James went on to become a leading authority on gourmet raw meals, teaching how to eat this way in both Britain and America. Now James explains that he takes a more balanced approach to food that has not only kept his skin clear but helped him to lose weight and get fitter and lose the “Dad bod.” He shared his story and expert tips with The Beet.

Raw food and juices cleared my acne in seven days

James’ first job aged 16 was at Burger King, and while he enjoyed the perks of the job like free food, he developed a bad case of acne. By his twenties, he hadn’t grown out of it (as despite trying everything – Accutane, skin creams, antibiotics –and nothing would clear it) but his skin became itchy, dry, and red.

Acne affected his confidence and social life, he explains, ”I was very self-conscious of it at that age, and would just not go out,” adding that he also avoided talking to anyone about it.

If bad nutrition had caused acne, perhaps good nutrition could help fix it, he thought. After saving up his salary from a grocery store job, he managed to afford a 2-week retreat in Thailand that involved detoxing with raw food, fiber-filled juices, and coffee enemas. After seven days, he was amazed to find that his acne cleared up (it improved within three to four days) and James realized the power of food. He went on to repeat this three more times and started taking raw food classes, which started his journey to becoming The Raw Chef.

How can raw food heal acne?

James believes that a key reason raw food cleared up his acne is due to the connection between the liver and the skin, ”everybody’s different but I would say if there is commonality it’s to do with the liver”

Even now, he uses herbals such as milk thistle, maca, and Reishi mushrooms to support his liver and skin health.

Plant foods support the liver because they contain the vitamins, minerals, and other plant compounds that your liver needs to process toxins safely and effectively. Additionally, plant foods contain fiber, which nourishes beneficial bacteria in the gut and keeps your digestive system moving. When your body excretes waste it helps reduce toxins from the food we eat.

An extra benefit of eating raw food is that it maintains vitamins, antioxidants, and enzymes intact that usually get destroyed by cooking.

Tips and pitfalls when starting a raw food diet

The main pitfall that James sees when people start a raw food diet is that they believe they have to be 100 percent raw from day one, which may suit people who are excited by a complete kitchen overhaul – and go out and purchase a dehydrator, a blender, a sprouter, and new ingredients – but many people benefit from doing it more gradually.

”If you don’t know how to make raw food, it is a new skill, it’s not just like ‘I’m going to cook but without heat.’ It’s a completely new thing and you’ve got to give yourself time to learn”, he says.

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Add in rather than take away

James tells people that rather than just take everything out of your diet all at once, add raw ingredients, meals, and spreads into your repertoire. “Learn how to make fermented sour cream, for example, or to make one dish.”

At first, he ate a steady diet of kale salads as they were satisfying and easy to make, ”if you can shop for and learn to make three dishes without a recipe, all from memory, that’s a really good start,” he explains. However, if you’re having trouble digesting an ingredient such as raw kale (which makes some people feel bloated), lightly steam it. “Listen to your body and do what you need to do,” he advises. ”I got arrested by the raw food police when I gave an option to steam kale in a recipe. Everyone attacked me for not being a proper raw food chef” he says, ”but I like to inject a bit of real life into what I do.” Now he publishes a recipe of the week to help people add more ideas to their repertoire.

How a whole foods diet and exercise helped me get in shape

After 15 years of following a raw food diet, James realized his body needed something else and he started eating different kinds of foods, not all of them good. “By 2018 I’d cultivated early signs of a ”Dad bod.” He had heard the phrase ”eat like an adult” on a podcast, referring to not avoiding food groups and eating a balanced diet, and he started a website,  eatlikeanadult.com, to help people cook whole foods in a healthy way.

At the same time, James decided to get back in shape and embarked on a four-month body transformation with a personal trainer, eating a wide variety of whole foods (not strictly plant-based) and working out with weights three times a week. He shares his before and after pics on his website.

Food choices are personal and should not be judgmental

James believes in a non-judgmental stance about personal dietary choices and food, and he says he does not believe in demonizing certain foods or diets. He sees people going from one extreme diet to another, blaming themselves when their approach isn’t working – when really they should be listening to their bodies and do what’s right for them. ”We’re all so different, that often a prescribed diet can take us away from creating what would truly benefit us: A personalized diet based on whole foods and home cooking” he says.

People who’ve tried Russell’s raw food courses have experienced life-changing health benefits such as increased energy, and they credit the change to helping them take up running and having the stamina to play with their grandchildren. Raw food has helped some people experience less brain fog, and find relief from constipation, or achieve clear skin. In Russell’s experience, eating raw food feels “light, nourishing, and cleansing.”

”As long as you don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater, these are [raw food] skills that will last you for life” he says. James continues to teach Raw Chef online cooking classes, free courses, and offer recipes.

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Bottom Line: For a natural approach to treating acne, try a raw food diet.

Diet is rarely offered as a treatment for acne, even though 50 million Americans suffer from acne each year, and nearly 85 percent of teenagers are affected by acne at some point, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Acne can result in permanent scarring, poor self-image, depression, and anxiety. Doctors treat acne with topical treatments, antibiotics, and hormonal therapies.

The AAD doesn’t recommend any specific dietary changes but says there is emerging evidence that high glycemic index diets and dairy may play a part. There is very little research on the influence of diet on acne compared to the amount invested in research into drug treatment. However, some drugs to treat acne have been linked to depression and suicide.

Natural approaches such as dietary changes are worth trying for someone who is suffering the physical and psychological effects of acne.

The post Raw Food Cured His Acne, but Eating Whole Food Got Him In Shape appeared first on The Beet.

In an effort to save her health, she adopted a whole-foods, plant-based diet full of nutritious fruits and vegetables. After making the switch to eating plant-based, her acne, pain, IBS symptoms, and low mood all went away. She lost over 15 pounds, developed long-lasting energy, and overall felt much better.

After experiencing her own health journey, Dr. Mondala is now on a mission to inspire others to adopt lifestyle changes for improved health and wellbeing. She is a family and lifestyle medicine physician at Dr. Lifestyle clinic, which she runs with her husband, Dr. Micah Yu, who is an integrative rheumatologist.

On a daily basis, she regularly counsels individuals on long-term lifestyle interventions–such as adopting a plant-based diet–to keep them healthy, out of the hospital, and less dependent on medications. In an exclusive interview with The Beet, Dr. Mondala talks about her health journey, the power of food as medicine in transforming her health, and what she did to make the switch to healthy eating. Let her words inspire you to eat more plants–to heal your body from the inside out!

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The Beet: What made you decide to go plant-based?

Dr. Melissa Mondala: I made the switch to a plant-based diet during my medical training at Loma Linda University–where I saw my vegetarian patients and colleagues thrive on a Blue Zone diet. I consumed a pescatarian-heavy diet through my teens and 20s with some appreciation for vegetables, but truly I didn’t make the commitment to go plant-based till I saw the science and healing work before my own eyes in 2017.

I was raised on a standard Filipino diet, where I used to eat roasted pork, fried chicken, beef, steak, and heavy seafood often. Throughout my high school years, I was an active cheerleader who loved to have eating competitions with the football and basketball players. I saw myself as strong and I took pride in being able to digest large amounts of food–no matter how fatty, spicy, or salty. Little did I know that the food would inflame my body.

During my teenage years, I struggled with acne and I often wondered why my gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was out of control despite trying over-the-counter medications. Moreover, my eating patterns did not change. In fact, while I was in medical school, I adopted the standard American diet, where I ate meat lover pizzas, barbecued meats, and hot dogs. At that point, I noticed my mood, focus, performance, and gut began to tremendously suffer. I experienced frequent diarrhea, bloating, abdominal cramps after eating junk food. Moreover, my acne worsened and I received a new–Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). My gut distress deeply affected my mental health, as I found myself more anxious and depressed at the time.

TB: When did you decide to change your diet and lifestyle? What was the turning point?

Dr. Mondala: After a year of experiencing those symptoms, I decided to change my diet and lifestyle in an effort to feel better. I started to exercise regularly and train for five and 10K races. By implementing exercise, cutting out processed foods, and managing my stress, about 50 percent of my IBS symptoms went away. However, when I went total whole food plant-based, I gained the best long-lasting benefits. My acne, GERD, and IBS healed completely for the first time. Due to my diet, I now have amazing energy throughout the day, laser focus, and an upbeat mood.

TB: How did you change your lifestyle? What were some of the steps and strategies you took?

Dr. Mondala: I first educated myself on a whole-food, plant-based diet. I read scientific articles and How Not to Die by Dr. Michael Gregor, in addition to watching the What the Health? film. It was a mind and heart shift – because I didn’t want to suffer from IBS all my life and as a physician, I believed this was a better solution compared to using medications, which is like a temporary band-aid fix.

I also began to read labels and look for the salt, sugar, and fiber content in food items at the supermarket. I swapped a lot of unhealthy items in my pantry and fridge with new spices, herbs, vegetables, condiments, beans, lentils, and whole grains. I picked up simple, beginner plant-based recipe books at the bookstore and searched for online recipes. I also attended some vegan cooking classes.

I gained more confidence with five-ingredient recipes, such as Roasted Brussel Sprouts, while I was teaching myself how to cook differently. I found myself enjoying new flavors while still keeping my traditional Filipino style of cooking.

TB: What did you find most challenging about this transition?

Dr. Mondala: I initially found it challenging to order at restaurants and eat during social occasions. However, I found it helpful when I looked at menus ahead of time and asked the waiter about plant-based options. I also found it helpful to eat ahead of time or bring my own plant-based meals when attending family parties.

TB: How do you eat now?

Dr. Mondala: I eat plant-based foods that are minimally processed. During busy mornings, I like to have berries and steel-cut oats for breakfast. On weekends when I have a bit more time to cook, I like to start the day with a tofu scramble. I still love enjoying themed meal days such as Taco Tuesdays with options like walnut tofu meat. My staples are roasted vegetables in Buddha bowls with quinoa and sweet potatoes.

TB: Did your transformative health journey inspire you to pursue training in lifestyle medicine?

Dr. Mondala: My health journey along with my husband’s disease made me search for the root causes of chronic disease. It frustrated me to see people getting sicker and sicker based on dietary factors, which are highly interlinked to health. I didn’t want to see my patients become like my grandfather, who I never met due to uncontrolled diabetes, which eventually led to gangrenous limb amputation and early death.

I started to embrace plant-based nutrition, routine exercise, restorative sleep, emotional wellbeing, and the avoidance of tobacco in the treatments I prescribed for patients. I ultimately pursued my board certification in lifestyle medicine through an opportunity with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and completed Loma Linda University’s Lifestyle Medicine Fellowship.

TB: Tell us a little bit about what you do on a daily basis to help patients achieve their health goals through nutrition and lifestyle.

Dr. Mondala: As a family and lifestyle medicine physician, I typically help patients minimize medications through lifestyle interventions. I often recommend an active plant-based lifestyle as it reduces the risk or symptoms of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, thyroid disease, acne, and allergies. I particularly love helping people overcome IBS, GERD, & other digestive issues!

TB: What is the biggest piece of advice you give your patients every day regarding adopting a healthy diet?

Dr. Mondala: Be consistent, be mindful, and be patient. Your future self will thank you!

For more great content like this, and ways to incorporate a healthy, plant-based diet into your life, check out The Beet’s Health and Nutrition articles.

The post This Doctor Healed Her Acne and IBS With a Plant-Based Diet. Here’s How appeared first on The Beet.