Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

6

Can someone try to explain how multiple months on a Zinc Supplement may have cured my acne?

I think it somehow restored my liver to optimal functioning.

I was suffering from acne since my teens.

25 now.

edited Jan 23 2012 at 1:28

asked Jan 23 2012 at 1:19

BTCHLPS
300●2●10

	Do you have a metallic taste in your mouth when you take zinc now? How much mg were you taking? – Korion Jan 23 2012 at 9:40
	no, 60 to 90mg. – BTCHLPS Jan 25 2012 at 2:04

Kristin · Answer 1 · 2012-01-23 03:52:35Z UTC

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I know that Zinc is a really important mineral when it comes to healing a leaky gut..makes sense

answered Jan 23 2012 at 3:52

Kristin
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I guess I should finish...any skin issue: acne or other is a strong indication of having a leaky gut OR intestinal issue. – Kristin Jan 23 2012 at 3:54

Agreed, acne is pretty much indicative of leaky gut. Give strict, grain-free, paleo a good 6 - 12 months and you'll be amazed at how it will heal these sort of symptoms. Supplements may reduce healing time, I suppose - but generally speaking, giving your body enough time to replete on basic mineral and nutrient requirements will heal all of the basic symptoms of the SAD. – raney Jan 23 2012 at 5:00

paleoprimal · Answer 2 · 2012-01-23 01:34:39Z UTC

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what brings you to this conclusion on your liver and how much and what form did you take?

answered Jan 23 2012 at 1:34

paleoprimal
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	60 to 90mg a day. Research and me taking Zinc and nothing else helping leads me to believe this. – BTCHLPS Jan 25 2012 at 2:06
	is there a brand or formulation you prefer? – paleoprimal Jan 25 2012 at 17:12

HumanPrimate · Answer 3 · 2012-01-23 17:43:25Z UTC

Chris Kresser recently made a podcast about copper and zinc balance. Apparently many people have elevated copper levels which interferes with important hormones and can a wide variety of issues from acne to severe brain damage. Revolution Health Radio is his podcast. It is very interesting for paleo geeks.

Travis Culp · Answer 4 · 2012-01-23 18:35:03Z UTC

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Shit goes haywire when you're deficient in any mineral.

http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/113/1/31

http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=ShowAbstract&ProduktNr=224164&Ausgabe=227730&ArtikelNr=51728

answered Jan 23 2012 at 18:35

Travis Culp♦
39.6k●1●32●132

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Travis -- how does one benchmark themselves meaningfully/with context for mineral deficiency? – Patrik♦ Jan 23 2012 at 19:46

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I think it's safe to assume that 2+ decades eating a grain-based diet and drinking filtered water is going to result in a few mineral deficiencies. It's really difficult to track down which ones you may have, though zinc and magnesium are probably the most common. Once you track them down, it's difficult to replete the pools without disrupting the balance (i.e. creating/exacerbating a copper deficiency with zinc supplementation). The safest way is to eat a bunch of mineral-rich foods and hope for the best. – Travis Culp♦ Jan 23 2012 at 20:00

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This is why it's so important to be active, because you need to "waste" energy in order to eat as much Food as possible so you can process vitamins and minerals in huge quantities. This is why I have such a poor view of VLC/ZC because their food intake is tiny and mostly fat, which isn't nearly as nutritious as a bunch of fruit, tubers, meat and organs. – Travis Culp♦ Jan 23 2012 at 20:02

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I think replacing some amount of the filtered water we drink with mineral water makes a huge difference as well since absorption of the ionic forms of minerals in aqueous solution is so high and because many trace minerals are present that you might miss out on. Who knows how I became deficient in chromium, but it made my life miserable to have blood sugar swings as a result. Certain individuals may have poor absorption or more excretion of things. Who knows? I'm hesitant to recommend supplementation because it's so ham-handed. – Travis Culp♦ Jan 23 2012 at 20:05

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The ratios are at least evolutionary appropriate and bioavailable with Food, so it's a lot safer. I should also say that eating low trophic level sea creatures like sardines is really important because you get calcium, iodine, selenium and some other traces that aren't depleted like plants and animals raised on shitty soil. – Travis Culp♦ Jan 23 2012 at 20:06

primallykosher · Answer 5 · 2012-01-23 19:03:22Z UTC

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Zinc has not fixed my nail striations, white marks and acne. How much are you taking?

answered Jan 23 2012 at 19:03

primallykosher
4,360●1●9●23

	And in what form? I've been Paleo for 6 months and I've been getting 16mg Zinc/day through diet. Acne's improved but not gone. – Dan Jan 24 2012 at 4:12
	60 to 90 mg of opti-zinc a day. – BTCHLPS Jan 25 2012 at 2:03
	Take more zinc. – BTCHLPS Jan 25 2012 at 2:04
	I would recommend to take at least 30mg. – BTCHLPS Jan 25 2012 at 2:04
	I've been taking 50 mg per day. And occasionally copper too. The most I have taken was 100 mg for a week. Made me pee a lot. – primallykosher Jan 25 2012 at 3:22

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I think zinc healed my liver & cured my acne.

5 Answers