The Clear Skin Diet [Hardcover]

Alan C. Logan (Author), Valori Treloar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2007

While acne has long been a problem for adolescents, in recent decades - the last fifty years specifically - acne has been on the rise among adults as well, particularly among women. Many scientists have traced his upsurge to changes in the dietary habits of North Americans.

The Clear Skin Diet is designed to help those who suffer from acne to understand:

• What it is
• Why they have it
• What it has to do with their eating habits
• And what they can do to prevent it or lessen its impact

Modern research shows:

• That there is a strong causal connection between certain kinds of foods and acne.
• That certain fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids, protect against acne, while others, saturated or trans fats, can promote acne by increasing the level of inflammation and oxidative stress in the skin.
• Culinary herbs like ginger and turmeric are known to dampen acne breakouts.
• These same dietary stresses also influence the level of the hormones that cause acne. While fruits and vegetables, green tea, soy, fish, berries, and fiber-rich whole foods lessen these androgens, meat and milk promote these acne-related hormones, as do sugar and low-fiber carbohydrates.
• There also is a strong causal connection between the brain and the skin. When a person experiences anxiety and depression, acne-producing hormones are released, which can lead to poor dietary choices high in saturated fats and sugars.

The Clear Skin Diet introduces the acne diet and lifestyle. Dietary requirements for protecting the skin are listed - along with suggested food supplements when they cannot be easily met - and summarized, as well as mind-body medical interventions that can influence acne hormones and lessen their impact. Also included are 50 acne-preventive recipes, along with information on how one can locate the ingredients that are not readily available in most grocery stores.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alan C. Logan, ND, FRSH is a board-certified naturopathic physician licensed in Connecticut. He graduated magna cum laude from the State University of New York at Purchase, and as valedictorian from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. As an invited faculty member of Harvard's School of Continuing Medical Education, he lectures in the mind-body medicine courses offered at Harvard. Co-author of The Clear Skin Diet (SourceBooks, 2007), he is the only naturopathic doctor to have his commentaries published in the four leading dermatology journals — Archives of Dermatology, the International Journal of Dermatology, the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and the British Journal of Dermatology. Widely regarded as one of North America's leading cosmetic nutritionists, he has been featured in health and beauty magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Elle, W, Life & Style, as well as CTV and Global National Canadian television.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Cumberland House (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581825749
• ISBN-13: 978-1581825749
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Aging > Skin Ailments

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Anyone with Acne, December 2, 2007

By 

Sarah C. Zampino (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Clear Skin Diet (Hardcover)

This is arguably the most important book on skin care in the last decade. It is not about hearsay, old wives tales etc, and it is not based on opinion or testimonials it is about scientific advances that have clearly shown that diet and acne are linked beyond any doubt. In addition to the updated diet and acne research from Harvard, Australia and other centres, there are some 300 scientific references in the back to support the connections. I thought it was an interesting combination of authors, a naturopathic doctor and a conventional dermatologist, and this seems to pay off for the reader. The chapters provide scientific explanations for why sugar, milk and so-called bad fats can promote acne. On the other hand, they also describe why whole grains, fibre, antioxidants, omega-3 fish oil and green tea can help acne. The authors provide shaded boxes for some specific anti-acne nutrients like zinc, selenium and some others, and they explain why acne patients may need more of these nutrients and where they can be found in foods. I liked the stress-acne chapter, how stress influences dietary choices, and the guidance on stress management was appropriate. This book should be in every high school library and the waiting room of every dermatologist's office.

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended - dermatologist's perspective, December 21, 2009

By 

Derm Doc (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Clear Skin Diet (Hardcover)

Every acne patient should read this book. I find it very unfortunate that the American Academy of Dermatology has continued to perpetuate the myth that diet is not linked to acne. As someone who has made the choice to lead a healthier lifestyle, I was essentially following this diet for the past several months before I even read the book. I could see wonderful changes in my skin in addition to other changes (lost 30 lbs, was no longer tired and achy). I no longer had monthly flare-ups of the female adult acne, no longer had a drab complexion. People told me my skin seemed to "glow" and that my skin looked like an ad for an Oil of Olay commercial. I was no longer dependent on the latest and greatest topical treatment from the big pharma.

This textbook explains very clearly, and with excellent scientific background, exactly how diet and lifestyle influence the inflammatory and hormonal systems in our bodies to aggravate acne. The Western diet and lifestyle that predisposes to acne is also linked to obesity, diabetes and hormone dependent cancers down the road. For the past year, I have been recommending that acne patients avoid sugar and dairy. More recently, I have been recommending this book to all patients and/or their parents who see me about their acne. The endless antibiotics prescribed for acne lead to unfavorable to changes to bacterial flora, increase antibiotic resistant organisms, and may lead to other changes. I have seen firsthand how acne has now become a problem in much earlier and later ages than before. I see children whose acne starts at 9, adults who have acne well into their 50's. Many of these changes are not a result of genetics but of diet and lifestyle, particularly diets that are high in sugar, dairy, and unhealthy fats.

The diet in this book is not restrictive. The recommendations in this text are also appropriate for anyone trying to lose weight or improve their cardiac risk factors. I strongly believe it is only a matter of time before there is more proof that other inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis would benefit from similar dietary and lifestyle modifications. The only fault I can find with this book is that it is a little textbook-like. The authors explain every study that supports their points - very good for those who are skeptical, but it can make it a bit of a slow read.

I do realize that many of my patients will not pick up this book - they come to me to get a pill, a quick fix, and move on with their lives. I now take the time to explain the dietary and lifestyle contributors to acne and recommend this book, even though it really slows down the clinic. If even a small proportion of patients will make positive lifestyle changes as a result of my recommendations and this book, I will be quite pleased! Recently one of my patients left me a message - her skin improved within weeks of following the dietary changes. I was absolutely delighted to hear it.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Its About Time!!, September 22, 2007

By 

James G. Phillips "Brain Reader" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Clear Skin Diet (Hardcover)

Having read The Brain Diet, I was fairly confident that Dr Logan would do justice to this topic. This book seems even more polished which may be due to the involvment of his dermatologist co-author. The full scientific bibliography of references I found to be helpful.
If you are looking for a superficial book that simply breezes thru what foods to eat and what to avoid, this is not the one. It does provide that, lots of menu plans, recipes etc and an easy to understand plan for diet, but the book is so much more. Lifestyle factors which are also important in acne are well represented. There is lots on the history of why dermatologists turned away talk of, or even consideration of a diet and acne connection. There is a depth to the book not typically found in pop health books. Based on the science and research studies covered in this book, there is full validation for anyone who has ever thought that diet, stress and acne are all interconnected. The book validated my own experiences with acne and provided information on some key nutrients that have helped. The authors write in easy to understand language, even in sometimes complex areas, especially in the area of omega-3 fatty acids and acne. Helpful resources yet no product salesmanship.