My skin is not a happy camper lately.
I don’t know what’s up, but I know it’s ticked off. Angry. Inflamed. What’s the problem? That, my friends, is anyone’s guess. When a girl has puffy, itchy eyes and rashes on her face, it’s time to slow down and pay attention. If you’ve ever been the detective for your own strange skin reactions, you know just how daunting this process can be. Everything is questioned.
Not surprisingly, my family doctor suggested an allergy elimination diet and to examine my environment for possible culprits. I’ve switched our detergents, soaps, shampoos, and I’ve retired make-up for the time being. That was the easy part. The elimination diet and food journaling, on the other hand, are proving to be rather difficult as a recipe developer. It’s my worst nightmare actually.
Of course, skin flare ups could be from a billion things, including stress. I’m a big fan of stress-relieving practices, but I’m not so good at carrying them out in my own life. When life gets crazy and deadlines are looming, I often left my own health slide in the process. I know I’ve said it a million and one times, but I need to work on this.
As I’m leaving my doctor’s office she says, “Above all, DO NOT stress about the rashes. Stress is the absolute worst thing for your skin.”
[Is it just me or do you get more stressed out when someone tells you not to stress? ahh]
She’s so right though. I need to take a chill pill.
Of course, breakfast is a natural way to start the day on the right foot. I’m a big fan of breakfasts that can be made in advance, such as Green Monsters (just give them a good stir in the morning), raw buckwheat porridge, vegan overnight oats, and this chia pudding. Even though they take just a few minutes to throw together before bed, I’d fallen out of the habit of prepping them. But man oh man, it makes such a difference to wake up to a nutritious breakfast ready to be enjoyed!
The recipe below makes 2 servings so you can share it with a loved one or wrap up the leftovers for your next craving, which if you are like me won’t be far off.
Chia Seed Breakfast Bowl
Yield
Serves 2
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
I like mashed banana in this because it thickens the mixture while adding a lot of volume. If you aren’t a banana fan, you can omit it, but you might need to reduce the milk and I also suggest adding in your own sweetener or other fruit in its place. This porridge is especially creamy when made with Homemade Almond Milk. The thickness of the chia pudding will vary based on the kind of almond milk you use, so you can add more if necessary. If your pudding is too thin for you liking you can add more chia seeds and let it sit for 10 more minutes. Finally, if you aren’t a fan of the tapioca-like texture of chia seed pudding, try blending it until smooth.
Ingredients
Chia mixture
- 4 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 – 1.25 cups almond milk (it’s great made with Homemade Almond Milk)
- 2 small bananas, chopped small
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- two pinches of cinnamon
Toppings
- 2 tbsp raw buckwheat groats, soaked
- 2 tbsp raisins, soaked
- 2 tbsp whole raw almonds, chopped and soaked
- couples pinches of cinnamon
- 2 tbsp hemp seed
Directions
- Mash bananas in a medium-sized bowl. Stir in chia seeds. Whisk in the almond milk, vanilla, and cinnamon until combined. Place in fridge overnight to thicken. You can add more almond milk if you want to thin it out in the morning. Or, if it’s too thin, add more chia seeds to thicken it up.
- Add buckwheat groats, raisins, and chopped almonds into another bowl. Cover in water and soak overnight in the fridge or on the counter.
- In the morning, place your desired amount of chia pudding into a bowl. (Note: at this point, you can blend your chia pudding if a smooth texture is desired, but I don’t bother). Drain and rinse the buckwheat/almond/raisin mixture. Sprinkle on top of chia mixture along with a pinch of cinnamon and a tablespoon of hemp seeds. Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup, if desired. Store leftovers in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
Have you ever dealt with a strange skin reaction or allergy? What did you do?
I have had similar experiences with rashes- at one point I became convinced I had Lupus but the Dr. thought I was suffering from some healthcare worker-related-hypochondria and didn’t even run any tests. Haha. I have eliminated gluten for the last month and I am feeling somewhat better, but I think there is something else.
I just wanted to note with the chia bowl, that if you want it smooth and don’t want to dirty a blender or food processor, you can just use ground chia seeds! I’m pretty lazy and find it much easier to just wipe out the coffee grinder than clean a big appliance! :)
This recipe looks delish! Sorry to hear about your skin troubles. No fun at all. I’ve found a 1:1 mixture of water/apple cider vinegar as a toner has helped calm any skin issues. Also when I added vitamin D that seemed to help eliminate inflammation as well. Good luck.
This is awesome! My wife andI went “bananas” over it!
Hi Angela –
I totally understand where you are coming from, my skin is so sensitive and I can never seem to nail down what (and if) I’m allergic to anything. I’ve taken the approach, like you, to care for my body from the inside out. Funny enough, I start every morning with chia seeds! Although, I usually incorporate them into a drink I’m definitely going to try this pudding…the gel consistency from the chia should work great. Thank you and I hope everything turns for the better with your skin soon!
xo – jessica
this sounds so stinking good!
I love overnight oats, so this looks like a great variation. Any suggestions for using steel cut oats and soaking them instead of buckwheat groats, to put on top of the pudding? I have some steel cut oats in my pantry I need to use up, but haven’t been able to figure out the ideal soaking time.
I think you can soak them overnight and they will be soft enough to eat the next day. Hope this helps!
Angela,
I have recently experienced similar symptoms – namely bad skin and itchy, red and puffy eyes. I have been to my doctor, tried several rounds of antibiotics and nothing helped. Then I went to my naturopath. I eat extremely clean (dairy, gluten, caffeine free) but was having weird sugar cravings (which I usually never eat).
So – I have gone on a cold turkey, no sugar diet, I am on the Candi-gone Renew Life candida cleanse (you won’t have to do much to alter your diet since I think you eat very much that way day to day). You can purchase it at Superstore. But what absolutely changed my skin however, is a product she gave me called Calendula Souci Salve by St Francis Herb Farms. I put it all around my eyes and face at night and everything has cleared up. It has a yellow tint from the herbs and olive oil so don’t use it during the day. It’s a miracle in a bottle.
It might be worth a try.
Meghan
I just love that bowl! Where is it from??
Thanks :)
I can sympathize with your issue. I was born with eczema and very sensitive skin. Before Christmas, I started using a new moisturizer. The label claimed that it was ok for people with sensitive skin and that it would help with winter dryness. It wasn’t a good moisturizer at all, and I ended up with a flare-up of eczema on my face. I went back to using my old moisturizer and my skin has been fine ever since. Cetaphil and Neutrogena make excellent products for people with eczema and sensitive skin (I have had really good experience with both).
This seems to be the winter of strange germs and things like that!! Here’s what I think. My daughter just started junior kindergarten and has brought back all kinds of unholy things… one of which was pink eye. She passed it on to my youngest who needed SIX ROUNDS of antibiotics to get rid of it completely. I also caught it in this time frame. My eyes and my face have not been the same since! They are so dry, so runny, so crusty feeling in the morning and my skin (under my eyes and on my cheeks) is red and irritated quite a bit. I even had dry skin on my eyelids and at the absolute worst I had what looked like a little bubble or blister under my right eye.
I think you mentioned having pink eye in the past few weeks or months. Maybe I am blowing it all out of proportion? But I think there is some kind of correlation going on here. Just thought Id share because this winter has been crazy.
Beautiful photos, and thank you for the step-by-step visuals (so helpful for a beginner cook like me)!
I can relate to experiencing issues with skin, from adult acne to breaking out into hives. I’ve found that yoga and mini meditation breaks have greatly helped me to soothe any stress or anxiety that lead to flare-ups. And when life gets busy, I remind myself of an old Zen quote: “You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day – unless you’re too busy; then you should sit for an hour.” Hope you feel better soon! :) – Kat
I had this really bumpy red rash once all over my face
Form bat 3 days I only drank raw liquids ( fruit juices watermelon orange banana date pineapple every possible fruit and veggie juices and on the 2 nd day for dinner I was very hungry so ate a raw salad by day 4 the rash was all gone and the skin Justin dried and returned to normal
Worked for me but u can try keeping hydrated every hour or so I t will help
Hope you get better soon
I had eczema on my hands as a kid and had to wear cotton gloves with cortisone. I remember holding a lizard with my gloves on and it just chilled in my hand. :)
I love these pictures! The styling is so unique and inviting. Good job Angela!
I realise that you are getting a lot of suggestions here, but I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t mention spirulina. I am a veterinarian and normally only take supplements if their is good scientific evidence that they work. This year, however, my hay fever was out of control – I was taking 3 – 24 hour histamine tablets a day and still getting only minimal relief. My sister has similar problems and put me onto spirulina. I was skeptical, but gave it a go. I couldn’t believe 2 hours after the first dose I was feeling better. I’m not usually susceptible to a placebo response so I did some research and found that indeed it is a powerful inhibitor of interleukin-4, a key cytokine involved in allergy pathways. I’ve been on it for a few months now and have not needed further antihistamines. More amazingly, I have started prescribing it for dogs with allergic skin disease. My evidence is only anecdotal as I do not have the means to conduct a full double blind trial, but I have one dog who the second I took her off cortisone would, within 24 hours, break out into the worst dermatitis complete with hair loss. She is now off the prednisolone, and while she still has some redness and inflammation, she is not itching and is a much happier dog. I personally prefer the tablets ( I use the vitacost brand). I take 3 mg in the morning, and if I get symptoms later in the day I repeat the dose at night. You can also use the powder, but I really don’t have the stomach for the green smoothie! Good luck and wishing you a speedy return to good skin health.
I love you. I love your posts and your pictures are nothing short of exquisite. May I weigh in on the allergy test? I did it a few years ago. Cost around $400 and actually, I learned the same thing through an elimination diet. I love my naturopath also, and this is nothing against him!!
It seems that, maybe like you, everything I do shows up in my skin. Everything. That is my weak spot. I can tell EXACTLY how well I am eating according to my body’s needs by my skin! What a curse and a blessing.
May I share what worked for me? It seems you do all of this anyhow, but just as support, when I lay off wheat, gluten, dairy and sugar, my skin is amazing. When I also add sleep and enough water, I glow.
sending you love and support.
ana
One word: ZINC
I have struggled with numerous skin issues for years. It improved immensely when I figured out and eliminated the foods to which I am sensitive. Through the process, I also began taking various supplements. By far, the most important one for me seems to be a zinc supplement. I take one daily around dinner time. Zinc is not a water soluble mineral so only take one daily. Don’t take it at breakfast as it’s hard on your tummy. I notice a huge difference when I stop taking my zinc for whatever reason. Once I start back, it takes about 4-5 days to notice the effects again. If you decide to try this, get a good quality brand (I buy mine through my naturopath).
Worth a shot!
I’ve heard this a lot too, thanks for the reminder!
I am a gluten-free vegan and have been for many years. I eat raw as much as possible and keep my diet pretty clean. I’ve never had great skin – I attribute it to a very stressful childhood. Living clean helps a lot. Last year I had a wicked patchy face rash no one could figure out. It lasted a long time. It got a lot worse. I even got eye infections. Very long story short, I figured out it was stevia. That shocked me. Within days of eliminating stevia not only did my skin improve dramatically but a lot of other low grade annoyances I’d learned to live with went away as well. Now I avoid it as well as plants in that family (which include lavender and geranium!) good luck.
That’s interesting. I can’t do stevia either…I’m pretty sure it gives me wicked headaches.
This is a strange one; it turned out that my skin irritation was due to the washing machine not rinsing the detergent out of the sheets and clothing completely. A visit from the repairman cured me! Hope you can find the cause and solution soon.
I did have a skin reaction on my face that lasted 10 years. I served 22 years in the Navy so it could have been many things (stress, environments, food, vaccinations) but it was bad. I went to four dermatologists, three of whom were stumped and tried to make a guess as to what I had (from systemic lupus (!) to dermatitis to allergies). The fourth one, a Black woman (I’m also Black) actually did something very smart but very scary. She did a biopsy of one of my lesions. Yep. She did minor surgery on my face. She was so good, though, I can’t even find the place where she took the the skin. It turned out that, for ten years, I had been using skin products that, chemically, burned my skin. It was like a light bulb going on because the lesions always resembled burns from the blistering and peeling to the black spots left after they healed (thankfully, I don’t get keloid scars on my face). She told me that Black skin was very sensitive so did an allergy test; I am allergic to every known chemical put into skin care. PEGs, parabens, SLS… it’s like putting acid on my face. When I asked her what I could use, she said she was stumped because, at the time, there was nothing out there. I did some research and started making my own cosmetics from cold cream to moisturizer to soap to shampoo. My skin reacted immediately and began to look amazing. Eventually, I found an organic esthetician, who has the 411 about organic skin care. I no longer have to make my own because there are a lot of small companies that make things I can use (Eminence, Nahla). At age 54, my skin looks stunning. I never thought I would get here but, thanks to the information age, the times are finally changing for skin care.
Just one more thought. There is stevia in many natural toothpastes. Even though stevia may not be your problem, try eliminating your toothpaste. (That worked for my son) Good luck.