I suffered from acne as a teenager. I even experienced it into my 40’s. I am free of it now. I have learned a lot about it so I thought I would share this blog with others so you know what to do to prevent it. Acne has been linked to the intake of refined carbohydrates (sugar and flour products), dairy products (cow’s milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream) and saturated fats found in animal products, trans-fats and deficient omega 3 P.U.F.A.’s.

MTOR aggravators can aggravate acne. Activators of MTOR include proteins especially if they are high in leucine (beef, eggs, whey protein) , having an excess of calories, having an excess of carbohydrates or high levels of insulin (as a result of high glycemic carbohydrates- flour and sugar) and testosterone which is an androgen hormone. 

Plants that inhibit MTOR are helpful in reducing inflammation. These foods include pomegranates, raspberries, curcumin found in turmeric root, resveratrol found in red grapes. quercetin (found in onions, garlic, leeks, green leafy vegetables, blueberries), omega 3 fatty acids found in wild fish and flaxseeds (MultiEFA capsules is a supplement that I sell in my dispensary).

Barberries at 1 tsp three times daily can help reduce acne. Go to Amazon.ca if you want to order. Acne-gen is a phytogen I use to treat acne. I also use Unda numbers and homeopathy to treat acne. Probiotics can decrease acne lesions by 45%. Treating the gut cleared my acne so please book in with me if you want to resolve your acne or any other dermatological condition. Dr. Vinge at Parallel Wellness in downtown Calgary 4032321283

References; Nutritional Facts. org, Plant Based Nutritional Conferences

So I have been watching a lot of webinars on improving gut function. I watched one on ‘Hacking GLP-1 through the Gut Microbiome’.  GLP-1 is a hormone that  plays an important role in regulating blood glucose levels and appetite. It is involved in blood glucose control and weight management. The popular weight loss drugs target GLP-1. How can we promote production of this hormone in our body through diet or probiotics vs a drug that has a lot of side effects?

You likely know that eating fiber is key. Eating fiber in the form of fruits, vegetables, raw nuts, beans and legumes as well as whole grains preferably gluten free if you have an autoimmune disease is a good start. Eating 50 grams of fiber may seem like an improbable goal but shoot for the stars. Make sure if you are increasing your fiber intake that you start slowly.

The webinar talked about the importance of the bacterial strain Akkermansia muciniphila in stimulating goblet cells in the microbiome to produce mucin which contributes to the integrity of the intestinal barrier. It produces short chain fatty acids like butrytate which lowers inflammation. When fiber loving Akkermansia colonizes your gut in the right numbers It keeps the fence tight so the bad bacteria are kept out of the gut wall like gram negative bacteria that produce LPS or lipopolysaccharide which is known to create inflammation. 

Some foods that support the growth of beneficial species like Akkermansia include polyphenols such as cloves, oregano, sage, blueberries, plums, cherries, pomegranates, black olives, green olives, artichokes, red onions, spinach, flaxseeds, pecans, walnuts, dark chocolate, coffee, black tea, green tea and red wine. Be sure to include these foods in your diet.  Polyphenols tell your enterocytes to produce GLP-1. GLP-1 increases insulin secretion and increases insulin sensitivity. GLP-1 increases satiety and decreases systemic inflammation. 

Prebiotic food sources to include that support growth of beneficial bacteria include dandelion greens, asparagus, leeks, apples, konjac root, jicama root, seaweed, artichoke, onions, garlic, cocoa, kiwi, oats and chicory root. All these foods activate bacteria in the gut to produce short chain fatty acids which create beneficial metabolites to regulate physiology. Cutting out gut busters like high fat foods, sugar, high amounts of alcohol and other processed foods is very supportive of optimum gut function.

For more information please go to Pendulumlife.com. I am looking at how I can get these products into our clinic right now or make them available to patients. Some of these products in testing have been shown to reduce food cravings and improve metabolic function and thus control weight. To learn more about supporting your microbiome, book an appointment with me at Parallel Wellness. 

In good gut health,  Dr. Robin Vinge, ND 4032321283

References ‘Hacking GLP-1 Through The Gut Microbiome Adam Perlman, MD, MPH, CMO Rupa Health Webinar 2024