Achieving Dietary Balance

Dear Reader,

You made it through the first module! Hope the objectives were not too invasive and the supplementary readings proved useful.

The first module briefly touched upon several dietary essentials, but now let’s dive deeper into diet and nutrition to solidify this important base.

Why Return to Diet?

Though the role of diet is not clearly established in the case of seborrheic dermatitis, it has a direct impact on immune function, circulating hormones, nutritional stability, sebaceous gland activity and blood lipid levels. Not to mention, that diet is known to have an influential role in an Rosacea progression (which often overlaps with seborrheic dermatitis).

Thus, further improving your diet can be a critical component of reducing systemic inflammation and ensuring long term progress.

Introductory Readings

Once again, reading the relative sections can help put some perspective on the objectives presented and help motivate your progress. The reading shouldn’t take any longer then 10-15 minutes and is available below:

Expected Outcomes

By understanding the basic components of a balanced diet and adjusting your eating habits to fit within these principles you should benefit from:

• Improved blood lipid balance
• Stabilized sebum production and composition
• Improved hormonal stability
• Improved blood sugar control
• Improved essential fatty acid profile
• Reduced levels of inflammation

Objectives in Focus

The focus of this module is on two primary components:

Balancing Glycemic Load

Eating foods with a low glycemic index can improve blood sugar stability, hormonal stability, and lipid metabolism; leading to more balanced sebum production and improved sebum composition.

Balancing Dietary Fats

Reducing intake of monounsaturated and saturated fats can enhance the anti-inflammatory effects of a diet rich in omega 3s and potentially reduce the amount oleic acid present in the sebum; leading to improved skin barrier function and sebum composition.

Foods to Emphasize

Fish

Regular consumption of fresh fatty fish can reduce systemic inflammation, improve lipid metabolism and enhance overall immune system stability; resulting in healthier sebum composition and reduced hypersensitivity.

Flax Seed Oil

Flax seed oil is the best plant source of omega 3 fatty acids. Regular consumption can stabilize systemic inflammation and improve lipid metabolism; leading to reduced skin sensitivity and improved sebum composition.

Raw Foods

Making sure your diet includes enough raw vegetables is a simple way to reduce the risk of disease, stabilize immune function and improve antioxidant availability; all of which are important for healthier skin and reduced levels of systemic inflammation.

Barberry

Barberries are small tart berries commonly used in middle eastern cuisine. Their usage in the North America is limited, but the flowering plant is best known for it's high berberine content.

Foods to Restrict

Vegetable Oil

Reducing intake of added oils can lead to a more balanced intake of essential fatty acids, which is known to improve systemic inflammation, lipid metabolism and immune system stability; resulting in less skin sensitivity and healthier sebum composition.

Example Daily Checklist

Ending Remarks:

Hope you’ve already started seeing some progress from the first module’s objectives; if not in your skin symptoms, perhaps at-least in your general health and well-being.

Remember, the goal of the protocol is not instant relief, this is what topical treatments are designed to achieve. The goal is to build foundational habits to secure long term progress.