Rosacea (pronounced roh-ZAY-sha) is a common but poorly understood disorder of the facial skin that is estimated to affect well over 14 million Americans, and most of them don't know it. In fact, while rosacea is becoming increasingly widespread as the populous baby boom generation enters the most susceptible ages, a Gallup survey found that 78% of Americans have no knowledge of this condition, including how to recognize it and what to do about it.

While the cause of rosacea is unknown and there is no cure, today with the conscious approach to a raw food lifestyle it is helping in controlling the signs and symptoms of this potentially life-disruptive disorder. Any one of the following warning signs is a signal to see a dermatologist or other knowledgeable raw foodist physician for diagnosis and appropriate help and before the signs and symptoms become increasingly severe:

• Redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead.
• Small visible blood vessels on the face.
• Bumps or pimples on the face.
• Watery or irritated eyes.

If one actively reads the rosacea literature or visits a general physician, he or she will quickly realize that physicians incorrectly assume that rosacea sufferers just have one or two triggers for facial flushing. Physicians often infer that these triggers are just a nuisance or minor inconvenience. These physicians may instruct their patients to watch out for the obvious major triggers, stay out of 90 degree heat, be careful in the mid-day sun, take some breathers during strenuous exercise, or let thermally hot foods cool down. I wish that rosacea was just that simple; however, rosacea sufferers who have progressed to the moderate or severe stages can have 20 to 50 different triggers to avoid each and every day! It is a huge mistake for general physicians to think of trigger avoidance as a minor nuisance. Rosacea specialists point out, "People don't realize the variety of minor things that can increase blood flow in the face, causing aggravation of rosacea."

The list of common rosacea triggers is quite extensive – heat, warmth, physical activity, sun, exercise, wind, cold, stress, anxiety, embarrassment, crying, laughter, happiness, excitement, bending over, laying down, overheating, warm overhead lighting, smiling, foods (thermally hot or spicy), large meals, beverages, oral dilators (medications & natural supplements), spontaneous triggers, topical skincare products (moisturizers, sunscreens, facial cleansers, anti-acne products), etc.....

Due to its cleansing nature, many people have turned to the alkaline diet as a way to combat Rosacea. The alkaline diet consists almost entirely of cleansing vegetables, low sugar fruits, pure water, raw soups and juices, salads, omega oils found vegetables and plants etc and as such it provides the skin with all of the nutrition it needs to remain healthy – basically raw food diet to lifestyle.

One of the biggest advantages of being on a raw diet is, if it is done properly, it tends to be an alkaline diet. If you remember from high school chemistry, you measure the pH of substances by comparing it to water. Some substances are acidic, like vinegar, and some are alkaline, like soap. The pH of your blood is slightly alkaline. When you eat a diet high in acid, you body must work to keep your blood pH constant or else you can get sick or even die. It is just as important as your body temperature. The good news is that vegetables, sprouts and some low sugar fruits all add to the alkalinity of your blood. When you eat an uncooked diet, your body can naturally detoxify itself and keep you healthy.

A raw vegetable diet has another benefit in that it is loaded with living foods and antioxidants. When you heat a vegetable or fruit, the live enzymes and some vitamins are destroyed. We still get the calories from the food but the cleansing and protective parts are now inert. Sprouts, vegetables and low sugar fruits are rich in vitamins and enzymes. The important part to remember is these foods tend to have a short shelf live. That means you need to use them soon after you buy or pick them. If you warm them, they cannot be heated too high or they lose their value. A good rule of thumb is … using your thumb. If you cannot put your thumb in the pot with the warming food for 10 seconds, then it is too hot.

There are numerous items you can buy online to make your transition to a raw lifestyle a pleasant one. Specifically, getting a juicer will really help you to increase your consumption of fruits and veggies. Growing sprouts allows you to have a constant supply of nutrient dense superfood handy for any soup, salad or sandwich. For an added bonus, you can try adding wheat grass juice, either using a juicer or in a powdered green drink. Becoming a raw foodist will give your body the nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for a long and healthy life.

Taken from http://www.cleansing-raw-food-diet.com/.

I couldn't put it in a better term, and why say it twice.

By TTS Cofounder Botanical Chef Omid Jaffari