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Dear Diet Detective..

Expert Judith Wills is here to solve all your diet and nutrition problems.

Do you have a question for The Diet Detective? Why not send it in to us!

info@beautyandlace.com.au

Visit her website at: www.thedietdetective.net

Dear Diet Detective,

I was on the pill for a long time, and about a year ago I stopped taking it so we could try for a baby. Since being off the pill my skin has gotten really bad, I was wondering if there is something I could change in my diet to help get it back to normal. I have never had bad skin before, and its really getting me down. I was also wondering if there is anything we could eat, to help prepare for conceiving.
Thanks, P Highland, NSW

Dear Ms Highland

The pill does tend to do sometimes strange things to the skin, because of the hormonal changes - in a similar way to when women tend to break out in a spot of two before their period or mid-cycle. Giving up the pill has a similar effect but hopefully after a while your skin should settle down of its own accord - and if you become pregnant you should find your skin looking great as the pregnancy hormone balance usually results in glowing good skin without a spot in sight!

Food to help promote good skin includes oily fish (for omega 3s), olive oil, nuts and seeds (for mono-unsaturated fats and essential fats); fruit (for vitamin C and anti-oxidants), berries (for collagen); wholegrains and avocados (for vitamin E). Evening primrose oil can help dry skin and eczema (1000mg a day).

A good pre-conceptual diet is a basic good healthy diet majoring on natural wholefoods, plenty of fruit, veg (particularly leafy green for folate) and salads, pulses, lean meat and poultry, lower fat dairy, nuts, seeds and natural plant oils.

All best

The Diet Detective

Dear Diet Detective

I want to go on a pre-Christmas detox and I wonder what herbs and foods I should relaly be eating to get the full detox effect?

Julie Harpen

Dear Julie

i'm not a great fan of strict detoxes but you can help yourself to look and feel a lot better with a 'mild' detox which will include parsley, mint, apples, cucumber, onion and olive oil to help liver function and to eliminate fluid.

Try garlic, onion, leek, to help purify the blood and olive oil and alore vera juice to help the digetive system and to speed up the passage of food.

Try to avoid all highly commercial foods/junk foods, foods high in salt, sugar, saturated fats, trans fats. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, all dairy except natural bio yogurt (pref. organic), red meat and poultry. You can eat small amounts of fish. Eat lots of fruit, veg, salad and things like home-made veggie soups, pulses, wholegrains (limit wheat right down, avoid altogether for the first few days, replace with brown rice or oats).

All best

The Diet Detective

Dear Diet Detective

I find when I eat a lot of fruit that I get raised itchy red bumps on my skin here and there. But if I don't eat a lot of fruit I suffer from constipation. Are there any fruits I can eat that won't have this effect, or what other foods can you recommend for me?

Megan Blythe

Dear Megan

The fruits most likely to cause skin eruptions are strawberries, oranges and other citrus, kiwis, and cherries. Sometimes melons, pawpaw and mango can cause problems.

Pears, apples and bananas are least likely to. All vegetables and salads will help keep you regular as will drinking 2 lit water a day, pulses such as lentils, wholegrains, and regular exercise.

All best

The Diet Detective

THE DIET DETECTIVE