Acne and Diet: Eating Right Can Prevent Breakouts

If you’re reading this, you have probably been there before: you’re sitting there minding your own business, when you get a sensation on your face, maybe the side of your chin, maybe your forehead.A� “Not again,” you moan to yourself, “the last one just went away.A� “But there is no denying it; another pimple is paying you a visit.

It’s time to get out the creams and spot treatments, scrubs and washes, makeup and cover-up.

Or, maybe it’s time to visit the grocery store.

Believe it or not, there is a strongA�correlationA�between acne and diet. The foods you eat can have a dramatic impact on your skin.A� The skin is the biggest organ in the body, and it is one of the main channels for our bodies to shed toxins.A� When we eat junk, some of that junk gets cleaned out through the pores in our skin. It ends up showing on our faces or even other parts of our bodies.

OK, so maybe that is an over simplification, but it makes sense.A� There are actually four main underlying causes of acne and they are spikes in blood sugar and insulin production, oxidative stress on the skin, hormone imbalance, and inflammation.A� The foods we eat can have a profound effect on all of these.

Skin health, and overall health, is a function of many biochemical processes occurring in our bodies. A�These processes regulate blood sugar and hormones, repair damaged cell tissue, and fight infection. Diet is one of the most important factors in the mix of bodily processes.A� Think about it – every cell in our bodies comes from the food and drink we put in it.

It is clear that acne and diet are connected and that changing diet may be one way to help control acne. A�But, an anti-acne diet alone will probably not be sufficient to rid your complexion of those bothersome spots for good.A� Other factors such as stress, lack of sleep, hormonal cycles, and yes, genetics also play a role.

It is important to take a whole body approach that includes diet, exercise, adequate sleep, and stress management. Diet and lifestyle changes required to control acne will also be unique for everyone, although there are some general guidelines that can help most people reduce or eliminate acne.A� Each individual has their own triggers that usually set off breakouts, and it is important to become familiar with your specific triggers. Dietary choices are frequently major triggers for acne sufferers.

Acne is a growing epidemic in the westernized world where diets are high in saturated animal fats, hydrogenated trans fats, refined sugars, and white flour stripped of most of its nutritional value. It is interesting – and makes perfect sense – that the same diets that are linked to acne are also linked to other chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and digestive syndromes such as crone’s disease.

So, the next time you find yourself in the cosmetic isle looking for a better acne treatment, think about visiting the produce isle next.A� You may find that boosting your intake of leafy greens, bright red and yellow vegetables, and whole grains, will have a purifying effect on your skin. Acne and diet are connected, and dietary choices like these will not only help you achieve a clearer complexion, but by making them you will be setting yourself up for a healthier, longer life.