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10 Dirty Little Secrets about Body Fat By Nicholas Perricone, MD, FACN, CNS There are many reasons to embrace Paul McCartney’s suggestion for “No-meat Mondays/giving up meat one day a week.” In fact, unless you are eating 100% grass-fed meat, I recommend cutting back on overall meat intake. This is not just environmentally sound, it [...]

The Perricone Anti-Inflammatory Weight Loss Diet nutrients work in a special way to enhance loss of body fat, preserve muscle mass and regulate levels of blood sugar and insulin. They will also promote beautiful, healthy, youthful-looking skin. Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) Alpha lipoic acid, often referred to as ‘the universal antioxidant,” is a potent antioxidant [...]

Pro-Inflammatory foods (sugar and starches) Foods can be pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory. Avoid pro-inflammatory foods—these will promote wrinkles, a host of diseases, accelerate aging and cause the storage of body fat.  Eating pro-inflammatory foods such as sugary and starchy foods shows up on the skin as a loss of radiance, dark circles under the eyes, the [...]

Hidden Sugars – Sugar comes in many forms. As you might assume, when we eat sugar it raises our blood sugar, and chronically high levels of sugar in the blood lead to the creation of the sugar bonds known as AGEs. Therefore it is very important to learn to recognize that there are many forms [...]

Here is a list of 10 Superfood groups to support a healthy weight loss and management program. Super Food Groups Each group is followed by a list of its primary functions in fighting weight gain, and the “STAR” and “Runners Up” foods in it. Rich Cold-Water Fish: Anti-inflammatory Omega-3 Fats TOP CHOICE:  Wild Alaskan Salmon [...]

Do you know about the powerful antioxidant Astaxanthin (As-ta-Zan-thin). It’s also an anti-inflammatory as all antioxidants are anti-inflammatories. Here’s a quick overview from the Dr. While found in some foods core to the anti-inflammatory diet, Astaxanthin can be found in our Skin & Total Body supplements:

Q: I am a 47-year-old woman with cystic acne; I’ve also suffered from hidradenitis suppurativa since a very young age. I have tried everything to no avail. Will your program help me?

A: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic condition characterized by swollen, painful, inflamed lesions. As we know, cystic acne is a systemic inflammatory disease. To treat these two conditions I recommend that you closely follow the anti-inflammatory diet and take a dietary supplement that contains high levels of anti-inflammatories. I also recommend taking high-quality Omega-3 essential oil capsules three times per day. I recommend three brands: Perricone MD Omega-3; Optimum Health International’s M.D. Designs™ Norwegian Fish Oil; and Dr. Barry Sears OmegaRx Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil. Do not bother with discount fish oils – buy only the very best if you are serious about your treatment – your health and your looks.

Q: I have a bad case of “body type” acne on my inner thighs, and no medications seem to help. It is so bad that I have developed scarring from it, too.

A: Check with your dermatologist because this may not be a case of acne. It sounds like it may be a condition known as folliculitis, a general term that encompasses a group of skin conditions characterized by inflamed hair follicles. This inflammation may be caused by any number of things, including bacteria, infection, yeasts or fungi, and certain inflammatory skin diseases. Your dermatologist can determine the cause, and the best course of treatment. Over-the-counter treatments that might be helpful include topical alpha hydroxy acids containing glycolic acid. The scarring may actually be post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation. Applying a body toning lotion containing high levels of DMAE over the alpha hydroxy treatment may help the scarring / hyperpigmentation to fade.

You can help control the inflammation by on a cellular level by taking antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. For example, alpha lipoic acid (ALA) has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which make it extremely valuable in the treatment of acne, and helps control both blood sugar and insulin. A rapid rise in blood sugar may produce a burst of inflammation that elevates insulin levels, which then affect many other hormones in the endocrine system, resulting in the formation of new acne lesions, not to mention the exacerbation of existing acne. When blood sugar is stabilized, insulin levels are more easily controlled. Alpha lipoic acid can control blood sugar by both sensitizing the cell to the effects of insulin and allowing the cell to better utilize blood sugar.

Super Supplement #5: Acetyl L-Carnitine
Like carnitine, acetyl-l-carnitine improves mitochondrial function, but to an even greater degree – because it can pass through the mitochondrial membrane. And like carnitine, acetyl-l-carnitine functions best when there is adequate dietary intake of omega-3 essential fatty acids. Both forms of carnitine are important in a weight loss regimen because they act as natural anti-inflammatories, they aid in transportation of fats into the mitochondria to be burned. They also enhance the sensitivity of insulin receptors, helping to decrease blood sugar and circulating levels of insulin. As we have learned, high levels of insulin are inflammatory and ‘lock’ our body fat in place.

DOSAGE RECOMMENDATION: 500 milligrams per day; however, individuals on a weight loss program may take up to 1500 milligrams of acetyl-carnitine daily.

Acetyl-l-Carnitine tips:
Carnitine and acetyl-l-carnitine are not to be used by people with bipolar disease (manic depression) or those who are susceptible to seizures (epilepsy) unless recommended by their physician.

Do not take acetyl-l-carnitine after 3 PM to prevent any difficulties with sleeping.

Exercise naturally increases our levels of acetyl-l-carnitine, however, if we are obese, over thirty, or have other health problems, it will not raise them to therapeutic levels; therefore supplementation is necessary.

Acetyl-l-carnitine may be taken with or without food.

For better utilization of fat for energy take omega 3 fish oil with carnitine.

Perricone MD products with this super supplement (click below to shop PerriconeMD.com):
Perricone MD Health & Weight Management

Anti-inflammatory foods rich in carotenoids (and antioxidants) include.Broccoli, cauliflower, winter squash, red and yellow peppers, cantaloupe, spinach, kale, egg yolks lobster, shrimp, salmon, and red caviar.