Acne+Fluoride

Everything You Need to Know About Acne and Fluoride, also known as Fluoroderma

Welcome to the fluoroderma corner of The Cellulite Investigation!

What started as an investigation into why I have more than my fair share of cellulite, led to the discovery that chronic fluoride exposure was clogging my lymphatic system and causing my painful cystic acne.

My Experience with Fluoride and Acne

When I started this blog in 2009, I had no idea what was causing my chronic acne.  I tried all kinds of skincare products, weekly facials, even medication but none of these treatments addressed my acne at its root cause.

Despite my best efforts, my skin looked like this:

It took a lot of persistent investigative work, but I finally figured out that fluoride was the cause of my acne, a condition called fluoroderma.  Toothpaste and tap water aren’t the only source of fluoride exposure—it’s found throughout our industrial food supply, too.  Once I learned how to limit my fluoride intake, my acne disappeared naturally.

Now I have the effortlessly clear skin I always wanted.  Here is what my skin looks like now:

How to Cure Acne Caused by Fluoride

Here is a list of the resources you will find on this page:

• Healing Acne from Within, my free 70-page e-book on fluoroderma
• Fluoroderma Questionnaire
• Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure
• Our Collection of Fluoroderma Success Stories (in progress!)
• Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers
• Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials about Fluoroderma

True healing from chronic cystic acne is possible! And it doesn’t involve medication, expensive skincare products, or pricey salon treatments.  All you need to heal from fluoroderma is knowledge—and I am offering that to you right here for free.

Free e-Book: Healing Acne from Within

This free 70-page e-book will, I hope, be the foundation for your fluoroderma victory.  It provides chapters on diagnosing fluoroderma, avoiding sources of fluoride exposure, and how to treat fluoroderma breakouts.

The book also includes sections on my personal fluoroderma story and my experience with fluoride detox.  The 11-page bibliography includes active hyperlinks to all the journal articles referenced in the book.

Healing Acne from Within: How to Diagnose and Cure Acne Caused by Fluoride Exposure (.pdf)

If you benefit in any way from reading Healing Acne from Within, please help me spread the word about fluoroderma by sharing the book with others. The book is free to distribute any way you can. It is my gift to all of you who suffered from chronic acne for years without knowing why.  It is also a gift to my younger self who spent so much energy feeling frustrated, embarrassed, and ashamed that I could not fix my skin.  It is satisfying to finally have it figured out, and even more satisfying to be able to share this information with other people dealing with the same condition.

Fluoroderma Questionnaire

My fluoroderma questionnaire is designed to help readers gauge the likelihood that their acne is caused by fluoride exposure.  It it not an official diagnosis, but it will bring your attention to some of the indicators and symptoms that might accompany fluoroderma.

Is Your Acne Caused by Fluoride? A Fluoroderma Questionnaire

Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure

This next resource is my Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure.  You can print this 1-page file and post it on your refrigerator or keep a copy in your purse.  Details of each fluoride source are covered in the e-book, but my Pocket Guide will come in handy when you’re grocery shopping or trying to select a low-fluoride meal at a restaurant.

Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure (.pdf)

Fluoroderma Success Stories

Is avoiding fluoride making a difference in the health of your skin?  Please add your story to our collection of fluoroderma success stories.

Fluoroderma Success Stories: Real People Cure Their Chronic Acne

I would love to post your before-and-after photos along with mine if you are brave enough to share them!  Email them to me at fluoroderma(at) CelluliteInvestigation (dot) com.   You can see mine at the link above.

Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers

Most healthcare providers are unfamiliar with fluoroderma.  Since I started blogging about fluoroderma a few years ago, I’ve only heard from two people who learned about the condition from a medical professional.  This 1-page Fact Sheet is designed to inform healthcare practitioners of the most pertinent facts regarding fluoroderma.  I recommend printing it on one sheet of paper, with the Fact Sheet on the front and the references on the back.

Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers (.pdf)

Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials About Fluoroderma

Once you realize the harmful effect fluoride is having on your body, you might decide to be more vocal about the need to end the outdated practice of public water fluoridation.  Here is a template for writing to authorities about water fluoridation, written from the perspective of someone who suffers from fluoroderma.

Personalized letters to government officials can be more powerful than lobbyists, especially when they come from constituents.  The template opens in Microsoft Word so you can edit it.

Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials About Fluoroderma (.doc)

For ease of personalization, I wrote this template in mad-lib style.  To fill it in, double-click on each blank and fill the space with your information.  The comment explains what information should go in each blank in case it’s not obvious.  The comment will automatically disappear when you start typing.

(Be sure to go back and look for any formatting issues when the letter is complete.  Some of the punctuation might need adjusting after the blanks are filled in.)

*This post if part of Monday Mania, Real Food Wednesday, Works For Me Wednesday, and Fight Back Friday.

photo credit: rbatina

Everything You Need to Know About Acne and Fluoride, also known as Fluoroderma

Welcome to the fluoroderma corner of The Cellulite Investigation!

What started as an investigation into why I have more than my fair share of cellulite, led to the discovery that chronic fluoride exposure was clogging my lymphatic system and causing my painful cystic acne.

My Experience with Fluoride and Acne

When I started this blog in 2009, I had no idea what was causing my chronic acne.  I tried all kinds of skincare products, weekly facials, even medication but none of these treatments addressed my acne at its root cause.

Despite my best efforts, my skin looked like this:

It took a lot of persistent investigative work, but I finally figured out that fluoride was the cause of my acne, a condition called fluoroderma.  Toothpaste and tap water aren’t the only source of fluoride exposure—it’s found throughout our industrial food supply, too.  Once I learned how to limit my fluoride intake, my acne disappeared naturally.

Now I have the effortlessly clear skin I always wanted.  Here is what my skin looks like now:

How to Cure Acne Caused by Fluoride

Here is a list of the resources you will find on this page:

• Healing Acne from Within, my free 70-page e-book on fluoroderma
• Fluoroderma Questionnaire
• Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure
• Our Collection of Fluoroderma Success Stories (in progress!)
• Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers
• Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials about Fluoroderma

True healing from chronic cystic acne is possible! And it doesn’t involve medication, expensive skincare products, or pricey salon treatments.  All you need to heal from fluoroderma is knowledge—and I am offering that to you right here for free.

Free e-Book: Healing Acne from Within

This free 70-page e-book will, I hope, be the foundation for your fluoroderma victory.  It provides chapters on diagnosing fluoroderma, avoiding sources of fluoride exposure, and how to treat fluoroderma breakouts.

The book also includes sections on my personal fluoroderma story and my experience with fluoride detox.  The 11-page bibliography includes active hyperlinks to all the journal articles referenced in the book.

Healing Acne from Within: How to Diagnose and Cure Acne Caused by Fluoride Exposure (.pdf)

If you benefit in any way from reading Healing Acne from Within, please help me spread the word about fluoroderma by sharing the book with others. The book is free to distribute any way you can. It is my gift to all of you who suffered from chronic acne for years without knowing why.  It is also a gift to my younger self who spent so much energy feeling frustrated, embarrassed, and ashamed that I could not fix my skin.  It is satisfying to finally have it figured out, and even more satisfying to be able to share this information with other people dealing with the same condition.

Fluoroderma Questionnaire

My fluoroderma questionnaire is designed to help readers gauge the likelihood that their acne is caused by fluoride exposure.  It it not an official diagnosis, but it will bring your attention to some of the indicators and symptoms that might accompany fluoroderma.

Is Your Acne Caused by Fluoride? A Fluoroderma Questionnaire

Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure

This next resource is my Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure.  You can print this 1-page file and post it on your refrigerator or keep a copy in your purse.  Details of each fluoride source are covered in the e-book, but my Pocket Guide will come in handy when you’re grocery shopping or trying to select a low-fluoride meal at a restaurant.

Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure (.pdf)

Fluoroderma Success Stories

Is avoiding fluoride making a difference in the health of your skin?  Please add your story to our collection of fluoroderma success stories.

Fluoroderma Success Stories: Real People Cure Their Chronic Acne

I would love to post your before-and-after photos along with mine if you are brave enough to share them!  Email them to me at fluoroderma(at) CelluliteInvestigation (dot) com.   You can see mine at the link above.

Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers

Most healthcare providers are unfamiliar with fluoroderma.  Since I started blogging about fluoroderma a few years ago, I’ve only heard from two people who learned about the condition from a medical professional.  This 1-page Fact Sheet is designed to inform healthcare practitioners of the most pertinent facts regarding fluoroderma.  I recommend printing it on one sheet of paper, with the Fact Sheet on the front and the references on the back.

Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers (.pdf)

Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials About Fluoroderma

Once you realize the harmful effect fluoride is having on your body, you might decide to be more vocal about the need to end the outdated practice of public water fluoridation.  Here is a template for writing to authorities about water fluoridation, written from the perspective of someone who suffers from fluoroderma.

Personalized letters to government officials can be more powerful than lobbyists, especially when they come from constituents.  The template opens in Microsoft Word so you can edit it.

Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials About Fluoroderma (.doc)

For ease of personalization, I wrote this template in mad-lib style.  To fill it in, double-click on each blank and fill the space with your information.  The comment explains what information should go in each blank in case it’s not obvious.  The comment will automatically disappear when you start typing.

(Be sure to go back and look for any formatting issues when the letter is complete.  Some of the punctuation might need adjusting after the blanks are filled in.)

*This post if part of Monday Mania, Real Food Wednesday, Works For Me Wednesday, and Fight Back Friday.

photo credit: rbatina

Everything You Need to Know About Acne and Fluoride, also known as Fluoroderma

Welcome to the fluoroderma corner of The Cellulite Investigation!

What started as an investigation into why I have more than my fair share of cellulite, led to the discovery that chronic fluoride exposure was clogging my lymphatic system and causing my painful cystic acne.

My Experience with Fluoride and Acne

When I started this blog in 2009, I had no idea what was causing my chronic acne.  I tried all kinds of skincare products, weekly facials, even medication but none of these treatments addressed my acne at its root cause.

Despite my best efforts, my skin looked like this:

It took a lot of persistent investigative work, but I finally figured out that fluoride was the cause of my acne, a condition called fluoroderma.  Toothpaste and tap water aren’t the only source of fluoride exposure—it’s found throughout our industrial food supply, too.  Once I learned how to limit my fluoride intake, my acne disappeared naturally.

Now I have the effortlessly clear skin I always wanted.  Here is what my skin looks like now:

How to Cure Acne Caused by Fluoride

Here is a list of the resources you will find on this page:

• Healing Acne from Within, my free 70-page e-book on fluoroderma
• Fluoroderma Questionnaire
• Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure
• Our Collection of Fluoroderma Success Stories (in progress!)
• Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers
• Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials about Fluoroderma

True healing from chronic cystic acne is possible! And it doesn’t involve medication, expensive skincare products, or pricey salon treatments.  All you need to heal from fluoroderma is knowledge—and I am offering that to you right here for free.

Free e-Book: Healing Acne from Within

This free 70-page e-book will, I hope, be the foundation for your fluoroderma victory.  It provides chapters on diagnosing fluoroderma, avoiding sources of fluoride exposure, and how to treat fluoroderma breakouts.

The book also includes sections on my personal fluoroderma story and my experience with fluoride detox.  The 11-page bibliography includes active hyperlinks to all the journal articles referenced in the book.

Healing Acne from Within: How to Diagnose and Cure Acne Caused by Fluoride Exposure (.pdf)

If you benefit in any way from reading Healing Acne from Within, please help me spread the word about fluoroderma by sharing the book with others. The book is free to distribute any way you can. It is my gift to all of you who suffered from chronic acne for years without knowing why.  It is also a gift to my younger self who spent so much energy feeling frustrated, embarrassed, and ashamed that I could not fix my skin.  It is satisfying to finally have it figured out, and even more satisfying to be able to share this information with other people dealing with the same condition.

Fluoroderma Questionnaire

My fluoroderma questionnaire is designed to help readers gauge the likelihood that their acne is caused by fluoride exposure.  It it not an official diagnosis, but it will bring your attention to some of the indicators and symptoms that might accompany fluoroderma.

Is Your Acne Caused by Fluoride? A Fluoroderma Questionnaire

Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure

This next resource is my Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure.  You can print this 1-page file and post it on your refrigerator or keep a copy in your purse.  Details of each fluoride source are covered in the e-book, but my Pocket Guide will come in handy when you’re grocery shopping or trying to select a low-fluoride meal at a restaurant.

Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure (.pdf)

Fluoroderma Success Stories

Is avoiding fluoride making a difference in the health of your skin?  Please add your story to our collection of fluoroderma success stories.

Fluoroderma Success Stories: Real People Cure Their Chronic Acne

I would love to post your before-and-after photos along with mine if you are brave enough to share them!  Email them to me at fluoroderma(at) CelluliteInvestigation (dot) com.   You can see mine at the link above.

Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers

Most healthcare providers are unfamiliar with fluoroderma.  Since I started blogging about fluoroderma a few years ago, I’ve only heard from two people who learned about the condition from a medical professional.  This 1-page Fact Sheet is designed to inform healthcare practitioners of the most pertinent facts regarding fluoroderma.  I recommend printing it on one sheet of paper, with the Fact Sheet on the front and the references on the back.

Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers (.pdf)

Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials About Fluoroderma

Once you realize the harmful effect fluoride is having on your body, you might decide to be more vocal about the need to end the outdated practice of public water fluoridation.  Here is a template for writing to authorities about water fluoridation, written from the perspective of someone who suffers from fluoroderma.

Personalized letters to government officials can be more powerful than lobbyists, especially when they come from constituents.  The template opens in Microsoft Word so you can edit it.

Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials About Fluoroderma (.doc)

For ease of personalization, I wrote this template in mad-lib style.  To fill it in, double-click on each blank and fill the space with your information.  The comment explains what information should go in each blank in case it’s not obvious.  The comment will automatically disappear when you start typing.

(Be sure to go back and look for any formatting issues when the letter is complete.  Some of the punctuation might need adjusting after the blanks are filled in.)

*This post if part of Monday Mania, Real Food Wednesday, Works For Me Wednesday, and Fight Back Friday.

photo credit: rbatina

Everything You Need to Know About Acne and Fluoride, also known as Fluoroderma

Welcome to the fluoroderma corner of The Cellulite Investigation!

What started as an investigation into why I have more than my fair share of cellulite, led to the discovery that chronic fluoride exposure was clogging my lymphatic system and causing my painful cystic acne.

My Experience with Fluoride and Acne

When I started this blog in 2009, I had no idea what was causing my chronic acne.  I tried all kinds of skincare products, weekly facials, even medication but none of these treatments addressed my acne at its root cause.

Despite my best efforts, my skin looked like this:

It took a lot of persistent investigative work, but I finally figured out that fluoride was the cause of my acne, a condition called fluoroderma.  Toothpaste and tap water aren’t the only source of fluoride exposure—it’s found throughout our industrial food supply, too.  Once I learned how to limit my fluoride intake, my acne disappeared naturally.

Now I have the effortlessly clear skin I always wanted.  Here is what my skin looks like now:

How to Cure Acne Caused by Fluoride

Here is a list of the resources you will find on this page:

• Healing Acne from Within, my free 70-page e-book on fluoroderma
• Fluoroderma Questionnaire
• Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure
• Our Collection of Fluoroderma Success Stories (in progress!)
• Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers
• Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials about Fluoroderma

True healing from chronic cystic acne is possible! And it doesn’t involve medication, expensive skincare products, or pricey salon treatments.  All you need to heal from fluoroderma is knowledge—and I am offering that to you right here for free.

Free e-Book: Healing Acne from Within

This free 70-page e-book will, I hope, be the foundation for your fluoroderma victory.  It provides chapters on diagnosing fluoroderma, avoiding sources of fluoride exposure, and how to treat fluoroderma breakouts.

The book also includes sections on my personal fluoroderma story and my experience with fluoride detox.  The 11-page bibliography includes active hyperlinks to all the journal articles referenced in the book.

Healing Acne from Within: How to Diagnose and Cure Acne Caused by Fluoride Exposure (.pdf)

If you benefit in any way from reading Healing Acne from Within, please help me spread the word about fluoroderma by sharing the book with others. The book is free to distribute any way you can. It is my gift to all of you who suffered from chronic acne for years without knowing why.  It is also a gift to my younger self who spent so much energy feeling frustrated, embarrassed, and ashamed that I could not fix my skin.  It is satisfying to finally have it figured out, and even more satisfying to be able to share this information with other people dealing with the same condition.

Fluoroderma Questionnaire

My fluoroderma questionnaire is designed to help readers gauge the likelihood that their acne is caused by fluoride exposure.  It it not an official diagnosis, but it will bring your attention to some of the indicators and symptoms that might accompany fluoroderma.

Is Your Acne Caused by Fluoride? A Fluoroderma Questionnaire

Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure

This next resource is my Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure.  You can print this 1-page file and post it on your refrigerator or keep a copy in your purse.  Details of each fluoride source are covered in the e-book, but my Pocket Guide will come in handy when you’re grocery shopping or trying to select a low-fluoride meal at a restaurant.

Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure (.pdf)

Fluoroderma Success Stories

Is avoiding fluoride making a difference in the health of your skin?  Please add your story to our collection of fluoroderma success stories.

Fluoroderma Success Stories: Real People Cure Their Chronic Acne

I would love to post your before-and-after photos along with mine if you are brave enough to share them!  Email them to me at fluoroderma(at) CelluliteInvestigation (dot) com.   You can see mine at the link above.

Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers

Most healthcare providers are unfamiliar with fluoroderma.  Since I started blogging about fluoroderma a few years ago, I’ve only heard from two people who learned about the condition from a medical professional.  This 1-page Fact Sheet is designed to inform healthcare practitioners of the most pertinent facts regarding fluoroderma.  I recommend printing it on one sheet of paper, with the Fact Sheet on the front and the references on the back.

Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers (.pdf)

Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials About Fluoroderma

Once you realize the harmful effect fluoride is having on your body, you might decide to be more vocal about the need to end the outdated practice of public water fluoridation.  Here is a template for writing to authorities about water fluoridation, written from the perspective of someone who suffers from fluoroderma.

Personalized letters to government officials can be more powerful than lobbyists, especially when they come from constituents.  The template opens in Microsoft Word so you can edit it.

Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials About Fluoroderma (.doc)

For ease of personalization, I wrote this template in mad-lib style.  To fill it in, double-click on each blank and fill the space with your information.  The comment explains what information should go in each blank in case it’s not obvious.  The comment will automatically disappear when you start typing.

(Be sure to go back and look for any formatting issues when the letter is complete.  Some of the punctuation might need adjusting after the blanks are filled in.)

*This post if part of Monday Mania, Real Food Wednesday, Works For Me Wednesday, and Fight Back Friday.

photo credit: rbatina

Everything You Need to Know About Acne and Fluoride, also known as Fluoroderma

Welcome to the fluoroderma corner of The Cellulite Investigation!

What started as an investigation into why I have more than my fair share of cellulite, led to the discovery that chronic fluoride exposure was clogging my lymphatic system and causing my painful cystic acne.

My Experience with Fluoride and Acne

When I started this blog in 2009, I had no idea what was causing my chronic acne.  I tried all kinds of skincare products, weekly facials, even medication but none of these treatments addressed my acne at its root cause.

Despite my best efforts, my skin looked like this:

It took a lot of persistent investigative work, but I finally figured out that fluoride was the cause of my acne, a condition called fluoroderma.  Toothpaste and tap water aren’t the only source of fluoride exposure—it’s found throughout our industrial food supply, too.  Once I learned how to limit my fluoride intake, my acne disappeared naturally.

Now I have the effortlessly clear skin I always wanted.  Here is what my skin looks like now:

How to Cure Acne Caused by Fluoride

Here is a list of the resources you will find on this page:

• Healing Acne from Within, my free 70-page e-book on fluoroderma
• Fluoroderma Questionnaire
• Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure
• Our Collection of Fluoroderma Success Stories (in progress!)
• Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers
• Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials about Fluoroderma

True healing from chronic cystic acne is possible! And it doesn’t involve medication, expensive skincare products, or pricey salon treatments.  All you need to heal from fluoroderma is knowledge—and I am offering that to you right here for free.

Free e-Book: Healing Acne from Within

This free 70-page e-book will, I hope, be the foundation for your fluoroderma victory.  It provides chapters on diagnosing fluoroderma, avoiding sources of fluoride exposure, and how to treat fluoroderma breakouts.

The book also includes sections on my personal fluoroderma story and my experience with fluoride detox.  The 11-page bibliography includes active hyperlinks to all the journal articles referenced in the book.

Healing Acne from Within: How to Diagnose and Cure Acne Caused by Fluoride Exposure (.pdf)

If you benefit in any way from reading Healing Acne from Within, please help me spread the word about fluoroderma by sharing the book with others. The book is free to distribute any way you can. It is my gift to all of you who suffered from chronic acne for years without knowing why.  It is also a gift to my younger self who spent so much energy feeling frustrated, embarrassed, and ashamed that I could not fix my skin.  It is satisfying to finally have it figured out, and even more satisfying to be able to share this information with other people dealing with the same condition.

Fluoroderma Questionnaire

My fluoroderma questionnaire is designed to help readers gauge the likelihood that their acne is caused by fluoride exposure.  It it not an official diagnosis, but it will bring your attention to some of the indicators and symptoms that might accompany fluoroderma.

Is Your Acne Caused by Fluoride? A Fluoroderma Questionnaire

Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure

This next resource is my Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure.  You can print this 1-page file and post it on your refrigerator or keep a copy in your purse.  Details of each fluoride source are covered in the e-book, but my Pocket Guide will come in handy when you’re grocery shopping or trying to select a low-fluoride meal at a restaurant.

Pocket Guide to Common Sources of Fluoride Exposure (.pdf)

Fluoroderma Success Stories

Is avoiding fluoride making a difference in the health of your skin?  Please add your story to our collection of fluoroderma success stories.

Fluoroderma Success Stories: Real People Cure Their Chronic Acne

I would love to post your before-and-after photos along with mine if you are brave enough to share them!  Email them to me at fluoroderma(at) CelluliteInvestigation (dot) com.   You can see mine at the link above.

Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers

Most healthcare providers are unfamiliar with fluoroderma.  Since I started blogging about fluoroderma a few years ago, I’ve only heard from two people who learned about the condition from a medical professional.  This 1-page Fact Sheet is designed to inform healthcare practitioners of the most pertinent facts regarding fluoroderma.  I recommend printing it on one sheet of paper, with the Fact Sheet on the front and the references on the back.

Fluoroderma Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers (.pdf)

Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials About Fluoroderma

Once you realize the harmful effect fluoride is having on your body, you might decide to be more vocal about the need to end the outdated practice of public water fluoridation.  Here is a template for writing to authorities about water fluoridation, written from the perspective of someone who suffers from fluoroderma.

Personalized letters to government officials can be more powerful than lobbyists, especially when they come from constituents.  The template opens in Microsoft Word so you can edit it.

Template Letter for Writing to Government Officials About Fluoroderma (.doc)

For ease of personalization, I wrote this template in mad-lib style.  To fill it in, double-click on each blank and fill the space with your information.  The comment explains what information should go in each blank in case it’s not obvious.  The comment will automatically disappear when you start typing.

(Be sure to go back and look for any formatting issues when the letter is complete.  Some of the punctuation might need adjusting after the blanks are filled in.)

*This post if part of Monday Mania, Real Food Wednesday, Works For Me Wednesday, and Fight Back Friday.

The Gym: Treating Cellulite Through Movement

When it comes to tackling cellulite, the gym is a logical place to start. But did you choose to pursue your anti cellulite efforts in the gym because you want to or because that’s what you think you should do?
You might be surprised to hear that the gym is the last room I recommend for rookie cellulite investigators.  So if you are on the fence about starting in the gym, go back and choose another room to kick off your cellulite investigation. If you’re here because you genuinely enjoy working out, then I think you will be pleasantly surprised to learn what our investigation has uncovered so far regarding the best exercises for cellulite.

Freedom from Treadmills, At Long Last!

Let me begin by explaining what are NOT the best exercises for cellulite.  Some so-called experts assert that cellulite reduction is a simple matter of burning calories. If you’ve spent countless hours of your life on any mindless cardio machine, you know this is not the case.
I do not believe burning calories is even an effective method for losing weight.  The calorie theory of weight loss assumes calorie intake and hunger are independent variables –meaning you can increase one without affecting the other. In his book Good Calories, Bad Calories, world-renowned physicist Gary Taubes explains the scientific research that proves this is not the case. Weight loss (and cellulite reduction) have more to do with biochemistry than physics. To lose weight over the long term, you must successfully alter the chemicals (hormones) that influence hunger and, consequently, caloric intake.
You can learn more about the biochemistry of cellulite reduction over in the kitchen.  For now, know that burning calories is not a cellulite treatment you will be prescribed here at CI.

Yoga, Tai Chi, and other Movement Practices from the East

If you’ve read our primer on cellulite, you know that impaired lymphatic flow is a primary factor in the formation of cellulite.  Adjacent to the blood circulatory system, the lymphatic system is a series of vessels, ducts, and capillaries designed to drain metabolic debris from the cells, including our fat cells.  Here in the U.S., we’ve developed complex regimens to exercise the heart and the muscles, but we neglect the lymphatic system even though it is essential to everyday health.
The lymphatic system is a central component of many eastern movement traditions such as yoga and Tai Chi.  To circulate lymph to the outermost cells, the body relies on a combination of skeletal movement and breath.  Knowing this, it is not surprising that some women see dramatic improvements in their cellulite after taking up yoga. Bikram yoga is particularly effective (as this email I received from one CI reader attests) because the heat of the room accelerates detoxification through the skin.

Bouncing Your Way to Cellulite-Free Thighs

Rebounding is another exercise that is particularly effective to counter cellulite. Jumping on these mini-trampolines doesn’t seem like a rigorous workout compared to the sweaty torture that often accompanies cardio work, yet rebounding is widely credited as the supreme exercise for improving lymphatic flow.
Even scientists from NASA have studied the physical effects of rebounding. In this study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, four NASA scientists conclude that jumping on a trampoline produces a “biomechanical stimuli” up to 68% greater than running on a treadmill.  The difference has to do with the g-force that is generated by the changes in gravity at the height of each jump.
For more information on rebounding, including a video of advanced rebounding techniques, see Exercise for Detoxification by Elizabeth from The Nourished Life. But please heed Elizabeth’s warning and start slow if you are a beginner: “Seriously, you could break some bones!”

Modern Muscle Building Techniques

Strength training is a topic we will be investigating more on the CI blog in a few weeks. We already researched conventional weight training programs, such as Joyce Vedral’s classic Bottoms Up! workout. These regimens are worthwhile, but I’m curious if there is a more efficient muscle-building workout for targeting cellulite.
Based on the information we’ve uncovered so far, I’m interested in studying weight training techniques that work the muscle to the point of overload in a short matter of time followed by long periods of rest.  Examples include SuperSlow weight training and the Slow Burn method.
Other promising exercises for cellulite include thigh dancing from Physique 57, and similar routines based on the Lotte Berke method. Check out this post for a video demonstration of thigh dancing (with Anderson Cooper, no less!).

Roll Your Cellulite Away

Foam rollers have been used in rehabilitation clinics since the 1970′s but they recently started popping up in Pilates studies, weight rooms, and fitness centers across the country. Rolling individual muscles across the roller works to loosen the muscle fascia –the interwoven fibers surrounding muscle tissue –and deliver nutrient-rich blood to the cells.
My review of the Rumble Roller reveals why I won’t be without this simple self-massage tool.  Foam rollers are effective at restoring alignment, improving posture and flexibility, and alleviating muscular tension.   Once you try one, you will understand why foam rollers are known as “the poor man’s massage.”
This also explains why the rolling pin treatment is something of an urban legend amongst cellulite sufferers. Rolling pins are, in effect, miniature foam rollers.
Click here for a video demonstration of how-to use a foam roller.  Elle over at The Body Window also offers several video demonstrations of foam rolling for various target areas.

To continue your cellulite investigation, select another room below:

natural treatments for cellulite


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home_cellulite_treatments

The Kitchen: Treating Cellulite with Food

There is no shortage of dietary advice regarding cellulite. Most of it involves eating more fruits and vegetables, less fat and sugar, and everything in moderation. But we are quickly discovering here at The Cellulite Investigation that there is more to the elusive anti-cellulite diet than most nutritionists are taught in school.
As we learned in our primer on cellulite, cellulite is the visible component of damaged connective tissue, more specifically, the tissue connecting the subcutaneous fat to the skin. The body will repair this damaged tissue naturally given the right raw materiel (i.e. nutrients), but these nutrients need to be adequately digested and then circulated to the outermost cells of the body.
An effective anti-cellulite diet will 1) provide the proper nutrients to repair connective tissue, 2) maximize digestion, and 3) foster healthy circulation both to and from the cells. Here in the CI kitchen, we investigate foods that have a significant impact on each of these core functions.

Chicken Soup for the Soul Cellulite

Dr. Bruno Chikly, one of the world’s foremost experts on the lymphatic system, describes cellulite as pockets of fat that will not dissolve following an extreme fast (see “The Difference Between Fat and Cellulite: Interview with Dr. Bruno Chikly”). Studies have shown that weight loss can actually increase cellulite.1
Instead of focusing on losing weight, it is more effective to treat cellulite by including key nutrients in the diet. In The Cellulite Solution, Dr. Howard Murad identifies nutrients that are particularly effective at repairing connective tissue. It is not surprising that these nutrients are abundant in the connective tissue of animals throughout the food chain. Ample amounts of these nutrients are no longer present in the modern diet. Not long ago, they were a cornerstone.
Before the advent of our industrialized food supply, homemade bone broths were an essential element of the human diet. These slow-simmered stocks are rich in the raw material the body needs to repair connective tissue, such as glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen, and other micronutrients we have yet to discover.
Broths are simple to make at home, and they are economical because they use ingredients you would otherwise throw away (see this post for a basic recipe for homemade stock). Shrimp shells are particularly dense in glucosamine, a fact which is the basis of my shrimp stock theory. Be sure to use the best quality ingredients you can find. Wild shrimp or organic, free-range poultry work best. Avoid poultry raised on feed that is not certified organic. I learned this tip the hard way.

Saturated Fat: This is BIG!

If you thought freedom from “dieting” was good news, wait until you hear the information we’ve uncovered about saturated fats.
Most cellulite experts are quick to recommend Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) as a crucial component of the elusive anti-cellulite diet. EFA’s help rebuild the cell membrane and attract moisture to the cells. Yet because they are stuck in the conventional thinking on fat, these same cellulite experts advise against foods that are richest in EFA’s.
Animal products contain certain Essential Fatty Acids that are not present in fish and nuts. Conjugated linoleic acid, for example, is an EFA found primarily in the meat and dairy products of ruminants. It is a common ingredient in many anti-cellulite treatments. Other foods that are rich in EFA’s include whole milk, heavy cream, cheese, butter, coconut oil, palm oil, even beef tallow and lard.
But won’t these foods make you gain weight and lead to heart disease? Foods high in saturated fats were often prized and consumed liberally in non-industrialized societies where ailments such as heart disease and obesity were virtually unknown. To read a fascinating account of these traditional diets, see Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A. Price (you can also read the book online). Heart disease and obesity did not become common until the advent of refined sugar, refined flour, and industrialized vegetable oils.
This view of saturated fat is a significant deviation from conventional nutrition theory, so I don’t expect you to take my word for it. You’ve likely heard the argument against saturated fat your whole life. Why not read the other side of the story and draw your own conclusion?

If you are looking for the hard scientific evidence, I recommend Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes. Taubes recently wrote another book called Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It that presents the same information in a more readable format. Fat: It’s Not What You Think by Connie Leas also takes a scientific approach without losing readability (read our Interview with Connie Leas). Real Food: What to Eat and Why by Nina Planck explains the more practical aspects of the theory, such as how to implement it in your daily diet.
Some authors argue that eating healthy saturated fats (I don’t recommend fats from animals raised in CAFO’s) will actually lead to weight loss. The Atkins diet is the most famous, of course. Eat Fat, Lose Fat by Sally Fallon and Dr. Mary Enig is another. In this book, the authors explain that, in addition to supplying Essential Fatty Acids, saturated fats are more satiating than other foods –meaning they work to satisfy hunger and reduce cravings for sweets and carbs, the true culprits in the obesity epidemic.
So while we don’t focus on losing weight as a cellulite strategy, you just might notice it as a side effect.
**Please note that saturated fats can be difficult to digest if your body is not accustomed to them (I can vouch for this from personal experience). Many saturated fats are composed of longer-chain fatty acids that require bile salts secreted by the gallbladder for digestion. If your diet does not regularly include adequate amounts of saturated fats (and most modern diets do not), your gallbladder will stop producing sufficient amounts of bile salts. This will improve in time as your body adjusts to the change in diet. For this reason, coconut oil is a good saturated fat to start with since it is composed of medium-chain fatty acids that do not require bile salts for digestion.2

The Fiber Controversy

What good is a nutrient-dense diet if your body is not absorbing the quality raw material you are providing? For this reason, healthy digestion is a critical aspect of an effective anti-cellulite diet.
Fiber is the term used to describe a family of complex carbohydrates that are indigestible to humans. The term includes cellulose and other substances present in the cell walls of plants. In her bestselling book Cellulite: Those Lumps, Bumps and Bulges You Couldn’t Lose Before, Nicole Ronsard recommends a high fiber diet to “sweep” the entire digestive system of waste and dead cells. This is a common refrain in anti-cellulite diet plans.
I followed this advice at the outset of The Cellulite Investigation by using psyllium husks for a two week “cleanse,” as prescribed in The Ultimate Cellulite Treatment in a Book by Bronwyn Hewitt. I soon noticed negative side effects of the cleanse that led me to find an alternative theory of digestive health.
The majority of cells in the human body are bacteria that live in the digestive system.3 They help the body break down food, prevent the growth of pathogens, and even produce vitamins such as B and K. Hefty doses of fiber can disrupt this delicate ecosystem.4
This is why traditional societies placed a great emphasis not on fiber, but on foods that build up the intestinal flora –including fermented dairy products, raw cheeses, sauerkraut, and other naturally-fermented foods. Even the American staples of ketchup, mustard, and relish were traditionally prepared as fermented foods for this same purpose. Kefir is a particularly powerful probiotic, and it’s easy to make at home.

Are Food Sensitivities Sabotaging Your Anti Cellulite Efforts?

According to Dr. Christiane Norththrup, author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, 1 in 4 women show signs of gluten sensitivity. Gluten isn’t the only culprit that can wreak havoc on the digestive system. Processed milk, soy, corn, and countless other foods can be the hidden cause of recurring indigestion, bloating, heartburn, and other unpleasant symptoms.
In extreme cases, the source of food intolerance is easy to identify. But what about cases that aren’t so severe? Many of us carry on with unidentified food sensitivities. The next time you experience a symptom of food intolerance (bloating, gas, upset stomach, diarrhea, heartburn… you get the point) why not make an extra effort to identify its source?
If keeping a food diary sounds too cumbersome, start by documenting what you ate just prior to an onset of symptoms. Eventually, you might notice a trend. Elimination diets require more effort, but they can be an effective way to identify an offending food.

Cellulite Suspect Numero Uno: Trans Fat

If there is one food to avoid on an anti-cellulite diet, it is trans fat. Since cellulite is caused by lymphatic congestion, anything that impairs lymphatic flow will contribute to the dreaded blight. Here’s why trans fats are particularly bad.
When you eat a fatty meal, the fat molecules are absorbed by lymphatic vessels in the small intestine. Smaller particles, like amino acids and sugars, are absorbed directly into the bloodstream but larger particles, like fat, must first go through the lymph before entering the bloodstream at the heart.5
Trans fats are oils that are chemically altered by manufacturers to be solid at room temperature. The body tries to treat trans fats as normal dietary fats, but their altered chemical structure interferes with thousands of necessary chemical reactions.2 Dr. Mary Enig, a lipid biochemist who was among the first to study trans fats in the 1970′s, claims saturated fats were wrongly accused for the problems caused by trans fats, since most studies at that time did not differentiate between the two.
Trans fats are commonly found in commercial baked goods and fried foods. Avoid foods made with shortening or hydrogenated oils. Don’t be fooled by misleading labels. Some foods claim to be free of trans fat because they contain less than half a gram per serving. Popular coffee creamers are especially guilty of this.

What Cellulite Superstars Will We Discover Next?

When it comes to treating cellulite with food, these are the major leads we’ve uncovered in our investigation thus far. But the possibilities for treating cellulite through diet are seemingly endless.
We have yet to delve into the details of anti-cellulite herbs, although I have experimented with horse chestnut seed extract (with surprising results). Cranberry juice, lecithin, farm-fresh eggs, raw honey, and even beer have each shared the CI spotlight at one point or another in our investigation. Surely there are many healing foods we have yet to discover.
Another aspect of the anti-cellulite diet not covered above is the influence certain foods can have on our hormones. There exists a clear link between cellulite and estrogen, but the nature of this connection is still poorly understood. Current research on thyroid-affecting halogens, such as iodine, fluoride, and bromine, could play an important role in our investigation, as well.
Cellulite is by no means an open-and-shut case. As you can see, the investigation is ongoing. To stay updated on the latest developments, be sure to subscribe to the CI blog either through RSS or email.

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