Anti-inflammatory GLA helps clear your skin and can even relieve PMS.
Do you blush easily? Have small, red bumps on your face? Or irritated, crusty eyes? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have rosacea.
Up to 100 million people worldwide do, says the International Rosacea Foundation. Most at risk are people with fair skin, light-colored hair and eyes, particularly women between 30 and 60—especially if you’re undergoing perimenopause or menopause. It’s no wonder that rosacea is one of the leading topics on dermatology websites.
A chronic condition, rosacea occurs when hundreds of tiny dilated blood vessels become inflamed. Commonly undiagnosed, this inflammatory condition is easily mistaken for acne or eczema.
Sadly, rosacea has no cure. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat it—rosacea won’t clear up on its own and may eventually require surgery.
First off, use only gentle, natural cleansing agents on your skin—no cosmetics or facial care with alcohol.
Next, pay attention to when your face starts to flush. Stress, nutrient deficiencies, lack of sleep, anxiety, and infections are common triggers, as is simply eating a heavy meal. But I’m sorry to say that what brings on rosacea in one person may be very different for others.
Food Sensitivities?
While the underlying cause of this inflammatory facial condition eludes scientific research, I strongly suspect food allergies and sensitivities.
Certainly, experts have linked both high-glycemic carbohydrates—white bread, pasta, and sugary foods, as well as other recognized allergens in chocolate, citrus, fermented alcohol, malt, tomatoes, and yeast—with rosacea. And research published in Dermatology Online Journal shows that people with facial flushing and red spots target allergenic foods (dairy, gluten, sugar, and yeast) as culprits.
Aspartame and NutraSweet in sugar-free drinks, Jello, and other processed foods cause noticeable flushing in 30% of people with rosacea. Avoid these synthetic sweeteners—and watch facial redness fade!
Periodic detox can help relieve rosacea, as can eating plenty of whole foods, including sea vegetables. Herbs like milk thistle, which supports the liver, and nettle, which helps relieve allergies, are also useful.
GLA Fights Inflammation
The surest way I’ve found to treat rosacea in my clinical practice? The anti-inflammatory omega-6 fat, gamma linoleic acid (GLA) works as well for rosacea as it does for eczema and other allergic skin reactions. It even relieves psoriasis and irritated, dry eyes.
To moisturize your skin from the inside out—and alleviate redness—take two softgel capsules of GLA-90 daily, preferably with meals, or as directed by a health care professional. Not only will your skin clear up, but you may also notice that PMS symptoms and hot flashes disappear.
A new study in Reproductive Health shows that GLA helps ease PMS—affecting 80 to 95% of women (35% of whom have severe enough symptoms to interfere with everyday activities). My patients happily report that, when they began taking GLA, their mood swings and cramping during their menstrual cycle disappeared.
What’s not to like?
Sources:
The Fat Flush Plan
The Living Beauty Detox Program
Eat Fat, Lose Weight
www.mayoclinic.com/health/rosacea/DS00308
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21276570
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20041414
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17892041
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17168669
www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Essential-fatty-acid-supplements-may-ease-PMS-says-trial
Visionary, health guru, diet/detox expert, author, spokesperson, role model, and natural foods icon, Ann Louise Gittleman has always been a trendsetter. 
I recently had a bout with my Gallbladder and the doctors advised that i should discontinue “fat flush” GLA and CLA. Can you share your insights? Thanks, Bethann
Bethann,
I had my gallbladder out in 1980. I fit into some of the “5 F categories” – female, 40, flatulent, fat, family – back then, although, I wasn’t only 27, and skinny. However, my diet consisted of horribly fat foods back then. French fries, tacos, cheeseburgers, milk shakes, cheese, ice cream.. I’d say eliminate all of those, first, before the GLA and CLA.
I now concentrate on the good fats, flax seed oil, fish oil, etc…. and lots of fiber, both soluble and insoluble.
Has your mother had her gallbladder out? MIne had. We can blame some of it on predisposition.
These are only my insights, so take them with a grain of salt.
DBM
Sorry, for my typing errors…. correction, “I WAS only 27 and skinny.”
Actually, the Weight Loss Formula contains all the helpful fat-metabolizing elements the body needs – especially the gallbladder. Check out inositol, choline, and methionine – three lipotropic nutrients that break down fats in the system. In addition, this formula contains lipase, a fat-digesting enzyme which will help the body utlize GLA and CLA. Finally, the cran-water component, due to its organic acids, helps with fat breakdown.
What worked well for me were skin laser treatments that target the redness. I did six sessions and have not had a rosacea recurrence. It is important that you go to a knowledgeable dermatologist who has experience with the laser.
Is nutritional yeast bad for Rosacea?
I’m allergic to nickel, and if I eat certain foods that are high in natural nickel, or canned foods, my nose gets red on the end. I have Celiac and food allergies, but it’s the nickel allergy that causes the red nose.
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