The ancient Greek Physician, Hippocrates, once said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Since he is not alive to ask, let’s just assume he was talking about acne.
All levity aside, the food you consume has a very strong impact on the condition of your acne and for many acne sufferers; their pimples may be a direct result of the food that they eat. The ingredients in the food could be the trigger factors that are causing the sebaceous glands to work in overdrive.
There is absolutely no doubt that just by changing your diet and going on a clean, wholesome diet, your acne problems will get better. Not only that but all other potential health issues such as obesity, yeast infections, unexplained rashes, fatigue, etc. will be prevented to a large extent.
Modern science has still not been able to link acne to the food that you eat. However, instead of waiting for scientific finding and medical conclusions, we should just exercise good ‘ol common sense.
Most of the commercially sold food these days contained additives, preservatives, monosodium glutamate (MSG), refined sugar, etc. Most of these ingredients are not good for the body at all. Yet, we blindly consume them with nary a thought for the havoc that they may wreak on our internal system.
It has been shown the MSG causes migraines. If it can do that, why wouldn’t the other detrimental additives affect you as far as acne is concerned?
They will affect you adversely by stimulating the sebaceous glands to secrete more sebum than necessary. The human body is a complex mechanism and different people react to foods differently. That’s what makes it so difficult to establish a connection between acne and the food you eat.
Someone who gorges himself on junk food may not have a single pimple but may be severely obese. Another person may be able to eat the same amount of junk food without gaining weight but have a face with enough pimples for a blind man to read their face.
The best way to see if the food you eat is affecting your acne will be to start a food journal and record down what food you are eating and see what are the effects. Eliminate foods that have caffeine in them because caffeine is a stimulant.
Avoid sugary foods and desserts that are high in refined sugars. Avoid white flour products such as white bread and pasta. Avoid fried foods, processed foods that are sold in boxes in the supermarket, foods with artificial flavors and preservatives and sodas.
Water is your best friend. You should not be drinking anything else other than water and lots of it. Skip the dairy products such as milk and cheese too.
Try not to get too much salt in your diet because the iodine in salt has been known to cause acne.
You’re probably thinking, “But if I avoid all these… what then do I eat?”
A good question. You will need to consume nutritious foods such as vegetables, eggs, meat, fruits, etc. We all know what the healthy foods are. We just don’t like eating them because they’re bland.
Get a good cookbook and learn to whip up tasty dishes. Go on a Mediterranean diet which has many mouth-watering dishes and is extremely healthy too. Avoid the commercially sold junk food and you will avoid the acne.
You may have heard the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. It’s true yet so few abide by it. This is a daily habit that should be done without fail. You can’t suddenly remember and eat all 7 apples on Saturday and expect to get the job done. It doesn’t work that way.
Nowadays, most people place more emphasis on taste over substance. The junk food, fast food, sugary desserts, mouth-watering chocolates, refreshing sodas, etc. have become a staple part of the daily diet.
Fruits and vegetables have taken a back seat and become an afterthought. This could be one reason why obesity has become an epidemic and society these days is sicker than it has ever been.
There have been more acne cases over the past decade than there have been for years before that. This is due to the poor food choices and high stress levels in life today.
One way to remedy the situation will be to make eating at least two servings of fruit a daily habit. This is especially beneficial if the fruits are red or orange in color. There is a plethora of benefits associated with the regular consumption of fruits.
Skin problems, constipation, health disorders, nutrient deficiencies, lack of energy, etc. can all be prevented just by eating the right fruits.
To start off, you can start eating apples. The saying may only recommend 1 apple a day but since you have acne, you may go ahead and eat 3 to 4 apples a day. Preferably one before each meal. Always consume your fruits before the meal and not after.
It is best to eat organic fruits because the pesticides used on non-organic fruits may be acne triggers depending on your constitution.
Apples are rich in ascorbic acid, bioflavonoids, fiber, pectin, quercetin, minerals, and vitamins. The pectin in the apple skin will also prevent constipation just like how apricots prevent constipation. Speaking of apricots, those are excellent for consumption too.
Let’s not forget bananas that have so many nutrients that you just cannot afford to leave it out of your diet. However, you shouldn’t consume more than one banana a day. Bananas keep bad bacteria in check and by doing this, toxic acids will not get to the skin and cause acne.
Blackberries and blueberries are also excellent fruits that acne sufferers should consume. Despite their small size, these berries are potent and cleanse the blood and prevent constipation. Blackberries also benefit your kidneys and promote good skin health. Blueberries have been shown to be effective against various skin disorders such as eczema, acne and psoriasis.
Other good fruits to consume will be cantaloupes, cherries, figs, grapefruits, grapes, mangoes, strawberries and pineapples. Do take note that you are supposed to be consuming fresh fruits and not the fruit juices sold in stores. Those are high in sugar, additives and will do more harm than good.
The fruits mentioned in this article are rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals. They will cleanse the body, strengthen the immune system and make you skin healthy. Acne can be prevented to a large extent if your body is in balance and your immune system is strong.
Make fruits a part of your daily diet. Remember that every time you eat or drink, you’re either feeding disease or fighting it.
There is a saying, “You are what you eat.” This especially holds true when dealing with acne. One of the biggest culprits of acne is a poor diet. It indirectly causes a series of chain reactions within the body that causes acne breakouts.
Remember the old wives’ beliefs that oily foods cause pimples. To a certain extent this is true. Our diets these days are for most part, unhealthy. The use of hydrogenated oils, refined sugars, additives, etc. cause inflammation in the body.
This leads to the sebaceous glands working in overdrive and releasing too much sebum which in turn will end up clogging the follicles in the skin. Once that happens, the bacteria on the skin will infect the follicles and this will result in acne appearing on the skin.
The acne is just a symptom and is usually the final symptom in a long series of physiological processes. Therefore, since it is a symptom, we should address one of the root causes of it.
One of the best ways to do that will be to get sufficient essential fatty acids in your diet. These fatty acids will help to control the production of androgens which are the hormones that cause the sebaceous glands to secrete excess sebum.
The body requires 3 types of fatty acids. Omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9. When you are deficient in these fatty acids, you will be susceptible to a host of health problems such as bad skin, weak immune system, inflammation, lesions that won’t heal fast, excessive sebum production and larger sebaceous glands.
The best way to remedy this situation will be to consume the essential oils and fatty acids that the body needs. Our current diets are often too high in omega-6 and this throws off the balance of fatty acids in the body.
You should consume foods such as nuts, seeds, oily fish (salmon, sardines, albacore tuna), flaxseed oil, extra virgin olive oil, avocados, pumpkin seeds and walnuts. Dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, mustard greens and kale are also fantastic sources of essential fatty acids. Popeye wasn’t lying when he said spinach is good for you.
Just by consuming 2 tablespoons of flaxseed oil with your salads or soups will do wonders for your skin. Use extra virgin olive oil in your cooking and you will get more beneficial fatty acids in your system
It may seem like ensuring you consume your daily requirement of fatty acids is just too much effort. It is much easier to just grab the acne cream and slather your skin in it. It’s just as effective right?
It depends. Do you want to deal with acne your whole life? Or do you want to be done with the problem?
Using creams and medication only addresses the symptoms and not the root cause. It’s true that creams and medication are highly effective but they are only good at treating the condition. You must strive to eliminate the problem.
The only way to do this will be to fix the underlying issues such as your diet. The consumption of fatty acids will mitigate any issues in your body that are aggravating it and causing the excess sebum. Since you are targeting the root cause, you will also reduce and eliminate the symptoms gradually.
This is the best way to treat acne. Prevention is better than cure. A wholesome diet rich in fatty acids will be more beneficial than any acne cream in the long run.
