Acne Diet - Do You Believe It Can Work?
If you take some doctors and researchers at face value, they believe your diet (what you eat and what you don't) does not affect acne. Of course, this does not explain the countless people who have tried everything from prescription treatments, oral remedies and even over the counter creams who achieved success only with changing their diet. An acne diet does exist and you should examine your own eating habits to see if you need to revamp your menus to clear up those pesky breakouts.
Foods to Steer Clear of
The basic acne diet has some clear cut rules regardless of the person following it or the severity of their skin condition. For instance, the diet will likely state that foods with trans-fats and saturated fats should be eliminated as much as possible because they can stimulate oil production in the skin. Reading food labels is important to your acne diet as it will help you identify the trans-fats in food as well as the saturated fats often found in animal products.
Any food that has been processed or has chemicals (like food dyes or flavors) added is a likely candidate to NOT be on the acne diet. Refined carbohydrates that can be found in sugar, flour and other white and non-white foods should be consumed sparingly. These carbohydrates cause your overall insulin and glucose levels to spike which in turn can affect the formation of acne.
Foods to Incorporate
Your acne diet can have carbohydrates but they should be complex carbohydrates that are found in healthy foods such as whole grains, beans, low-fat dairy and more. These carbohydrates do not spike your glucose and insulin levels, thus reducing your risk of breakouts.
Proteins should be a big part of your acne diet along with fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats and fish. While some foods like fish, nuts and seeds may have fat in them, they contain essential fatty acids which aid in lower cholesterol and lower risk of acne.
The Bottom Line
Any acne diet you find will likely be very similar to others because they all incorporate the same elements such as avoiding sugary sweets, colas and processed junk food. You will also discover that drinking plenty of water - the requisite 8 glasses a day is an acne diet requirement as this wet stuff helps keep your skin and body hydrated and flushes out toxins as well.
Times are changing and more and more scientific studies now point out that a healthy acne diet with the elements described above is a promise to clearer skin. That saying "you are what you eat" is definitely appropriate for describing acne as it is for any other health condition.
