Sometimes you need a clean break to reset. Like when you realize you’re drinking too much wine and coffee, eating too much chocolate (even if it’s 90%), and pushing the limits as far as you can without having out-of-control blood sugar readings. Or maybe that’s just me. 🙂
Cleaning out our bookshelf recently, I came across a oddly-sized, authoritative-looking book – “The Acne Prescription” by Dr. Perricone, copyright 2003. Flipping through, I was blown away by the prescience of his hypothesis, which is that sugar and high blood glucose levels are bad for your skin – and your body, though he spends less time on that aspect. The whole premise is that eating plenty of protein and healthy fats, and never too much at one sitting, maintains steady blood sugar levels and prevents inflammation. Exactly! Of course today, these ideas are more mainstream, but in 2003? Sigh. All the time, through my gestational diabetes and then the pre-diabetes, a possible solution was on my own bookshelf.
I don’t say “the” solution, because there is no one right answer.* But I think the principles behind this diet are sound. Small amounts of high-quality foods over quantity. Eat protein first. Limit alcohol. All good things. The book dates itself with the focus on the “power foods” of the day, pomegranate juice and flaxseed, but those are still healthy foods worth trying.
The problem, in my view, is that Perricone markets this diet as an anti-aging, skin-beautifying miracle. In other words, the marketing strategy appeals to our desire to look younger, and in my 20s, that just wasn’t a powerful enough motivator. Certainly not powerful enough to overcome my resistance to eating salmon multiple times a week, and giving up bread and pastries. I looked young because I was, and occasional break-outs seemed part of life.
When you’re young and healthy, you feel invincible. I know I did. The secondary argument, which the book does make, that this type of diet could help prevent diabetes and other health problems, didn’t resonate in my 20s as it does now. Sometimes you have to be scared for your life to make big changes. But somehow, we also have to reach people before they’re desperate. Somehow, we have to move the needle as a society towards making this sort of diet more “normal” – for everyone.
So, Dr. Perricone, I am thankful for your book and your diet plans. But I wish you would market them more prominently as a disease-prevention strategy–wellness from the inside out. Good health is so much more than outward appearance!
The Reset
This week, I committed to the Perricone 3-day diet. Conveniently, I’m getting my A1c checked on Friday, so that provided extra incentive. I went cold turkey on the coffee, wine, and chocolate. (Not to mention the cheese!) I ate salmon the first day, and chicken and turkey thereafter. I prepared to feel terrible–cranky, tired, and deprived.
The Results
I feel AMAZING. I feel relaxed and calm. My sleep quality has improved. My fasting blood glucose is under 100 for the first time in weeks. I didn’t know that I had been feeling mildly anxious all the time, until that feeling suddenly went away. It’s hard to say, but I think my skin looks more glowing; I definitely look less tired. (Next time I need a before and after picture.)
Could I have achieved the same results on my own, by just telling myself to give up coffee and wine? I doubt it. I would’ve caved at the sight of the coffee pot on the first morning! For me, a set plan, with clearly defined boundaries on what to eat and when, and a time limit (3 days), was important. The structure of it was exactly what I needed to reset, and to decide which foods and beverages I want to add back in. Because, as the French saying goes, “la vie est dure sans confiture.” Or in my case, wine and chocolate.
*There are other “reset” diets out there, such as Whole 30. Choose one that appeals to you, that has an underlying philosophy you can get behind. If you don’t subscribe to the logic of the diet, you’ll be more likely to give up. The length of your reset is also important. For me, three days was a realistic goal – and enough to motivate me to keep going.