Moving to another country can be a very stressful event in your life. Adjusting to a new community, new habits and new food can clearly impact your health. That’s what happened to me three years ago, when I moved from Barcelona, my home town, to the United States. I gained weight, and acne suddenly broke out all over my face for the first time, even though I was in my early 20s!
I'd always had porcelain skin in my teens; there was never a pimple or even a freckle on my face, so I felt kind of desperate. I visited general doctors and dermatologists, and tried many over-the-counter gels and prescribed lotions, which never worked. I finally decided to find the solution within myself, because I realized I'd neglected to listen to my body. It was craving self-care, love and “Me Time.”
I decided to incorporate new habits into my daily routine, and I made some changes in my diet. With patience and perseverance, I got that clear skin back in a few months!
Here are some of my tips for you:
Follow an organic, plant-based diet.
Organic vegetables are pesticide- and fungicide-free. Once in our body, those and other chemicals intoxicate our blood and cause breakouts. Avoid any kind of processed food.
Eliminate dairy.
Cows' milk is full of the growth hormones they need to nurse their baby calves until they become self-sufficient. That's the exact same milk that humans consume later. Those hormones have been found to cause hormonal imbalances in human body growth and development, leading to weight gain and triggering the appearance of acne.
Drink water.
Keeping your body fully hydrated helps you to flush toxins that may be in your blood, and your skin becomes smooth and clear as a result. Always carry a small bottle of water in your purse and take frequent sips throughout the day.
Try a juice detox.
A short juice-based cleansing treatment will enhance and accelerate the detoxification process. Try drinking juice every morning for at least five days, and stick to wholesome foods for lunch and dinner, mainly fresh vegan salads.
The ingredients for my staple juice are:
2 celery stalks,
½ cucumber,
2 apples,
1 kale leaf
1 ginger chunk
Some cilantro
Use natural toner.
Here is my recipe for an awsome topical treatment for the skin: mix 1 part of raw organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar with 3 parts of filtered water. Apply it over your face with a cotton pad twice a day, in the morning and before bed. Yes, you’ll smell like vinegar for a while, but I promise that it's worth it. Plus the smell goes away as soon as the mix dries off!
Sleep well.
Make sure you sleep at least 7-8 hours per night, as this will allow your body to work on its natural detox process, which biologically takes place during nighttime.
Practice yoga.
Ever since I started practicing yoga, I became more self-aware and paid more attention to what my body needs. It's also helped me balance my mood swings and feel more confident when facing my new life changes, while reducing my stress levels.
This new lifestyle not only allowed me to win my personal battle against acne, but also improved my quality of life. Now I feel happier and healthier than ever before, and what started as a simple “this is my last chance” is now what nourishes my soul every single day.
Carla Z has a B.A in Nutrition and Human Dietetics and she is an expert of The Mediterranean Diet. Originarilly from Barcelona, she is now based in San Diego, where she is currently training to become a Certified Holistic Health Coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in NYC. She is passionate about raising awareness about the power of foodandthe paths to human wellbeing; she truly believes that a balanced diet and a wholesome lifestyle are the keys to maintaining a healthy body, a clear mind and a free spirit. Her Dharma is giving back to the community; so you can easily find her offering workshops, market tours, cooking classes, and providingnutritional advice either personally or on-line. She invests her "Me time" practising yoga, gardening, and making up new recipes. She defines herself as an adventurous Life Apprentice.