinner, I’ll usually eat fruits, vegetables and rice? I have some doubts, should I eat fruits first? Than only having meal. Can I eat fruits first, after 5 minutes, I immediately take my meal? Will it be bad for my body? Kindly advise.
Can someone please explain what is superfood? I have never come across with all these words EARTH’S PROMISE, MACRO GREENS, BERRY GREEN. Can somebody please tell me in more details? About Cod Liver Oil, can it be eaten with empty stomach? And is it okay to have it 2 times in a day? Can somebody please give me more examples of foods, which contains hydrogenated?
Lastly about food combination, I still have some doubts, should I eat fruits first, than only having other foods? And can I actually eat fruits first, after about 5-10 minutes, I immediately eat some other food? Kindly advise, thanks.
Actually I really wanted to purchase the clear for life, but I do not know how to purchase it from internet. Furthermore, I doesn’t have any credit card…
June 26th, 2009 at 6:52 am
Eric,
Thanks for your positive comments.
I can’t say whether the foods you eat are healthy for you. No diet works for everyone and some people do better with foods others can’t handle at all.
I can give general advice though.
Fruits in the morning is usually a good idea. As long as they don’t spike your blood sugar levels. Green smoothie would be even better than fruits alone.
When it comes to animal protein what matters is how those animals have been grown. If they are industrially grown (in feedlots) then they are not very healthy. Grass-fed (or wild) and organic animal products are much better for you.
When it comes to bread watch out for gluten. It’s found in wheat and rye and in some other grains. It’s highly inflammatory and can cause problems for people with acne.
Eat fruits before your meal. You may have to wait 15 to 20 minutes before eating your meal. Just pay attention to any symptoms of indigestion (such as gas, bloating or stomach pain). If you get any then better wait for longer.
Rather than wasting your money of ’superfoods’ just eat real foods. Eat plenty of greens and you’ll get more nutrients than you ever could from powdered superfoods.
July 7th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I don’t understand that why people who is below than 18 is not allow to read this article?
July 10th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Because of privacy laws relating to minors.
July 11th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Hi Seppo, thanks for this article. I would just like to ask if eating lots of bread is bad for acne. Cause I’m a bread lover…especially those with fillings. I eat them practically everyday. And are fruits and vegetables equally crucial in the acne clearing process? Unfortunately I eat little of the former. But I will make an effort to eat more. Does exercising help and lastly the thing that keeps gnawing at me is, does sleeping late affect anything? Sorry for the many questions. Thanks!
July 12th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Hi Cheryl,
Bread is not recommended due to gluten. If you want to eat bread I recommend gluten-free breads.
Fruits and veggies are your main source of nutrients. So, yes, they are crucial. They are also the cleanest foods available.
Yes and yes to exercise and sleep. Both are big factors in health and clearing your skin.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:20 pm
I was wondering how you figure out what is right for your body? I eat very healthy, vegetable, fruits, whole grain, lots of fiber and protein, and excercise five times a week. I also love cottage cheese and yogurt. I had perfect skin until I was about 19 years old. I am twenty now, and it has cleared up some, but I always have flare ups around my menstrual cycle. Do you have any recommendations? Should I be eating a certain food during that period?
August 5th, 2009 at 3:01 am
Hi Seppo,
I have a doubt, I’m just wondering sleeping enough and sleeping early, is there any difference? If I were to sleep late every night but sleeping sufficiently, is it to be consider healthy?
And can you suggest how many hours do people need to sleep at night? 6-8hrs? Even if I go to bed early doesn’t mean that I will fall a sleep immediately, it takes some time for me to fall a sleep…
Lastly you said that wheat is not really good for acne sufferers due to gluten and etc, but if to compare with snacks, cookies and biscuits I’m sure wheat is better, am I right or am I wrong? Kindly advise, thanks.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Christy,
Breakouts during the menstrual cycle are very common. Periods put additional hormone load on your body, which often leads to new pimples. Not much you can do about it.
The only way, that I know of, to remain clear during the menstrual cycle is to build your health to the level where your body can handle those extra hormones without breakouts.
How figure out what’s good for you?
I advice people to keep an eye on their blood sugar levels first and foremost. Once those are in order then it’s simply a matter of how you feel. If you feel like your health is improving, it’s likely that you are on the right track. Food allergy tests can also help, but I advice to wait and see for few months at least - as those tests can be quite expensive.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Eric,
In my other book Wake Up To Clear Skin I explain three rhythms that govern your sleep. One of them is the daily light/darkness cycle. As far as I understand you sleep better when you go to bed and wake up early.
I also tend to be much more energetic, productive and happier the days I wake up earlier. This can indirectly help your skin.
If you have a choice, I could go to sleep and wake up early.
How long should you sleep?
Enough.
I know that’s not a very specific answer, but the amount of sleep we require changes. You know the phrase ’sleep it off’?
Daily life puts stress on the body that you need to sleep off. For example the more you exercise the more you need to sleep also. The detox and healing period affects your need for sleep. Similarly the foods you eat. And of course the quality of your sleep.
As a general rule 7 to 9 hours should be enough for most people. But the best way to know is to listening to your body. Are you tired? Then you need to sleep more. It’s that simple.
August 14th, 2009 at 11:51 am
so what if you have acne scars and can’t get rid of them without some sort of laser treatment? will positive thinking and a healthy lifestyle and diet get rid of them for me? i wish.
August 17th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Hi Seppo,
This is what I get to know from the Lesson 7, that you have sent it to me earlier. I really get shock when I read this, you were able to eat these much of fruits within one day. Isn’t it too much?
a) 4 oranges
b) 1/2 a large watermelon
c) 1/2 medium size papaya
d) 2 mangoes
e) 2 apples
f) 1/2 pineapple
g) 4 medium size bananas
h) 0.5Ib of kale
I) 3 stalks of celery
I’m just wondering that, if I were to consume these much of amount of fruits daily, will I get diabetes due to too much of sugar from the fruits that I have taken. To be frank, the amount of fruits that I have taken is approximately 2-3 times lesser than what you have taken so far… The primary reason that I didn’t consume that much of fruits is because of diabetis, in other words I’m afraid that I will get diabetes if I were to take too much of fruits. Kindly advise, thanks.
August 17th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Eric,
For some people that’s too much fruit. It depends your blood sugar metabolism. I know people who eat more fruits than I do, and have done so for years, without any problems. No diabetes or anything.
If you have problems with blood sugar metabolism then that’s probably too much fruit for you. At least until you get the blood sugar issues handled.
August 18th, 2009 at 7:16 am
Hi Seppo,
Thanks for your information, at the moment I have one question for you, which is if I were to do detox once in a month, is it okay for me to mix the fruits that I eat. For instance, within 3 days I eat apples + oranges + papayas + bananas. Or do I have to eat only one type of fruit only. Kindly advise.
August 19th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Eric,
Yes, it’s ok to mix what you eat. There’s no right or wrong way to detox. Try to think it as rest. The more rest you can give to your body the more energy it can use on detox and healing work.
Rest also means rest from digestive stress. The more ‘complicated’ meals you eat the more energy it takes to digest them. So keep your meals simple, but it really doesn’t matter that much if you eat just apples or apples at one meal and oranges at the next meal.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:16 am
Hi Seppo,
Thanks, and if that is the reality then I will start working it today.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:22 am
Hi Seppo,
Need your advise, my first question for you, is sweet potatoes consider as a complicated or simple food?
Secondly if I were to eat these much of foods within one day,
a) 4 oranges
b) 1/2 a large watermelon
c) 1/2 medium size papaya
d) 2 mangoes
e) 2 apples
f) 1/2 pineapple
g) 4 medium size bananas
h) 0.5Ib of kale
I) 3 stalks of celery
Will my body or digestion system encounter stress to digest it? Kindly advise.
August 21st, 2009 at 5:11 am
I wouldn’t consider sweet potatoes as detox food; they anyway have to be cooked before eating.
Eric, I can’t really say what your body will or will not to in response to eating all those fruits.
Generally speaking fruits and the easiest foods to digest. That said I wouldn’t jump directly from ‘normal’ diet to eating so much fruits. Also people with blood sugar problems shouldn’t eat that many fruits, but people without blood sugar problems usually have no problems with large quantities of fruits.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:47 am
Hi Seppo,
Thanks for your prompt reply. So what you are trying to say is, the only way to detoxify the toxins inside your body is to consume vegetables and fruits. Reason being, fruits and vegetables can be digest easily so all the energy goes to heal instead of digest. Am I right? The problem now is how can I know whether I am encountering sugar problem? So far I didn’t get any diabetis for eating fruits, but one thing I can ensure is most of my sugars come from fruits. Those unhealthy beverages and foods such as carbonated drinks, candies and etc I have eliminated. Thank you so much for your information and advise.
August 22nd, 2009 at 5:40 am
That’s pretty much it. If I were to detox I’d stick to raw fruits and vegetables, or juices made of them.
The only way to find out if you have blood sugar problems is to test them. I described the details of how to test in Clear for Life, but you can also Google them easily.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:10 am
I just want to say thanks for all the free info you give out. It’s a godsend, and I praise the day that I stumbled across your sight, just wanting to know if sleep affected acne.
Before I knew it, a light bulb came over my head, and it was all thanks to you!Thanks for showing me that it all truly is simple,simple,simple, and all about listening to the body,and working with nature.
In fact, it’s so simple, it makes me along with society look so dumb in its attempt to get clear with direct skin care products.
I hope more people keep a level head with you. Best wishes.
August 24th, 2009 at 9:12 am
This is actually more understanding stuff regarding curing your body holistically. Wish I could get more and more of this practical knowledge
August 24th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Jeff, glad to hear you’ve ’seen the light’. Getting clear doesn’t have to be hard or complicated. I’m not saying it’s simple and straightforward to everybody but in most cases no magic is required. Will to change, discipline and patience is what it takes.
Sure some people may have pre-existing conditions that are good to get diagnosed by a healthcare professional and dealt with before their skin clears, but such people are the minority.
Topical products are ok as long as they are not thought as a whole solution. They can help you to manage your acne while your body heals itself from the inside-out.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Ah, but Seppo, in your second lesson you mention that topical products often introduce more toxins into the body. Is it still okay to use them?
August 31st, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Yes, well we don’t live in a perfect world. If topicals help you to manage your acne, while your body is healing itself from the inside out, then by all means use them. They can take away some of the stress acne causes. And even better if you can find a natural product that doesn’t introduce so many chemicals into your body.
September 4th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Well, I haven’t read clear for life yet but I read some parts of Acne 101. The way I see it is that it’s true to associate acne with poor hygiene because it is more of external problem than of internal one. However, I have been healthy for almost one year and a half and nothing has changed for me yet. I mean I reached a point to cut off all sugar-related food that includes even putting sugar in my tea ! I eat fruit and vegetables every day, I do exersice … but the problem still resists could you please tell me what’s I’m doing wrong in my life to be punished with this consistent fluctuating state of breakouts
I tried all type of acne medication, topical over-the counter-products, supplements, chineese.. you name it but nothing has worked for me! The only option left is accutane and I’m planning to take it soon !
But let me say this, please guys I advise you to not use topical products they are the worst they increase your vulnerability to acne as I was doing some experiments on them by using them in some parts of my face and leaving some parts ! and guess what if you leave it to heal by itself it would be much better the part which I used it topical on it, it got really ruined and it didn’t stop breaking out !
Anyway, I totall believe in Seppo’s idea although I haven’t seen any results until now!
Thank you Seppo,wish you all the best
September 9th, 2009 at 4:34 am
I have only browsed through a few of these comments here, but I keep coming across people stating they eat well and still have acne. That they have cut out all refined sugars,etc. If you eat fruit though it’s full of sugar. In fact once your body has broken it down, it cannot tell the difference between fruit and table sugar. I am not saying fruit is bad and everyone should give it up right now, but people do tend to eat too much of it. If you believe that sugar is a cause for your acne problems you might consider cutting out fruit and seeing if that helps.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:09 am
mhd,
Sorry to hear that you haven’t gotten the results you wanted from diet. It’s a bit hard for me to comment since I don’t know the details of what you eat.
Among the most important dietary points are:
Make sure you get enough nutrients. Greens are your best friend when it comes to nutrition. Try eating a pound of them a day.
Avoid inflammatory foods; gluten, dairy and soy are the most common offenders.
Get enough omega 3 fatty acids.
That said, if your diet is already good then you should look for reasons in other areas of lifestyle; such as exercise, sleep patterns, emotional health, sunlight and fresh air.
Unless you have some very, very rare abnormality your body will heal your acne given the change to do so. You weren’t born with acne, so it’s possible to get rid of it. The fact that you just haven’t found out the recipe that works for you doesn’t mean that you couldn’t get clear this way.
One area that almost all people miss is emotional health. Dealing with suppressed emotions and painful memories can help your efforts to get clear in a big way. I’m not starting to believe that emotional health and dealing with unresolved emotional issues is at least as important as anything you do physically.
Many people try to solve an emotional problem with a fork, which isn’t the best tool for the job.
September 9th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Lauren,
I’ve been making this point over and over. Diet is not all there is. In fact it’s just a small part of the solution. Yet, most people refuse to believe it.
You also have to keep in mind that when people say they eat healthy it doesn’t always mean that. Their idea of a healthy diet may not be accurate. In fact most people believe whole grain products made of wheat and rye to be healthy. But because of gluten these can be among the worst foods for acne victims.
Sure sugar is sugar is sugar when it reaches your bloodstream. But if you use that logic then you should shun all carbs, even proteins as they are turned into sugar also.
Yes, fruits may not be ideal for people with blood sugar problems. But blood sugar problems are not a result of eating carbs (excluding junk carbs). They are a symptom of other problems; such as unresolved emotional issues, too much body fat, sedentary lifestyle, overeating, stress, lack of sleep and so on.
Carbs remain the cleanest fuel for humans, and fruits are the cleanest and most nutritious of all carbs (beans and legumes are also good).
September 18th, 2009 at 6:48 am
Hi Seppo,
Although eating fruits and vegetables are healthy but if I were to eat non organic fruits, is it very harmful to my body due to the pesticide? In my country, it is very rare to find a supermarket who sell organic fruits. So I really wanted to know, is it very harmful to consume non organic fruits? Reason being, I used to eat 100% raw fruits and vegetables for my breakfast & dinner.
Another question for you, which is I would like to consume 01 spoon of cod liver oil (scott emulsion) daily in order for me to obtain omega 3. However the problem is I have heard people saying that eating sugar food mixing with fat is not good for the body. So as I mentioned earlier, I used to consume lots of fruits for my breakfast & dinner, in the meantime I will consume 01 spoon of cod liver oil after my breakfast. So how long would you recommend me to take cod liver oil after my breakfast? 15mins? Kindly advise.
Lastly, if a drop of oil, it takes up to 2hours to digest. Then how long it takes to digest all the oily and unheathly foods that I have eaten in the pass 19years? Or is it still remain in my body remain undone? Or in the midst of digesting? Kindly advise, thanks.
September 18th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Pretty much all the studies done on eating fruits and vegetables conclude that the more you eat the healthier you get. These studies are conducted with people eating commercially grown produce.
Yes, it would be better if you could find organic. But if you can’t, don’t sweat it. Contrary to the horror stories you read on some website the amounts of pesticides in commercially grown fruits and vegetables are quite small. Washing gets rid of most of it.
Whatever is left your body can deal with. Also please remember that you are exposed to far greater levels of pesticides when you eat animal foods as the pesticides are concentrated in the animal tissues.
So don’t worry, if you can’t find organic produce.
There’s a lot of unnecessary hype in the web about food combining, and I’ve certainly been part of the hyping machine earlier. However most of the food combining rules are unnecessary.
If you eat lots of fruits and lots of fat together the mix probably won’t digest very well. But small amounts of fat are no problem when eaten together with fruits. I regularly add 3 to 4 tablespoons of flax seeds into my green smoothies. I don’t get any problems with that. Of course that’s just me, you might react differently.
No.. you certainly won’t have any old meals in the process of digestion anymore. In most cases your stomach empties 2 to 4 hours after the meal, and that’s assuming you’ve eaten a heavy and complicated meal. If you stick to whole foods in their natural state any meal shouldn’t take more than 2 hours to digest.
And the drop of oil? Well, that moves almost straight through your stomach and into the small intestine where it’s broken down further.
September 19th, 2009 at 6:02 am
Hi Seppo,
Once again, thank you so much. My skin is getting better but those scars are still there. But I’m sure if I were to remain this lifestyle, I can get rid of those reddish scars.
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:33 am
Hi Seppo,
I would like to bring up an issue about sleeping. Last time, I have encountered a problem when I am sleeping, which is I pass water in the midnight for 2-3 times. Then slowly I come to realized that I am drinking too much water at night. So from that day onwards, I limit myself not to drink water after 9pm. And the outcome is better. I slept well after I practise this habbit.
But for now, I realize that this problem occur to me once again, eventhough I am not drinking water at night. And I suspect that I am eating too much of fruits that causes me to have this problem. Which is wake up in the midnight and pass water for approximately 3 times. So it does affect my sleeping. So one day I decided not to eat any fruits after 8.30pm. However I still pass water 2-3 times during midnight. Actually did you experience this before? And can I know what did you eat for your dinner? And what time you have your dinner?
If this goes on, it will greatly affect my health. If I were to subtitute fruits to sweet potatoes for my dinner, will it be better? Cause fruits have lots of water… Hopefully after I changed my dinner plan, I won’t pass water for 2-3 times during my sleeping time.
And lastly… I do realize that when I pass water, the urine has some sort of smell which came from fruits… Is this normal or am I eating too much of fruits? And have you experience this before? Kindly advise, thanks.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Eric,
Have you check your blood sugar levels? Frequent urination is one sign of too high blood sugar levels and you pee out the excess sugar. So please check your blood sugar levels and see if you are insulin resistant.
Waking up frequently during the night doesn’t as such make a big difference to your sleep. You wake up in between sleep cycles and as long as you fall back asleep quickly it sholdn’t make a big difference.
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:59 pm
I find this journal very stressful and one that seems that I will never have clear skin.
What else is there for me to do when i eat a very healthy and balanced diet, I exercise everyday and drink 2-3 litres of water. I have read a lot about being being healthy like the importance of Omega 3, vegatable and fruits, not being stressed and I swear I do all of these, I even have regular micro demerbrasion done but what do you know I still have break outs and still have lots of blackheads. Its so frustrating! What else can I do?
October 24th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Hello Seppo,
I just subscribed to your email list three days ago, and so far have received two articles from you. I am very interested in starting your program! I am just not sure where to start. What is Acne 101 vs. Clear for Life? Do I need to read both? And if I order clear for life, is Acne 101 included?
Sorry, everyone commenting seems to know a lot more than I do so I just want to know where to start.
Thank you,
Adrian
October 26th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
@Ali
Sorry to hear you haven’t seen the results you want. But I wouldn’t sink into despair yet. You didn’t mention too much about your diet so I can’t give you detailed feedback. Anyway, in my experience diet is not THAT important. Get rid of the processed and junk in your diet and make sure you eat minimally processed and nutrient dense foods. That’s the most important thing.
The next important point is to avoid foods you are allergic to. Simply eating foods you are allergic or sensitive to can hold you back.
Next you have to make sure you pay attention to the other physical elements of health: exercise, sleep, sunlight and fresh air.
Finally there’s the emotional component. And this is much more important than people think. I wrote a detailed post about this on my customer forums. I also discuss some good (and free) tools for dealing with these issues. Check it out here: Emotional healing for clear skin
I hope that laundry list gives you some new ideas to work on.
–
@Adrian,
Acne 101 is different from Clear for Life. Acne 101 is more theoretical. It’s about why you should focus on building health and why it will get you clear for life.
Clear for Life on the other hand is all about practical application. What you can do, right now, to improve your diet and lifestyle.
I recommend you read both because Acne 101 gives good background to Clear for Life. However it’s not strictly necessary.
October 28th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Hi Seppo, Thanks for your reply..
I feel i am a very healthy person. I don’t eat any processed food what so ever, I eat a lot of vegetables, I try and eat raw for lunch and some cooked for dinner. I take Flaxseed oil, chorella, spirulina and vitamin E. I eat nuts, Ive just cut out milk and I drink around 3 litres of water a day and I don’t drink alcohol or smoke. I run and do weights five times a week. I sleep around 8 hours a night, I don’t get a lot of sunshine purely because I study from home, but I really don’t think that would be causing my breakouts because I have suffered with this all my life.
When I look at my overall health, on paper I am in really good shape, so you can see my frustration, I know there must be something I’m doing or not doing to cause all this.
Do you think microdermabrasion is good for people with blackheads? And should i see a natropath to check for allergies?
Your information is greatly appreciated!!
October 29th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
@Ali,
From what you’ve told me it seems your lifestyle is quite healthy. Sunshine might not be the cause of your breakouts but getting some sun will definitely be good for your overall health - and in the long run for your skin also.
If you think you have the physical elements under control then please look at the emotional component. I’m convinced it’s AT LEAST as important as all the physical elements of health put together.
Think of emotions on a scale like this:
- At the bottom of the scale you have the deep and dark basement. This is a place where you feel hopeless and desperate. Apathy rules here. At this stage you generally feel helpless and won’t even be motivated to do anything. Think hopeless depression.
- At the next level you have anger. You still feel bad inside, but at least you have some fire burning inside of you and are motivated to take action.
- Next level you have frustration and stress. You don’t feel quite as bad as you feel at the anger level. You also feel more in control of your situation.
- Then we have the peace/connectedness state. At this level you feel at peace, like everything is ok and you don’t have to worry about anything or change anything.
- Next level up you have happiness.
- From here emotions progress to excitement, elation, optimism and all the way to peak experiences.
I believe that anytime you are below the level of peace you are hurting yourself both mentally and physically.
So start paying attention to your mental state. You have to sort of step outside of yourself and look at how you feel objectively. This may take some time to get used to, but you’ll get a hang of it.
If you find that you spend a lot of time below the level of peace then you have some work to do. Meditation is one tool for the job. So is EFT. In my earlier comment I gave a link to the emotional healing for clear skin post. It gets you started.
November 8th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Hi, Seppo! I’ve read two of your acne 101’s and just started reading some of your blogs etc (I haven’t bought Clear for Life but probably will soon). I just wanted to know if you think smoking might be part of my problem with acne? I’m 21 and just started eating a lot healthier and exercising again, but I’ve been smoking for about 4 and a half years and am just starting to wonder if that might be making my acne that much worse. Thanks in advance and keep up the eye opening work!
November 11th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Hi Seppo,
Finally I have checked my blood sugar level, which is 4.7. By the way, I am kinda interested in emotional healing, unfortunately I couldn’t understand the free manual EFT. It’s a little bit complicated to me. Or I guess, I should spend more time to understand it.
November 12th, 2009 at 2:55 am
@Jack,
Can’t say for sure if smoking affects your skin, but I’d say it’s possible. Smoking can increase inflammation. Even if it doesn’t directly affect your skin it will retard the healing process.
@Eric,
I don’t know what measurement you are talking about. So it’s hard to comment, but if that’s 4.7 mmol/L then you are fine.
EFT may take some practice to get familiar with. I didn’t get any results with it until I learned all the mind stuff I talked about in Clear for Life. Now I get excellent results with it. It comes down to the art of delivery. Find a specific feeling to focus on and then ‘tap’ on it. This usually clears it. If not, there’s some deeper issue or memory you have to deal with. This usually pops into your mind when you tap on the feeling you are trying to clear.
You need to be in some sort of touch with your feelings and notice them. When you notice them and aren’t controlled by them you can do something about them.
In the end EFT is really simple once you get comfortable with it. The only thing you have to do is to tap on the points outlined in the manual. It sounds and looks silly but it works - and that’s enough for me.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
You are doing more than any person/company that I have seen in my quest for clear skin. For people that have acne troubles, listen and follow this advice. I haven’t had a single pimple in weeks, and it’s due to many positive lifestyle changes highlighted here. The cause of acne is individual to the person, with of course some generalized factors to take into consideration. Those expecting to “take a cure pill” or find some other quick-simple-easy-no effort fix, keep buying Clearasil, and keep making them money. Or, do yourself a huge favor, body-mind-spirit, and change your life. Thanks Seppo, good work.
November 17th, 2009 at 8:40 am
@Matt,
Thanks, I appreciate the positive comments. And congratulations for your progress.
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:53 am
Hi Seppo,
Ever since I have changed my diet to more on fruits and vegetables basis, I have experienced twice, which my both hands shiver and I felt that my whole body is lack of energy… Do you think the main factor is because I am taking lack of carbohydrates? I do add sweet potatoes and potatoes into my diet and some rice ocasionally. Please assist to advise, thanks.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:08 am
@Eric,
Could be that your body is going through a detox. Fruits and vegetables are very clean foods, so your body can dedicate more energy to detox and healing work.
As long as you eat sufficient calories you still get plenty of carbs from fruits.
Most likely that feeling will pass within a day or two. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.
You don’t have to eat 100% raw fruits and vegetables. I wouldn’t even recommend it for long term unless you have a specific reason for doing so.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Hi Seppo,
Thanks for your advice, according to what you have said earlier that I am having a detox? However, I don’t really think that I am having detox cause I do eat something which contain fat and even cooked food such as flaxseed, durians, boiled potatoes, etc for my dinner. My breakfast and lunch are usually fruits and vegetables. Actually the feeling came out of sudden, I don’t feel hungry but suddenly I can feel that my both hands start to shiver and my whole body feels like no energy… at that time the only thing I do is just to grab something to eat to avoid those kind of feelings. Oh yeah I even sweat when that feeling comes to me. I am just worried that I am lacking of something…
November 25th, 2009 at 10:47 am
@Eric,
When you switch to a cleaner diet your body usually starts to detox. Notice that it’s a relative term. Most likely you eat healthier now than you did before. Even if you eat cooked food and fats you body will detox.
To me those symptoms sound awfully lot like withdrawal symptoms, which is sort of what detox is. And especially since the symptoms stop after you grab something to eat.
You probably get far more nutrition from the foods you eat now than from the foods you ate before. The only thing I ask you to do is to stop eating processed junk and to eat whole foods in their natural state. Unless your diet is unnecessarily restricted deficiencies are unlikely.
Do keep in mind that this is generalized information. If you think the problem goes beyond this then by all means consult a health care professional.
December 4th, 2009 at 6:57 am
although i know all these alrdy, this is a good guide for those who think that only 1 reason caused their acne. i have been eating very healthyly alrdy but i still have acne…well mayb this is just part of life..
December 5th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Hello !
Thanks for your articles. I signed up for acne 101 a couple of days ago and everything seems to make sense so far.
I was wondering what I should do about acne scars? I don’t get as many break outs anymore, but the scars are still there and seemingly take forever to heal. Is there anything that can be done to speed up the process?
December 7th, 2009 at 6:22 am
@Julia,
Red marks are the last stage of a pimple. Just residual inflammation that will calm down in due time. Unfortunately they can be a bit persistent.
Aside from the usual CFL prescription not much you can do about them. Skin care wise less you do is usually better.
December 16th, 2009 at 3:54 am
Hi Seppo,
Good afternoon, do you add turmeric into your diet? By the way do you have any ideas how we prepare turmeric? Can it be boil just like potatoes or steam it with rice? Have any ideas of turmeric?
December 17th, 2009 at 8:46 am
@Eric,
Sorry, I don’t eat any turmeric and have no idea on how to prepare it.
December 19th, 2009 at 2:30 am
Hi Seppo,
Is okay, I already had an idea how to prepare it. By the way, do you have any idea regarding about outdoor air and indoor air, which are more harmful to our human body? The outdoor air with diesel & secondhand smoke? Or the indoor air?
December 20th, 2009 at 6:16 am
Hey Seppo,
I’m really impressed with everything you’ve put together here. You’ve put a lot of value into your blog and the products you sell, and I really appreciate that. So thank you on behalf of all the people you’ve helped so far!
I wanted to ask you a few questions about the diet you suggest if I may…
How much rice is ‘alright’ to eat in your point of view? I’ve read that rice doesn’t contain any gluten in it at all; although the refining process is what may possibly contaminate it with it (depending on the manufacturer).
What do you think about corn? I’ve also read that corn does not contain gluten in it. I’m wondering if you know anything more about that, and if it does have gluten, how much is safe to eat (in your point of view)?
And what would you suggest be the best substitute for milk & cereal? I LOVE cereal Seppo!! Seriously, I know it’s bad for me (the grains and all)… What would you suggest for me to use as a safe substitute?
Lastly… What do you think (or know) about ‘gluten free’ ‘dairy free’ products like bread, pasta, tortillas, cerials, ect.? Would you trust them?
Do you have any recommendations for brand names and foods you trust? Where and what do you usually eat when you go out?
I know I asked quite a few questions here; I don’t expect you to answer them perfectly. I would greatly appreciate just your honest opinion and best answers.
Look forward to learning more from you; love what you’re doing!!
Keep on rockin!!
~Omar
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:32 pm
@Eric,
Sorry about the late reply. Was very sick for the last few days. Probably finally got the swine flu. No biggie.
Outdoor air is almost always healthier than indoor air. Outdoor air also has more oxygen than indoor air. Indoor air is actually usually very polluted with out gassing from furniture and carpets and with other chemicals in the house. And when you breathe you reduce the oxygen content in the indoor air. That’s why it’s a good idea to open the windows once in a while - to get some fresh air!
–
@Omar,
I don’t usually think foods in terms of how much can I eat it. If you eat a variety of foods and rotate them in your diet eating too much of a specific food is rarely a problem.
Also what I think of corn is irrelevant. What your body thinks of it is all that matters to you. I’ve learned that we react to foods very differently. So sometimes it’s almost pointless to give generic dietary advice.
I’m just in the process of updating Clear for Life. The new version will contain simple tests you use for free that will show how your body reacts to different foods. You’ll be able to tell if a food has an adverse impact on your body.
I can’t stress how important this is. From my own experience. I ate fruits as a primary source of calories for almost 2 years. Unfortunately that got me into trouble because I discovered that I’m sensitive to them. The first year I felt absolutely fine, but during the second year I got massive joint pains and was tired most of the time.
The problem was that I never got any immediate symptoms after eating fruits. So I never made the connection before.
Using the simple test I show you I identified that sensitivity and stopped eating fruits. Now, I still think fruits are excellent food for many people, but just not for me.
Keeping all that in mind.
Rice generally speaking is good. People are rarely sensitive to it. Most people are sensitive to corn. Also in the US it’s often genetically manipulated. But if you can find ‘normal’ corn and you aren’t allergic to it, feel free to eat it. I eat quite often.
The best milk substitutes are nut and rice milks. They shouldn’t cause big problems. Instead of cereals could you eat muesli? It’s less processed than normal cereals.
Lastly… What do you think (or know) about ‘gluten free’ ‘dairy free’ products like bread, pasta, tortillas, cerials, ect.? Would you trust them?
Trust them in what sense? To be gluten/dairy free? Yes. To be healthy? Probably not. Depends where you get them, but your average supermarket varieties are going to be highly processed and filled with nasty chemicals. Health store varieties could be better.
I live in Thailand so suggesting any brands or places I go to eat won’t help you much.
Hope this helps.
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:01 am
Hi Seppo,
Since rice does contaminated with gluten due to the processing, then how about organic rice? Do you think organic rice does contaminated with gluten in it? And actually why gluten is so harmful? As I know gluten is some sort of protein which can be find in wheat. Not all people allergic to gluten am I right? Please advise, thanks.
December 28th, 2009 at 8:26 am
@Eric,
I’m not sure if rice is contaminated during processing. It’s more of a problem with oats. It makes no difference if the rice is organic or not as the contamination happens after rice is harvested. It depends more on what the company that processes rice does. If they also handle wheat then it’s possible the rice from that company is contaminated.
Not sure if this contamination thing is something you should worry too much over.
The degree to which people react to gluten varies. Celiacs react very badly to even trace amounts. I’m pretty sure gluten is not good for any human, but it may not be that bad to most people.
Here’s an article I wrote about gluten and acne:
The Hidden Connection Between Acne and Gluten
December 28th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Thanks Seppo! I really appreciate your input!
I will pray for you, and send healing energy your way.
Take care!
~Omar
January 4th, 2010 at 8:12 am
Hi Seppo,
I would like to add more greens into my diet, as therefore I thought I would like to add vinegar into my diet to make a healthy and tasty dressing salad. So what do you think about vinegar?
January 4th, 2010 at 9:46 am
@Eric,
As I mention in Clear for Life vinegar is a diluted form of acetic acid, which is poisonous. Diluting poison doesn’t somehow turn it into a health giving substance, acetic acid still remains a poison.
That said, adding some vinegar to flavor salads is not going to be a big issue. Your body can handle it.
I just want to stress that you shouldn’t think of vinegar as healthy or eat it in the name of health. But as long as you keep that in mind and use it in moderate quantities you should be fine.
February 9th, 2010 at 4:56 am
Hi Seppo,
I just wanted to say thanks for all the good info. I found your website and got the first Acne 101 lesson two days ago. For the last two days I’ve stopped drinking Coke completely (I usually drink about 3 Cokes per day) and started drinking a lot of water. I’ve also been making a conscious effort to eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. I’ve already noticed quite a difference in my face and in how I feel.
Thanks!