Foods that Cause Acne
Hi everyone, Tina here (+1 662 830 8246, info@nakedactives.com)
Did you know that June is National Acne Awareness Month, and to celebrate (healthy skin) we are continuing our segment by addressing acne-causing foods!
What is Acne
Acne is a skin condition that causes bumps on your skin such as pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads. These bumps can be anywhere on the body but they are most commonly found on the face, neck, back, or shoulders. Acne affects 40-50 million people in the United States alone!
How can Acne Develop
Acne can develop with any combination of the following factors: clogged skin pores, production of too much oil on the skin, bacteria in the skin, and inflammation. Acne can also be attributed to such things as hormonal changes during puberty, menstrual cycle, or when dealing with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Some medications such as steroids, hair & makeup products and genetic makeup have all been proposed as contributors to clogged pores leading to acne.
Diet is being studied as a potential contributor to acne. Here are some foods that you may want to consider removing from your diet if you are dealing with acne.
- Refined Grains & Sugars
- Dairy Products
- Fast Foods
Let’s go through each of these together
Refined Grains & Sugars
People who suffer from acne tend to consume more refined carbohydrates than people who don’t have acne. Some of these foods include:
- Breads, crackers, or cereals made with white flour
- Pasta made with white flour
- Rice or rice noodles
- Sugary beverages such as sodas or energy drinks
- Added sweeteners even including honey, agave, processed sweeteners
When your body consumes these foods, it produces a hormone called insulin which elevates blood sugars. By having excess insulin in your blood, it can cause your oil glands to produce more oil, therefore, increasing your risk of having clogged pores which can produce acne.
Tip: Replace your sugary drinks with Reverse Osmosis Alkaline water, limit your sweeteners and remove white breads, crackers, and pastas from your diet.
Dairy
There are many different theories when it comes to dairy and acne. Most studies will agree that dairy can affect acne by causing inflammation.
Some studies suggest that because dairy cows are treated with artificial hormones that go into their milk supply, it can throw off your own hormones and could trigger acne. While other studies suggest that when you combine dairy products with processed foods and sugars, your insulin levels are disrupted and make your skin more prone to acne.
While we recognize, this is different for each person, reducing dairy in your diet may be a great first step.
Tip: If you find you are suffering from acne and consume a lot of dairies, try removing it from your diet and track any changes that occur.
Fast Foods
According to WebMD, “fast foods” or greasy foods like pizza, burgers, fries don’t cause acne.
However, some researchers believe there is still a link between consuming fast foods and acne suggesting that it changes your hormones thus producing more acne. The jury is still out on this. Give yourself every avenue possible to help curb your acne.
Tip: Stick to fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats, and proteins, get enough Omega 3 Fatty Acids. Track your dietary & skin changes.
Always remember to speak with your doctor or natural health care provider when you are struggling with acne or looking to make changes in your diet. Your healthcare provider can help you experiment with your diet to see what changes work best for your body.
