Paleo=clear skin?

I have been prepping for my fall class and doing some lit reviews for my student's Paleo independent study, and I've come across some interesting theories on the Paleo diet's health benefits.  Check out Loren Cordain's "Paleo Diet for Athletes" and "The Dietary Cure for Acne" for claims on health benefits ranging from weight loss to improved sports performance to clearer skin.

The "Dietary Cure for Acne" was of particular interest, as I suffered from pretty severe acne in my early 20's, and mild acne for the past few years (it got a LOT better after I eliminated gluten in 2008).  Every doctor I have been to has told me that my disorder is not related to diet, but the research presented in Cordain's book presents a compelling argument to the contrary.  Given that my acne decreased in severity so greatly once gluten was eliminated and my access to processed, refined grains decreased dramatically, I have to wonder what might happen if I were to remove all dairy, grains and legumes from my diet.  Cordain suggests that dairy, legumes, grains, sugars, and possibly nuts may increase inflammatory hormones, and alter sex hormone and growth factor balance, all contributing to acneic skin.  These findings sure make a good case for "going paleo" for a month to see what happens!

The "Dietary Cure for Acne" book suggests eliminating coconut and tree nuts for thirty days as well, as these may impact hormone levels.  So, for this experiment, I will limit nuts and coconut to once per day.  Totally eliminating these seems unrealistic, but may be worth a try in the future depending on my results!

30 days of fruits, veggies, meats and fish, here I come!  Since I'm not interested in weight loss, but am interested in skin clearing and athletic performance, the key here is going to be getting in enough food with limited options.  August in Western Mass, with its plethora of farmers markets should be a fantastic time to do this!