Dairy is scary, avoid it like the plague, especially if you have eczema, it’s highly inflammatory, acidic, hard to digest and mucus causing. There are TONS of non-dairy alternatives out there such as rice, oat, flax, hemp, almond, coconut, cashew & more! Check out this simple recipe for hemp milk. Simply blend in a high-speed blender & strain with a nut milk bag if you think it needs it! You can use a few dates as a sweetener or maple syrup or coconut sugar! Here’s some info about hemp seeds: These wonderful healing seeds are packed with all 20 amino acids, are high in protein (which is great for vegans & vegetarians) and are full of vitamin E & fatty acids which are great for skin health! Hemp also has phytonutrients, which are the disease-protective element of plants with benefits that protect your immunity, bloodstream, tissues, cells, skin, and organs. 💚#eczemaholistichealing
Category: food allergies
The EXMA app
Recently a young man reached out to me with a blog post idea to share a venture he’s been working on to help eczema sufferers. His name is Kerrison, and he’s created an app called “Exma” to help those with eczema to identify their food triggers. I think this is a great idea as our daily meals play a huge role in the heath of our bodies and skin, and finding out which foods can be most aggravating can help lessen flares and even heal the skin. I have a page dedicated to “Food and Allergy Triggers” HERE for more information. Below, Kerrison gives more info about himself and about his app! Make sure to check it out and download it with the link below. If you do give it a go, make sure to leave a comment below on how it worked out for you, and also let Kerrison know @ exmamobileapp@gmail.com
Q & A
1.) Tell me a little bit about your history with eczema; how old are you, where do you live, how long have you had eczema and do you have a history with topical steroids?
- I am 23 years old, I live in Melbourne, Australia, I have had eczema since I was a child, and I have used topical steroids on and off since I was a child as well.
2.) What are you currently doing to treat your eczema?
- Currently to maintain my eczema I’m using Elidel twice a week to try and maintain it, but I know this is not a long term solution. Moisturize daily. Vacuum the bedroom weekly, and use dust-mite proof bedding. I’m also ensuring my diet is healthy and I exercise 2-3 times per week.
3.) Tell me about this app and why you created it.
- The app helps people with severe eczema identify their triggers. I created the app because I couldn’t figure out what was making my eczema worse, and using a pen and paper to track these variables is too difficult. The app currently requires manual input but we are rolling out new features to automate these inputs.
4.) What would you like the users of this app to get out of it?
- My main goal is to help people suffering from eczema identify their triggers so that it’s no longer affecting their life.
5.) What words of encouragement do you have for those suffering with eczema?
- For words of encouragement, I would say to keep trying to figure out what works for you. All these drugs only focus on the symptom and not the problem. They have their place but keep searching for what works for you. And always seek for help because there are a lot of people wanting to help you just like yourself, Jennifer. Understand your triggers and take control of your eczema.
Check out Kerrison’s app, “Exma” HERE
Tips for Optimal Gut Health!
In his article, “Skin Health, Eczema, and Preventative Strategies”, James Barker, N.D. sums up the importance of protecting the GI integrity for eczema patients by saying: “If the eyes and the skin are the portal through which we may observe the body’s internal health, the gut then is the door through which a majority of disease initiates its entrance into the body… It goes without saying that… the first area of treatment then for the patient displaying eczema should be the gastrointestinal lining, without a doubt” (p. 58).
Having an optimally functioning gut is key to healing one’s eczema as well as countless other diseases. We must heal from the inside out, and the integrity of the gut is the first line of defense in repairing the skin of eczema. The gut holds 80% of the body’s immunity! When the detoxification systems aren’t eliminating properly (gut, kidneys, liver) then the toxic waste needs to go somewhere, and the skin is the organ it decides to eliminate on. Putting the focus on healing internally with diet, and probiotic rich foods and supplements will put the body back in balance and add good bacteria into the body.
The best foods to put into the body to repopulate the good gut bacteria are plant based foods. These foods are highly alkaline, fiber rich and come with an array of various vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Drinking celery juice first thing in the morning is another great gut healing remedy one can do. Check out this very informative video on why its best to fill up on all kinds of plant based foods in order to heal the gut which will in turn heal your skin as well as other health issues.
Seven signs you should be taking a probiotic
- Antibiotics – If you’ve taken antibiotics in the past year or even five years and you haven’t re-cultured your good bacteria you should look into taking a probiotic. Birth control and anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAID’s (over the counter pain meds like Tylenol, Ibuprofen etc) will also destroy the gut.
- Food Poisoning – This is a shift in the equilibrium of the gut, meaning that you have more bad bacteria than good. When this happens you will definitely want to re-populate the gut with good bacteria.
- Digestive Disturbances – Such as bloating, excessive gas, constipation, diarrhea etc. If this is occurring, you will want to look into supplementing with a probiotic.
- Skin Conditions – Once you start to fix what’s going on in the inside of the body, the outside will reflect more harmony and balance of your health.
- Mood Disorders – If you are having mood issues, such as depression, there’s a good chance that a good probiotic will help bounce up the seratonin levels. 95% of the seratonin is in the body is actually made in the gut and it’s the “happy molecule” in the brain. Once you start fixing your gut, you will notice that your mood will start to enhance!
- Weak Immunity – If you’re the type of person that gets sick two to three times a year and you’re wondering why, there’s a good chance that over populated bad bacteria is holding you back and you should look into considering a probiotic.
- Yeast Overgrowth – If you’re dealing with any type of yeast infection or yeast overgrowth on the inside, rebalancing the good gut bacteria will definitely help you.
For more info on the whole food based probiotics I use, check out this link HERE and shoot me an email for more information and how to order at eczema.holistic.healing@gmail.com! I also do health coaching with eczema sufferers where I send them a health questionnaire to get to know them better and offer tips, diet advice and natural remedies. ☺️
The Eczema Podcast episode #8
Hey Guys,
Check out another great podcast from Abby! I thought the info that was discussed on this episode was so on point. I especially found the info about mothers preventing eczema in their children to be very fascinating. I’ll definitely be keeping up a healthy vegan diet as well as implementing probiotics to ensure that my future children don’t have to suffer with eczema like I did.
Enjoy!
Documentary: “Bought”
Quick post….
Someone on the itsan forum posted this link for this eye opening doc called Bought – the truth behind vaccines, big pharma, and your food. It’s all about the corruption in the medical and food industries. It’s only available for free until the 15th of March. Check it out if you can before the 15th! 🙂
“Your health is now brought to you by Wall Street. If you thought they hurt us with the banks, wait till you see what they’re doing to our health care…”
I Was Featured on The Eczema Podcast!!!
Hey friends!
I had the wonderful pleasure of being a guest on my good friend Abby’s Eczema Podcast!
She is a registered Holistic Nutritionist and she is doing amazing work on her website, Prime Physique Nutrition. Abby interviews people in the field of healthy living who offer information, advice, personal accounts on eczema and natural alternative ways for healing. I had the great opportunity of sharing my journey with her on her most recent podcast.
This podcast was filmed in December 2014, and the only updates that I have since then is that my diet has transitioned to a completely plant based vegan diet, I’ve implemented some rebounding exercises to help with blood circulation & stimulating the lymph system and that the state of my feet are doing much better than when this was shot a few months ago!
I had such a great time being interviewed and sharing what I’ve learned with Abby. She’s such an inspiration in how she has battled through her eczema to come out on the other side of it all and become a Holistic Nutritionist to help others! I’m thankful for having this experience, and being able to connect with such an wonderful person. 🙂
The Eczema Podcast #5: How Jen Overcame Eczema, TSW & Cancer
Check Out! : Eczema Podcast #4
Hey guys!! My good friend Abby Lai, just posted her newest podcast on her site: http://www.primephysiquenutrition.com/
In this one she interviews Joy McCarthy a Holistic Nutritionist in the Canada area. They cover a whole lotta great information with the focus on how digestion, food allergies and nutrition affect eczema… something that if you’ve been checking out my blog you know I’m very passionate about.
Please take a listen/watch and make sure to check out Abby’s blog for more info and her past podcasts!
The Eczema Podcast #4: How Digestion, Food Allergies & Nutrition Affect Eczema (plus, a giveaway!)
Eczema Holistic Healing 