A NEW APPROACH ABOUT PROTEIN, HEALTH, WEIGHT GAIN, CELLULITE AND ACNE
Dietary protein is partially damaged in the preparation process (cooking, freezing, etc.).
Protein molecules interact with dietary carbohydrates, forming new molecules. This process is called "the Maillard reaction".
When you cook an egg or fry potato slices, you can clearly see those molecular changes. The egg white turns white, and fried potato slices are crunchy and are locally browned.
To explain the exact cause of cellulite and acne, we have to tell you a bit more about protein and we will use potato protein as an example:
Potato protein is comprised of 18 different amino acids, mostly linked in long protein-chains. Methionine is one such an (essential) amino acid. On the average, 100 grams / 3 ounces of raw potato contains 30 mg. of methionine. But when potato slices or sticks are fried, virtually all this methionine is destroyed/chemically changed.
[1] This loss is partly due to the Maillard reaction and partly because of simple oxidation. [2] A large part of this lost methionine (38 to 88%) [3]) was originally linked to other amino acids.
What does this mean?
Nothing until this protein is consumed..
4. Protein Digestion
Each protein in plants and animals consists of up to 18 different amino acids linked to each other - up to thousands per protein in total. The body needs such amino acids for the construction of new cells, enzymes and neurotransmitters. The body can compose some of the required amino acids, but others have to be obtained from dietary protein. Digestive enzymes break this dietary protein down into amino acids. These digestive enzymes are specialists: each can cut only one or a few specific amino acids from other specific amino acids.
Some examples: Pepsin separates phenylalanine and tyrosine from other amino acids, and splits off leucine and glutamic acid residues. Trypsin splits off arginine and lysine at the carboxyl-end from other amino acids. Chymotrypsin splits off tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine at the carboxyl-end from other amino acids. Papain separates lysine from leucine, arginine or glycine.
In the intestinal mucosa, carboxypeptidase splits off amino acids from one end, and aminopeptidase does so from the other end of the peptides.
But these enzymes can do their job only if the targeted part of the protein exactly matches the enzyme's job description. If heat has changed the molecular structure of one of the amino acids that an enzyme must separate, these linked amino acids do not match the enzyme's target and they will remain unseparated.
Imagine a protein like a chain of differently colored balls (amino acids). Each enzyme is designed to separate one (or a few at the most) specific combination(s) of amino acids.
For example: "the yellow-red enzyme" can only separate the yellow balls from the red ones, but if a yellow ball has a blue stain, this yellow ball is not recognized as an entirely yellow ball anymore, and the specific enzyme cannot separate this ball from other balls.
Scientific research has shown that a substantial percentage of the amino acids in ingested food remain unseparated. [4] Since we all eat prepared foods, this is no surprise; molecular structure of many amino acids is damaged due to the preparation process.
It has been known for over 25 years that even complete protein-molecules can be absorbed from the intestine. [5] The lymph absorbs peptides. Most dieticians / nutritionists think that all dietary protein is completely broken down into amino acids. If they were correct, Hartnup Disease patients could never survive. The intestinal mucosa of children suffering from Hartnup-disease cannot absorb / transport free tryptophan, which is an essential amino acid. No human being can live without sufficient tryptophan, but these children grow up relatively normal. Apparently they absorb sufficient linked amino acids containing tryptophan, which is liberated only after the peptide has been absorbed into the blood or lymph.
Okay, so after digestion many partially damaged amino acids are still linked to other amino acids. What happens next?
Free amino acids are absorbed into the blood and transported to all our organs where they can be immediately utilized for (re)construction purposes.
But the blood cannot absorb larger molecules like peptides (amino acids still linked to each other) very well. Therefore there is an alternative transport system: the lymph-system. Lymph is like blood but without the red blood cells. Lymph transports protein and other nutrients just as blood does, but lymph is transported at a much lower speed than blood.
Lymphatics are especially designed to absorb these larger
molecules (like peptides). [6] This prevents nutrients from being lost due to incomplete digestion.
This function of the lymph is important because even raw food is not always completely digested.
To digest the food that is consumed, the digestive tract needs to be supplied with lots of fatty acids (for energy) and oxygen by the blood. And there is also more blood required to transport the absorbed nutrients. But when we are physically active, more blood is directed towards muscles, and less remains for the intestines.
Digestion can therefore not be complete if there is physical action immediately after food consumption. That is why it is not healthy to walk and eat, or eat and then swim (or any other physical activity) directly after eating. If digestion is incomplete more peptides remain.
These peptides are only gradually decomposed by enzymes in the lymph, blood and different organs. The eventually free amino acids can then be utilized for (re)construction purposes.
Okay, but where does cellulite / acne kick in?
5. Protein in the Skin
Every day we absorb lots of protein - generally at least 100 grams / 3 ounces.
Part of this absorbed protein consists of Maillard-reaction products and partially oxidized peptides.
The 'lymph-express' takes up dietary protein from the digestive tract and the liver, and delivers it to all the different organs. Organs can use the individual amino acids, but not the Maillard-reaction products and partially oxidized peptides. And since the skin is 'the final destination for the lymph-express', the protein that is not used by other organs (like the Maillard reaction products and peptides) ends up in the skin.
Why?
The 'lymph-express empties its cargo in the skin' to return to the digestive tract and the liver and pick up new 'cargo'. If it did not do so, a great deal of the valuable nutrients would not be absorbed and utilized.
But why is this redundant protein (incl. Maillard reaction products and peptides) not broken down instead of transported to the skin?
All protein can be broken down and utilized for energy. If blood-sugar level is low, free amino acids can be easily converted into available energy for example. But the breakdown of redundant protein (the larger molecules) is a very delicate process.
The reason: all perfectly functioning cells contain some protein. Old and damaged cells must be decomposed to be replaced by new ones, but the breakdown of perfectly functioning cells must be avoided at all times. Decomposition of protein, therefore, has to be strictly controlled.
That is why it takes place during sleep, in particular.
6. Decomposition of Redundant Protein
Why does redundant protein have to be reabsorbed from the skin?
It must be reabsorbed to prevent accumulation in the skin because the skin, unlike other organs (like muscles), does not contain enzymes that can decompose protein. [7]
But what triggers the body to reabsorb protein from the skin?
We all have an 'inner clock'. At about 6:00 a.m. the lymph starts re-absorbing protein from the skin. Lymphatics transport this protein to the liver, where most of it is broken down between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m.
This protein is split into individual amino acids, either for the composition of new protein or to be converted into energy.
Between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m. ACTH (AdrenoCorticoTropic Hormone) is secreted, [8] increasing cortisol secretion.
Cortisol stimulates decomposition and conversion of redundant protein into available energy [9], and the transportation of redundant protein to the liver. [10]
Transporting protein too large to be absorbed into the blood is the main function of the lymph system. [11] Unfortunately, lymph runs much slower than blood, and it therefore also takes longer to transport 'dirty' protein from the skin to the liver.
ACTH and cortisol are not just there to clean up 'dirty' protein. If you are under a lot of stress, secretion of ACTH and cortisol is increased to convert body-protein (like muscle-protein) into available energy to be able to fight or flight.
And what if you work night shifts?
Your body still starts transporting and decomposing protein, but with one difference: when you are physically active during the night, a larger percentage of these amino acids are transformed into energy instead of being utilized for re/construction purposes. That is why it is much harder to maintain muscle power when working night shifts, and that is why you need more time to recover from diseases and injuries when working night shifts.
Do you remember those times when you kept on partying all night long? Didn't you suddenly feel lots of energy again once you had been up long enough? And didn't your skin look great in the morning?
That was because all the re-absorbed protein from the skin was immediately converted into available energy, speeding up the cleaning process.
This, however, also inhibits maintenance of body cells, including skin cells, which explains why those who work at night generally don't look very healthy when seen in broad daylight.
In nature those animals that utilize their food most completely and efficiently have the best chance to survive. That's why meat-eating animals like lions sleep so much; it takes lots of time to completely process all that protein. Vegetarian animals like elephants only sleep three to four hours a day. (however, herbivores that eat plants containing much toxins, like koala bears, need much sleep too)
The more protein that is consumed, the more time it takes to deport redundant protein from the skin.
How does protein in the skin relate to cellulite and acne?
7. Protein and Water
Cellulite and acne (in combination with other factors) are both caused by excessive water retention in the skin, which will be explained later.
Fat does not attract water, but sugars, salt and protein do. So you might expect that consuming much sugar, as well as much salt and protein could cause excessive water retention in the skin. But that is not true;
All dietary sugars are (mostly) converted into glucose.
Glucose, however, cannot cause excessive water-retention. The reason is that glucose is the main energy source for the brain. When the blood-glucose level is too low, brain functions shut down. And the blood-glucose level is, therefore, very strictly regulated.
Since glucose is essential to the brain, maintaining a low-carb diet can cause forgetfulness, impatience, and/or a reduced ability to cope with stress (and depressions). Some consider this to be normal for women, but that is nonsense; by nature women are very capable in dealing with stress since they have always had to look after the kids, gather foods, and be alert for danger all at the same time.
But besides the glucose, doesn't the brain also need protein from which to compose new cells and neurotransmitters?
Yes, but the direct necessity is less strong:
Maintenance is important, but without fuel your car will not even get you to the mailbox.
Glucose will not cause you to retain water. When the blood-glucose level increases (within that narrow margin), glucose molecules are linked together, and no matter how many linked glucose molecules are combined, they will attract no more water than one single glucose molecule. When even more glucose is absorbed, the excessive glucose is deposited as glycogen in the liver and the muscles, or eventually as glycerol in adipose tissue. So, dietary glucose cannot make you retain more water, unless both too little dietary fat is consumed and your blood-glucose level is a little less strictly regulated.
The body has (besides alcohol) only two sources of energy at its disposal, fat-like molecules and sugar-like molecules. (redundant protein is converted in both) The sugars are a 'fast', but short-lasting source of energy. The fats are a 'slow' but long-lasting source of energy. Together they are perfectly complementary.
After you ate a meal containing both sugars and fat, some of the sugars will be absorbed first, making you feel energetic, and then you will also be utilizing fat which decreases the sugar-utilization rate and makes the energy last.
If however lots of sugars but not sufficient fat is absorbed, the blood-sugar level will steeply rise (which causes some of it to be stored as glycogen) and subsequently equally steeply drop. Such strong blood-sugar fluctuations can some people make temporarily retain a bit more water. To prevent temporary retaining too much water you should make sure to consume sufficient fat every time after you have consumed much sugars, which stabilizes blood-sugar level.
Unlike glucose, salt can neither be stored nor be chained up.
Excessive salt must be excreted in the urine. Fortunately, blood-salt levels are strictly regulated too. If you consume much salt all the time, the absorption rate is decreased and the excretion rate is increased. Salt, therefore, cannot cause lasting water retention, but before the body has succeeded in deporting this excess salt, it can temporarily cause your body to retain more water.
Excessive protein can easily cause water retention because blood-protein levels are not narrowly regulated and because damaged protein cannot be decomposed or deported easily or quickly.
Protein cannot be stored, so its only storage place is in the blood. If blood-protein level would be regulated strictly, we could never store much protein. And since we always need to have sufficient amino acids at our disposal to compose neurotransmitters, even when no food is available, blood-protein levels can fluctuate widely.
Normally the highest blood-glucose level is only 39% higher than the lowest level, [12] but that includes glucose molecules linked together. The highest sodium- and potassium level are 10, 30% higher than the lowest level. [13]
Amino acid (= protein) level fluctuations vary from 100 (alanine) up to 900% (cysteine). [12]
Conclusion:
Compared to salt and glucose, the protein levels of blood and lymph fluctuate much more. That is why the intake of hard-to-degrade protein can make the skin swell. Because this can cause both cellulite and acne, we will call protein from prepared foods "dirty protein".
Salt cannot cause lasting water retention, but the intake of salt can cause you to retain more water temporarily. Thus salt cannot cause cellulite - but can cause acne. (See Chapter 15)
In some of the people that are susceptible to acne, even consuming insufficient fat when consuming high-sugar foods can temporarily make them retain more water and thus cause acne.
8. Swollen Skin
The true skin is the layer below the outer skin; it contains 7 to 16 liter (1.8 to 4.4 gallons) of water. 80% of this water is available for localized swelling of the skin.
Substances with water-attracting properties can cause this water to accumulate in specific areas. Even a small amount of protein or salt can unbalance moisture distribution [14] so a small amount of extra protein or salt in the skin can make the skin swell locally.
When swollen your skin is heavier - which burdens connective tissue and will eventually cause your skin to become loose and droopy.
Blood-salt levels are strictly regulated.
If your salt intake is very regular, this salt intake will probably not cause water retention even if your salt consumption is high on a regular basis because then your body simply decreases salt-absorption rate and increases salt-excretion rate.
But the occasional consumption of extra salt will cause your skin to temporarily swell -as when you eat a whole bag of potato chips, even though your usual salt consumption is low.
Compared to other elements that attract water, the protein level can be elevated the most. Your skin can, therefore, easily contain too much protein when you are eating the wrong foods, causing your skin to swell. Since this protein is deported slowly from the skin, a regular intake of 'dirty' protein can easily cause water retention.
Excessive protein in the skin also makes your outer skin dryer.
This may seem contradictory to the above, but it is not.
9. Dry Skin
The true skin - the layer below the outer skin contains lymphatics but the outer skin does not. The true skin, therefore, is 'the final destination for the lymph-express'; redundant and damaged protein ends up in the true skin.
This excessive protein attracts water from the lymph, the blood, from cells close by, and from the outer skin. Too much protein in the true skin therefore dehydrates the outer skin.
The same is true of moisturizers that moisturize too actively (those containing chemicals that force the true skin to hold more moisture).
These 'miracle-see-your-wrinkles-disappear-in-one-night creams' contain substances with high water-attracting properties to make the face swell slightly. Thus the wrinkles will be less visible. Creams for dry skin function according the same principles. That is why women can get an even dryer skin by applying a cream 'for the dry skin' since these creams contain substances that cause accumulation of water in the true skin, attracting and drawing water from the outer skin.
They eventually make your skin sag and accelerate the aging process by causing dehydration of the outer skin.
If the outer skin cells dehydrate, these cells die sooner. Of course new cells take their places, but there is a fixed limit to how many times any cells in our body can multiply. Therefore, dehydration also accelerates aging of the skin.
The faster the outer skin cells have to regenerate, the more aging is accelerated and wrinkles prematurely appear. Just take a look at those people who forcefully maintain a tanned skin; they look so much older than they are. The same applies to people who scrub their skin too often, or who apply too harsh peelings.
You should never apply scrubs to the face, neck and dcollet. The skin is extremely sensitive here, and scrubs accelerate the aging process. Your skin is a sensitive organ. It is not dead leather, and you, therefore, should not treat it like dead leather by applying 'skincare' products with lots of 'promises' on the label. In general, the more skincare products 'promise', the more aggressive and / or too many different chemicals it contains, thereby suffocating your skin, triggering small inflammations and / or causing your skin to be itchy, scaly and burning. The sad part is that most women think it is because their skin is 'difficult' / over-sensitive, or that it is due to hormonal changes.
Many women have a dry and scaly skin due to the products they use without realizing it. Many products can cause your skin to swell, cause acne, or cause your skin to become over-sensitive. If you are having skin problems, skip all products for a while, and then start with the products that promise the least; you only need a gentle cream to keep the outer skin soft.
Skincare products should be used for maintenance only, and can never undo damage done by food.
When does my skin contain too much moisture?
- If your skin is swollen. This is not air, but water. If your skin is not swollen, it is thin. If it is swollen, it is thicker. This thicker skin is actually protective in the sense that your skin is not as easily bruised as the skin of someone from who does not retain as much water.
- If the outer skin is too dry. Take a good look at someone whose skin is swollen. You will see that the top layer of his/her skin is dry, grainy and / or scaly. Do not let their weight fool you. Even the skinniest women can retain water, which is most visible in the face, knees and ankles. Consuming little fat and sugars, and therefore too much protein causes water retention.
- If your pores are volcano-like shaped. The 'body of the volcano' is filled with excessive water, but the rims are pulled inwards due to a lack of moisture in the outer skin.
- If you have cellulite.
- If you have acne. In acne the dehydrative effect on the outer skin often remains unnoticed because the skin produces much sebum.
10. How to get rid of excessive moisture
In cellulite the subcutaneous fat cells are visible because they are extruded into the skin, due to the increased water-pressure in the true skin.
In acne, the sebum canals are pinched off due to the high water-pressure in the true skin, which leads to acne if also much tallow is produced.
To eliminate cellulite or acne, you need to eliminate the cause: the increased water pressure in the true skin. To decrease the water pressure in the true skin, we need to decrease the uptake of substances that attract water; to eliminate cellulite or acne, we have to prevent substances like salt and redundant protein from attracting too much water.
To do so:
A
Consume as little proteinaceous prepared food as possible. This means all frozen and/or heated-in-any-way meat; fish; soy; eggs; beans and grains; and cheese. Protein from prepared foods ('dirty' protein) causes water retention.
Don't worry about absorbing sufficient protein. Even fruits contain all the essential amino acids (protein-building blocks). Comparing minimal requirements for essential amino acids to fruit-amino acid contents, it appears that even if you ate only different fruits and some Brazil nuts, you would lack energy before you could possibly lack protein. .
Instead of meat, etc. you can consume sashimi or raw-fish sushi. If you cannot live without meat, choose the kind of meat that is lowest in protein, like high-fat bacon, but eat only a tiny little bit. If you cannot live without cheese, consume cream cheese (containing 7% protein maximally) as a munch-food item. Instead of grains you can use potato (2% protein) and cassava / tapioca (1%) products.
Due to the influence of heat, protein oxidizes and reacts upon carbohydrates to form Maillard reaction products. Less protein can be completely decomposed into amino acids due to the molecular damage, and therefore peptides are absorbed into the lymph and blood. These peptides largely end up in the skin - attracting excessive moisture.
B
Consume as little salt and spices as possible. If you want to spice up your foods, use fresh herbs like chives and basil, and garlic.
Consuming salt / spices does not make your skin swell lastingly, but incidentally consuming more salt / spices does make your skin swell temporarily. If you have acne you should be extremely careful about salt & spice consumption since acne is caused in a moment. Cellulite is not greatly influenced by salt consumption.
Be aware that the salt on potato chips and other salty snacks is not just salt, but also contains "taste-enhancers", which are generally protein concentrates, and will also cause water retention. (and increase appetite) Buy only plain chips (no extra 'taste'), or make your own chips.
C
Do not consume milk (or other dairy products, like cheese, yogurt (-ice) and desserts), because milk from every mammal contains substances that increase absorption of peptides. That is why dairy consumers in general have a grainy and swollen skin.
Milk from whatever mammal is mother's milk, meant for her suckling young, and not for (human) children or adults. Growth enhancers must be provided to guarantee optimal development of the suckling young so milk always contains Different growth hormones and growth factors. It also contains substances (like lactose and substance P [15] that increase the permeability of the intestinal cells, which help ensure the maximal uptake of these hormones.
D
Remain physically inactive for at least one and a half hours after having consumed a proteinaceous meal. Just don't do anything that would cause your heart to beat faster. Low energy activities are fine; like having a nice relaxed walk down the park, but hurrying to catch that cab is not. While having a fight with your mate is not OK, since it causes your heart to beat faster.
The digestive tract needs lots of oxygen and fatty acids from the blood for more complete breakdown of the consumed protein. If you are physically active your muscles (and the heart) also require generous amounts of oxygen and energy, thus depriving the digestive tract of the oxygen and energy necessary for complete division of food-proteins.
E
Eat some sashimi or other fresh raw animal food regularly, but no more than 50-60 grams (1 2 ounces) daily. Even a large adult man just needs about 50 g of fresh raw salmon daily to maintain muscle volume, besides the protein from the fruits, of course. You can have 50 grams fresh raw salmon, tuna or mackerel on one day, and 2 to 4 fresh raw egg yolks on the next day, for example. Try fresh raw egg yolk with avocado, in a fruit-shake, or as a topping over cooked rice, potatoes, etc. No egg white. When the average intake of protein is too high, the average level of protein in the skin will be relatively high too, causing your skin to retain more water.
F
Consume a handful of raw nuts (unshelled nuts, shelled by hand) and as much fruits and dried fruits as possible. Think pounds of fruits daily - 2 kg. (4.4 pounds) minimally, to up to 6 kg. (13.2 lbs.) for tall active men.
G
For every prepared food item you consume, you must drink some low-mineral water, like Volvic, Eldorado, Montcalm, Ayta or Ulubey, (especially low in sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium) to deport the excess water.
This may seem contradictory, but it is not. You can only deport the excess water by deporting the substances that hold the excess water. And because of their 'water-loving' properties, you can only deport them by the use of water.
But if the water you drink contains a high level of minerals, these minerals can make the body hold more water.
H
Make sure to consume something containing fat every time after you have consumed lots of sugars, to stabilize blood-sugar level. (See Chapter 7) This protects you against diabetes, and.
In some of the people that are susceptible to acne, too much fluctuating blood-glucose levels can cause acne, by temporarily making you retain more water.
To prevent the blood-sugar level from fluctuating too much, you should make a big bowl of salad every day, containing tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, chives and sufficient cold-pressed (extra virgin) olive oil for example, and take a few bites of it every time after you have eaten some fruits (or other high-sugar foods). Brazil nuts are also very effective. To prevent digestion problems; eat the fruits right before the salad, not the other way around.
I
Oral contraceptives dominate your natural hormone production; if they didn't, they could never prevent pregnancy.
Because sex hormones and moisture regulating hormones are closely related, the pill will usually cause water retention.
Every pharmacist knows that both androgens and estrogens make you retain more water. (that is why elevated levels of hormones can cause acne all by themselves)
Furthermore, oral contraceptive use elevates the cortisol level, increasing conversion of tryptophan into xanthurenic acid. [16] Though cortisol cleans up 'dirty' protein, it also destroys normal cells in your body, forming new incompletely decomposed protein, which then also attracts water.
Oral contraceptives can, however, also decrease androgen levels, thus decreasing sebum production and making your skin less susceptible to acne.
What really happens in your case depends on how your body copes with your particular oral contraceptive.
Because hormonal contraceptives by definition dominate your natural hormone production, any type of hormonal contraceptive can also cause breast-cancer. [17]
J
Constipation is another cause of excessive water retention because larger molecules that are not easily absorbed get a few more shots to get absorbed due to the prolonged stay in the intestines.
Beta-carbolines from proteinaceous prepared foods and opioid peptides from wheat and dairy products cause constipation. (See appendix A in the back of the book)
Do not use laxatives, for they impair bowel functioning, which in turn adversely affects the decomposition of dietary protein, and therefore increases the uptake of 'dirty' protein.
K
In some women the skin contains too much water due to sterilization or removal of the uterus, ovaries etc., causing an imbalance in the metabolism of the sex hormones. Sometimes then the only solution is taking supplementary hormones. But be aware that this can have severe 'side-effects' - like cancer.
Before you start taking supplementary hormones you should be off all drugs / medicines first, for many drugs increase water retention.
You should also have been on this diet for two months, so you can detect what problems remain after having corrected your diet.
Then you can decide whether you can live with this level of
disturbed hormonal fluctuations, or that you only need
supplementary hormones during one week each month for example.
The reason why you should adapt your diet first, is because prepared proteinaceous food and wheat and dairy products contain substances that can also impair hormone metabolism (see Part 4). Also contains soy high amounts of phyto-estrogens. Consuming soy can easily decrease your natural estrogen level.
Only after your body does not need to cope with these hormone metabolism-impairing chemicals from food and medicines anymore, you can truly see how big of a problem the sterilization or removal of the uterus, ovaries etc. really is to your skin (and your mood).
Dietary protein is partially damaged in the preparation process (cooking, freezing, etc.).
Protein molecules interact with dietary carbohydrates, forming new molecules. This process is called "the Maillard reaction".
When you cook an egg or fry potato slices, you can clearly see those molecular changes. The egg white turns white, and fried potato slices are crunchy and are locally browned.
To explain the exact cause of cellulite and acne, we have to tell you a bit more about protein and we will use potato protein as an example:
Potato protein is comprised of 18 different amino acids, mostly linked in long protein-chains. Methionine is one such an (essential) amino acid. On the average, 100 grams / 3 ounces of raw potato contains 30 mg. of methionine. But when potato slices or sticks are fried, virtually all this methionine is destroyed/chemically changed.
[1] This loss is partly due to the Maillard reaction and partly because of simple oxidation. [2] A large part of this lost methionine (38 to 88%) [3]) was originally linked to other amino acids.
What does this mean?
Nothing until this protein is consumed..
4. Protein Digestion
Each protein in plants and animals consists of up to 18 different amino acids linked to each other - up to thousands per protein in total. The body needs such amino acids for the construction of new cells, enzymes and neurotransmitters. The body can compose some of the required amino acids, but others have to be obtained from dietary protein. Digestive enzymes break this dietary protein down into amino acids. These digestive enzymes are specialists: each can cut only one or a few specific amino acids from other specific amino acids.
Some examples: Pepsin separates phenylalanine and tyrosine from other amino acids, and splits off leucine and glutamic acid residues. Trypsin splits off arginine and lysine at the carboxyl-end from other amino acids. Chymotrypsin splits off tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine at the carboxyl-end from other amino acids. Papain separates lysine from leucine, arginine or glycine.
In the intestinal mucosa, carboxypeptidase splits off amino acids from one end, and aminopeptidase does so from the other end of the peptides.
But these enzymes can do their job only if the targeted part of the protein exactly matches the enzyme's job description. If heat has changed the molecular structure of one of the amino acids that an enzyme must separate, these linked amino acids do not match the enzyme's target and they will remain unseparated.
Imagine a protein like a chain of differently colored balls (amino acids). Each enzyme is designed to separate one (or a few at the most) specific combination(s) of amino acids.
For example: "the yellow-red enzyme" can only separate the yellow balls from the red ones, but if a yellow ball has a blue stain, this yellow ball is not recognized as an entirely yellow ball anymore, and the specific enzyme cannot separate this ball from other balls.
Scientific research has shown that a substantial percentage of the amino acids in ingested food remain unseparated. [4] Since we all eat prepared foods, this is no surprise; molecular structure of many amino acids is damaged due to the preparation process.
It has been known for over 25 years that even complete protein-molecules can be absorbed from the intestine. [5] The lymph absorbs peptides. Most dieticians / nutritionists think that all dietary protein is completely broken down into amino acids. If they were correct, Hartnup Disease patients could never survive. The intestinal mucosa of children suffering from Hartnup-disease cannot absorb / transport free tryptophan, which is an essential amino acid. No human being can live without sufficient tryptophan, but these children grow up relatively normal. Apparently they absorb sufficient linked amino acids containing tryptophan, which is liberated only after the peptide has been absorbed into the blood or lymph.
Okay, so after digestion many partially damaged amino acids are still linked to other amino acids. What happens next?
Free amino acids are absorbed into the blood and transported to all our organs where they can be immediately utilized for (re)construction purposes.
But the blood cannot absorb larger molecules like peptides (amino acids still linked to each other) very well. Therefore there is an alternative transport system: the lymph-system. Lymph is like blood but without the red blood cells. Lymph transports protein and other nutrients just as blood does, but lymph is transported at a much lower speed than blood.
Lymphatics are especially designed to absorb these larger
molecules (like peptides). [6] This prevents nutrients from being lost due to incomplete digestion.
This function of the lymph is important because even raw food is not always completely digested.
To digest the food that is consumed, the digestive tract needs to be supplied with lots of fatty acids (for energy) and oxygen by the blood. And there is also more blood required to transport the absorbed nutrients. But when we are physically active, more blood is directed towards muscles, and less remains for the intestines.
Digestion can therefore not be complete if there is physical action immediately after food consumption. That is why it is not healthy to walk and eat, or eat and then swim (or any other physical activity) directly after eating. If digestion is incomplete more peptides remain.
These peptides are only gradually decomposed by enzymes in the lymph, blood and different organs. The eventually free amino acids can then be utilized for (re)construction purposes.
Okay, but where does cellulite / acne kick in?
5. Protein in the Skin
Every day we absorb lots of protein - generally at least 100 grams / 3 ounces.
Part of this absorbed protein consists of Maillard-reaction products and partially oxidized peptides.
The 'lymph-express' takes up dietary protein from the digestive tract and the liver, and delivers it to all the different organs. Organs can use the individual amino acids, but not the Maillard-reaction products and partially oxidized peptides. And since the skin is 'the final destination for the lymph-express', the protein that is not used by other organs (like the Maillard reaction products and peptides) ends up in the skin.
Why?
The 'lymph-express empties its cargo in the skin' to return to the digestive tract and the liver and pick up new 'cargo'. If it did not do so, a great deal of the valuable nutrients would not be absorbed and utilized.
But why is this redundant protein (incl. Maillard reaction products and peptides) not broken down instead of transported to the skin?
All protein can be broken down and utilized for energy. If blood-sugar level is low, free amino acids can be easily converted into available energy for example. But the breakdown of redundant protein (the larger molecules) is a very delicate process.
The reason: all perfectly functioning cells contain some protein. Old and damaged cells must be decomposed to be replaced by new ones, but the breakdown of perfectly functioning cells must be avoided at all times. Decomposition of protein, therefore, has to be strictly controlled.
That is why it takes place during sleep, in particular.
6. Decomposition of Redundant Protein
Why does redundant protein have to be reabsorbed from the skin?
It must be reabsorbed to prevent accumulation in the skin because the skin, unlike other organs (like muscles), does not contain enzymes that can decompose protein. [7]
But what triggers the body to reabsorb protein from the skin?
We all have an 'inner clock'. At about 6:00 a.m. the lymph starts re-absorbing protein from the skin. Lymphatics transport this protein to the liver, where most of it is broken down between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m.
This protein is split into individual amino acids, either for the composition of new protein or to be converted into energy.
Between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m. ACTH (AdrenoCorticoTropic Hormone) is secreted, [8] increasing cortisol secretion.
Cortisol stimulates decomposition and conversion of redundant protein into available energy [9], and the transportation of redundant protein to the liver. [10]
Transporting protein too large to be absorbed into the blood is the main function of the lymph system. [11] Unfortunately, lymph runs much slower than blood, and it therefore also takes longer to transport 'dirty' protein from the skin to the liver.
ACTH and cortisol are not just there to clean up 'dirty' protein. If you are under a lot of stress, secretion of ACTH and cortisol is increased to convert body-protein (like muscle-protein) into available energy to be able to fight or flight.
And what if you work night shifts?
Your body still starts transporting and decomposing protein, but with one difference: when you are physically active during the night, a larger percentage of these amino acids are transformed into energy instead of being utilized for re/construction purposes. That is why it is much harder to maintain muscle power when working night shifts, and that is why you need more time to recover from diseases and injuries when working night shifts.
Do you remember those times when you kept on partying all night long? Didn't you suddenly feel lots of energy again once you had been up long enough? And didn't your skin look great in the morning?
That was because all the re-absorbed protein from the skin was immediately converted into available energy, speeding up the cleaning process.
This, however, also inhibits maintenance of body cells, including skin cells, which explains why those who work at night generally don't look very healthy when seen in broad daylight.
In nature those animals that utilize their food most completely and efficiently have the best chance to survive. That's why meat-eating animals like lions sleep so much; it takes lots of time to completely process all that protein. Vegetarian animals like elephants only sleep three to four hours a day. (however, herbivores that eat plants containing much toxins, like koala bears, need much sleep too)
The more protein that is consumed, the more time it takes to deport redundant protein from the skin.
How does protein in the skin relate to cellulite and acne?
7. Protein and Water
Cellulite and acne (in combination with other factors) are both caused by excessive water retention in the skin, which will be explained later.
Fat does not attract water, but sugars, salt and protein do. So you might expect that consuming much sugar, as well as much salt and protein could cause excessive water retention in the skin. But that is not true;
All dietary sugars are (mostly) converted into glucose.
Glucose, however, cannot cause excessive water-retention. The reason is that glucose is the main energy source for the brain. When the blood-glucose level is too low, brain functions shut down. And the blood-glucose level is, therefore, very strictly regulated.
Since glucose is essential to the brain, maintaining a low-carb diet can cause forgetfulness, impatience, and/or a reduced ability to cope with stress (and depressions). Some consider this to be normal for women, but that is nonsense; by nature women are very capable in dealing with stress since they have always had to look after the kids, gather foods, and be alert for danger all at the same time.
But besides the glucose, doesn't the brain also need protein from which to compose new cells and neurotransmitters?
Yes, but the direct necessity is less strong:
Maintenance is important, but without fuel your car will not even get you to the mailbox.
Glucose will not cause you to retain water. When the blood-glucose level increases (within that narrow margin), glucose molecules are linked together, and no matter how many linked glucose molecules are combined, they will attract no more water than one single glucose molecule. When even more glucose is absorbed, the excessive glucose is deposited as glycogen in the liver and the muscles, or eventually as glycerol in adipose tissue. So, dietary glucose cannot make you retain more water, unless both too little dietary fat is consumed and your blood-glucose level is a little less strictly regulated.
The body has (besides alcohol) only two sources of energy at its disposal, fat-like molecules and sugar-like molecules. (redundant protein is converted in both) The sugars are a 'fast', but short-lasting source of energy. The fats are a 'slow' but long-lasting source of energy. Together they are perfectly complementary.
After you ate a meal containing both sugars and fat, some of the sugars will be absorbed first, making you feel energetic, and then you will also be utilizing fat which decreases the sugar-utilization rate and makes the energy last.
If however lots of sugars but not sufficient fat is absorbed, the blood-sugar level will steeply rise (which causes some of it to be stored as glycogen) and subsequently equally steeply drop. Such strong blood-sugar fluctuations can some people make temporarily retain a bit more water. To prevent temporary retaining too much water you should make sure to consume sufficient fat every time after you have consumed much sugars, which stabilizes blood-sugar level.
Unlike glucose, salt can neither be stored nor be chained up.
Excessive salt must be excreted in the urine. Fortunately, blood-salt levels are strictly regulated too. If you consume much salt all the time, the absorption rate is decreased and the excretion rate is increased. Salt, therefore, cannot cause lasting water retention, but before the body has succeeded in deporting this excess salt, it can temporarily cause your body to retain more water.
Excessive protein can easily cause water retention because blood-protein levels are not narrowly regulated and because damaged protein cannot be decomposed or deported easily or quickly.
Protein cannot be stored, so its only storage place is in the blood. If blood-protein level would be regulated strictly, we could never store much protein. And since we always need to have sufficient amino acids at our disposal to compose neurotransmitters, even when no food is available, blood-protein levels can fluctuate widely.
Normally the highest blood-glucose level is only 39% higher than the lowest level, [12] but that includes glucose molecules linked together. The highest sodium- and potassium level are 10, 30% higher than the lowest level. [13]
Amino acid (= protein) level fluctuations vary from 100 (alanine) up to 900% (cysteine). [12]
Conclusion:
Compared to salt and glucose, the protein levels of blood and lymph fluctuate much more. That is why the intake of hard-to-degrade protein can make the skin swell. Because this can cause both cellulite and acne, we will call protein from prepared foods "dirty protein".
Salt cannot cause lasting water retention, but the intake of salt can cause you to retain more water temporarily. Thus salt cannot cause cellulite - but can cause acne. (See Chapter 15)
In some of the people that are susceptible to acne, even consuming insufficient fat when consuming high-sugar foods can temporarily make them retain more water and thus cause acne.
8. Swollen Skin
The true skin is the layer below the outer skin; it contains 7 to 16 liter (1.8 to 4.4 gallons) of water. 80% of this water is available for localized swelling of the skin.
Substances with water-attracting properties can cause this water to accumulate in specific areas. Even a small amount of protein or salt can unbalance moisture distribution [14] so a small amount of extra protein or salt in the skin can make the skin swell locally.
When swollen your skin is heavier - which burdens connective tissue and will eventually cause your skin to become loose and droopy.
Blood-salt levels are strictly regulated.
If your salt intake is very regular, this salt intake will probably not cause water retention even if your salt consumption is high on a regular basis because then your body simply decreases salt-absorption rate and increases salt-excretion rate.
But the occasional consumption of extra salt will cause your skin to temporarily swell -as when you eat a whole bag of potato chips, even though your usual salt consumption is low.
Compared to other elements that attract water, the protein level can be elevated the most. Your skin can, therefore, easily contain too much protein when you are eating the wrong foods, causing your skin to swell. Since this protein is deported slowly from the skin, a regular intake of 'dirty' protein can easily cause water retention.
Excessive protein in the skin also makes your outer skin dryer.
This may seem contradictory to the above, but it is not.
9. Dry Skin
The true skin - the layer below the outer skin contains lymphatics but the outer skin does not. The true skin, therefore, is 'the final destination for the lymph-express'; redundant and damaged protein ends up in the true skin.
This excessive protein attracts water from the lymph, the blood, from cells close by, and from the outer skin. Too much protein in the true skin therefore dehydrates the outer skin.
The same is true of moisturizers that moisturize too actively (those containing chemicals that force the true skin to hold more moisture).
These 'miracle-see-your-wrinkles-disappear-in-one-night creams' contain substances with high water-attracting properties to make the face swell slightly. Thus the wrinkles will be less visible. Creams for dry skin function according the same principles. That is why women can get an even dryer skin by applying a cream 'for the dry skin' since these creams contain substances that cause accumulation of water in the true skin, attracting and drawing water from the outer skin.
They eventually make your skin sag and accelerate the aging process by causing dehydration of the outer skin.
If the outer skin cells dehydrate, these cells die sooner. Of course new cells take their places, but there is a fixed limit to how many times any cells in our body can multiply. Therefore, dehydration also accelerates aging of the skin.
The faster the outer skin cells have to regenerate, the more aging is accelerated and wrinkles prematurely appear. Just take a look at those people who forcefully maintain a tanned skin; they look so much older than they are. The same applies to people who scrub their skin too often, or who apply too harsh peelings.
You should never apply scrubs to the face, neck and dcollet. The skin is extremely sensitive here, and scrubs accelerate the aging process. Your skin is a sensitive organ. It is not dead leather, and you, therefore, should not treat it like dead leather by applying 'skincare' products with lots of 'promises' on the label. In general, the more skincare products 'promise', the more aggressive and / or too many different chemicals it contains, thereby suffocating your skin, triggering small inflammations and / or causing your skin to be itchy, scaly and burning. The sad part is that most women think it is because their skin is 'difficult' / over-sensitive, or that it is due to hormonal changes.
Many women have a dry and scaly skin due to the products they use without realizing it. Many products can cause your skin to swell, cause acne, or cause your skin to become over-sensitive. If you are having skin problems, skip all products for a while, and then start with the products that promise the least; you only need a gentle cream to keep the outer skin soft.
Skincare products should be used for maintenance only, and can never undo damage done by food.
When does my skin contain too much moisture?
- If your skin is swollen. This is not air, but water. If your skin is not swollen, it is thin. If it is swollen, it is thicker. This thicker skin is actually protective in the sense that your skin is not as easily bruised as the skin of someone from who does not retain as much water.
- If the outer skin is too dry. Take a good look at someone whose skin is swollen. You will see that the top layer of his/her skin is dry, grainy and / or scaly. Do not let their weight fool you. Even the skinniest women can retain water, which is most visible in the face, knees and ankles. Consuming little fat and sugars, and therefore too much protein causes water retention.
- If your pores are volcano-like shaped. The 'body of the volcano' is filled with excessive water, but the rims are pulled inwards due to a lack of moisture in the outer skin.
- If you have cellulite.
- If you have acne. In acne the dehydrative effect on the outer skin often remains unnoticed because the skin produces much sebum.
10. How to get rid of excessive moisture
In cellulite the subcutaneous fat cells are visible because they are extruded into the skin, due to the increased water-pressure in the true skin.
In acne, the sebum canals are pinched off due to the high water-pressure in the true skin, which leads to acne if also much tallow is produced.
To eliminate cellulite or acne, you need to eliminate the cause: the increased water pressure in the true skin. To decrease the water pressure in the true skin, we need to decrease the uptake of substances that attract water; to eliminate cellulite or acne, we have to prevent substances like salt and redundant protein from attracting too much water.
To do so:
A
Consume as little proteinaceous prepared food as possible. This means all frozen and/or heated-in-any-way meat; fish; soy; eggs; beans and grains; and cheese. Protein from prepared foods ('dirty' protein) causes water retention.
Don't worry about absorbing sufficient protein. Even fruits contain all the essential amino acids (protein-building blocks). Comparing minimal requirements for essential amino acids to fruit-amino acid contents, it appears that even if you ate only different fruits and some Brazil nuts, you would lack energy before you could possibly lack protein. .
Instead of meat, etc. you can consume sashimi or raw-fish sushi. If you cannot live without meat, choose the kind of meat that is lowest in protein, like high-fat bacon, but eat only a tiny little bit. If you cannot live without cheese, consume cream cheese (containing 7% protein maximally) as a munch-food item. Instead of grains you can use potato (2% protein) and cassava / tapioca (1%) products.
Due to the influence of heat, protein oxidizes and reacts upon carbohydrates to form Maillard reaction products. Less protein can be completely decomposed into amino acids due to the molecular damage, and therefore peptides are absorbed into the lymph and blood. These peptides largely end up in the skin - attracting excessive moisture.
B
Consume as little salt and spices as possible. If you want to spice up your foods, use fresh herbs like chives and basil, and garlic.
Consuming salt / spices does not make your skin swell lastingly, but incidentally consuming more salt / spices does make your skin swell temporarily. If you have acne you should be extremely careful about salt & spice consumption since acne is caused in a moment. Cellulite is not greatly influenced by salt consumption.
Be aware that the salt on potato chips and other salty snacks is not just salt, but also contains "taste-enhancers", which are generally protein concentrates, and will also cause water retention. (and increase appetite) Buy only plain chips (no extra 'taste'), or make your own chips.
C
Do not consume milk (or other dairy products, like cheese, yogurt (-ice) and desserts), because milk from every mammal contains substances that increase absorption of peptides. That is why dairy consumers in general have a grainy and swollen skin.
Milk from whatever mammal is mother's milk, meant for her suckling young, and not for (human) children or adults. Growth enhancers must be provided to guarantee optimal development of the suckling young so milk always contains Different growth hormones and growth factors. It also contains substances (like lactose and substance P [15] that increase the permeability of the intestinal cells, which help ensure the maximal uptake of these hormones.
D
Remain physically inactive for at least one and a half hours after having consumed a proteinaceous meal. Just don't do anything that would cause your heart to beat faster. Low energy activities are fine; like having a nice relaxed walk down the park, but hurrying to catch that cab is not. While having a fight with your mate is not OK, since it causes your heart to beat faster.
The digestive tract needs lots of oxygen and fatty acids from the blood for more complete breakdown of the consumed protein. If you are physically active your muscles (and the heart) also require generous amounts of oxygen and energy, thus depriving the digestive tract of the oxygen and energy necessary for complete division of food-proteins.
E
Eat some sashimi or other fresh raw animal food regularly, but no more than 50-60 grams (1 2 ounces) daily. Even a large adult man just needs about 50 g of fresh raw salmon daily to maintain muscle volume, besides the protein from the fruits, of course. You can have 50 grams fresh raw salmon, tuna or mackerel on one day, and 2 to 4 fresh raw egg yolks on the next day, for example. Try fresh raw egg yolk with avocado, in a fruit-shake, or as a topping over cooked rice, potatoes, etc. No egg white. When the average intake of protein is too high, the average level of protein in the skin will be relatively high too, causing your skin to retain more water.
F
Consume a handful of raw nuts (unshelled nuts, shelled by hand) and as much fruits and dried fruits as possible. Think pounds of fruits daily - 2 kg. (4.4 pounds) minimally, to up to 6 kg. (13.2 lbs.) for tall active men.
G
For every prepared food item you consume, you must drink some low-mineral water, like Volvic, Eldorado, Montcalm, Ayta or Ulubey, (especially low in sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium) to deport the excess water.
This may seem contradictory, but it is not. You can only deport the excess water by deporting the substances that hold the excess water. And because of their 'water-loving' properties, you can only deport them by the use of water.
But if the water you drink contains a high level of minerals, these minerals can make the body hold more water.
H
Make sure to consume something containing fat every time after you have consumed lots of sugars, to stabilize blood-sugar level. (See Chapter 7) This protects you against diabetes, and.
In some of the people that are susceptible to acne, too much fluctuating blood-glucose levels can cause acne, by temporarily making you retain more water.
To prevent the blood-sugar level from fluctuating too much, you should make a big bowl of salad every day, containing tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, chives and sufficient cold-pressed (extra virgin) olive oil for example, and take a few bites of it every time after you have eaten some fruits (or other high-sugar foods). Brazil nuts are also very effective. To prevent digestion problems; eat the fruits right before the salad, not the other way around.
I
Oral contraceptives dominate your natural hormone production; if they didn't, they could never prevent pregnancy.
Because sex hormones and moisture regulating hormones are closely related, the pill will usually cause water retention.
Every pharmacist knows that both androgens and estrogens make you retain more water. (that is why elevated levels of hormones can cause acne all by themselves)
Furthermore, oral contraceptive use elevates the cortisol level, increasing conversion of tryptophan into xanthurenic acid. [16] Though cortisol cleans up 'dirty' protein, it also destroys normal cells in your body, forming new incompletely decomposed protein, which then also attracts water.
Oral contraceptives can, however, also decrease androgen levels, thus decreasing sebum production and making your skin less susceptible to acne.
What really happens in your case depends on how your body copes with your particular oral contraceptive.
Because hormonal contraceptives by definition dominate your natural hormone production, any type of hormonal contraceptive can also cause breast-cancer. [17]
J
Constipation is another cause of excessive water retention because larger molecules that are not easily absorbed get a few more shots to get absorbed due to the prolonged stay in the intestines.
Beta-carbolines from proteinaceous prepared foods and opioid peptides from wheat and dairy products cause constipation. (See appendix A in the back of the book)
Do not use laxatives, for they impair bowel functioning, which in turn adversely affects the decomposition of dietary protein, and therefore increases the uptake of 'dirty' protein.
K
In some women the skin contains too much water due to sterilization or removal of the uterus, ovaries etc., causing an imbalance in the metabolism of the sex hormones. Sometimes then the only solution is taking supplementary hormones. But be aware that this can have severe 'side-effects' - like cancer.
Before you start taking supplementary hormones you should be off all drugs / medicines first, for many drugs increase water retention.
You should also have been on this diet for two months, so you can detect what problems remain after having corrected your diet.
Then you can decide whether you can live with this level of
disturbed hormonal fluctuations, or that you only need
supplementary hormones during one week each month for example.
The reason why you should adapt your diet first, is because prepared proteinaceous food and wheat and dairy products contain substances that can also impair hormone metabolism (see Part 4). Also contains soy high amounts of phyto-estrogens. Consuming soy can easily decrease your natural estrogen level.
Only after your body does not need to cope with these hormone metabolism-impairing chemicals from food and medicines anymore, you can truly see how big of a problem the sterilization or removal of the uterus, ovaries etc. really is to your skin (and your mood).
