For rosacea, a fasting program may well be worth considering. There are many reasons for suggesting this, including the fact that the accumulation of toxins can be eliminated through the skin, which can be a causative factor for rosacea. This is definitely a threshold trigger that is unique to the individual. What we do know for sure is that toxins build up in the body over time as a result of pollutants in the air we breathe, chemicals in food and water, and more chemicals that are absorbed through our skin. As another example, if we take a ‘western liver’, it has to deal with up to 30,000 chemicals a day, absorbed through the skin, ingested or inhaled from the air (60 years ago, this figure was only 300). So by relieving the body of the work of digesting food, fasting allows the system to rid itself of toxins while facilitating healing. The net effect is a fast that can help your skin heal faster; cleanse your liver, kidneys and colon; purify your blood; help you lose excess weight and water; eliminate toxins; clean the eyes and tongue; and cleans the breath. In an ideal world, you would fast at least three days a month and follow a ten-day fast at least twice a year. Let’s be clear here, it is really the three-day fast, as it is the one that helps the body rid itself of toxins and cleanses the blood. Here are some precautions to follow:

• During your fast, consume at least eight 8-ounce glasses of steamed distilled water per day, plus plain juices and up to 2 cups of herbal teas (at room temperature, not hot) per day.
• Don’t fast on water alone. This releases toxins too quickly, and since you suffer from rosacea, you likely have an overworked liver, the workload of which will increase causing headaches and worse.
• Follow a live juice diet. This removes toxins and promotes healing by supplying the body with vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.
• When fasting for more than three days, do so only under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional. If you have diabetes, hypoglycemia, or any other chronic health problem, even short fasts should be supervised by your doctor.
• Pregnant or lactating women should never fast.

So how about a really great Rosacea calming recipe for fasting?

Done … here goes … Squeeze 3 carrots, 3 kale leaves, 2 celery stalks, 2 beets, 1 turnip, ¼ pound spinach, ½ head of cabbage, ¼ parsley, ¼ onion and ½ garlic clove. Fantastic!

One last thing, before, during and after your fast, consider using a brush for dry skin. A long-handled natural bristle brush helps the skin remove toxins and dead cells. Always brush towards the heart: from wrist to elbow, elbow to shoulder, ankles to knees, knees to hips, etc. Now with Rosacea you must take extreme precautions and never use the brush on the affected areas of the body. Avoid brushing areas of the body that are broken or freshly scarred, or have bulging varicose veins. However, we think the benefits of greatly improving circulation and helping the skin excrete toxins are worth investigating.