If we were to tell the absolute truth, science is yet to establish a direct connection between diet and acne. As the Journal of the American Medical Association states, “Diet plays no role inAcne Treatment in most patients…even large amounts of certain foods have not clinically exacerbated acne.” Dermatologist Dr Andrew Waite adds, “It is high time we discarded the myth that greasy and spicy foods cause acne.”
Excellent, you say, before reaching for a bag of potato chips. And that would be a mistake.
Watch what you eat, acne or no
The thing is, while no specific food items directly causean acne outbreak, they may indirectly contribute to its occurrence by damaging the health of your skin. Additionally, since your body does not metabolize all foods in the same way, the digestion of certain foods may release chemicals that influence either the onset of acne, or aggravate an already existing condition.
Beauty therapist Simone Techera, who runs a clinic in San Francisco, is prepared to swear that those of her clients who eat more meat are a) more hirsute and b) more vulnerable to acne, and while that may be dismissed as an unscientific view based on individual experience, there are published reports that echo Simone’s beliefs.
Meat products typically contain relatively high levels of steroids and hormones, which may contribute to the hormonal imbalances already present in the system of an acne sufferer (I’d sure like to see a term coined for this breed of humans some day). On the other hand, the best dietary means of redressing a hormonal imbalance appears to be the intake of lots of essential fatty acids (EFA), which the body does not produce naturally. Dr Waite points out that several studies, including some published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology,have shown that the majority of people with hormone-related acne are actually deficient in EFA.
The world is eating healthy!
Therefore, it seems clear that diet plays a significant, if not direct, role in the occurrence of acne. If you go by a 2003 study, you will realize what I mean by significant. Published in the Archives of Dermatology in December 2003, the study focused on the effects of Western and non-Western diets on acne, and concluded that the Western diet somehow contributed to acne outbreaks in more than 80% of American teenagers. By contrast, the study observed 1200 residents – including 300 aged 15-25 – of a Papua New Guinea island and failed to detect a single instance of acne. The researchers noted that the islanders were physically active and subsisted on a low-fat, high-carb diet comprising mostly roots, fruits and vegetables that kept their insulin levels low.
Compare that to the dairy- and protein-rich Western diet and you will realize what Dr Waite means when he talks about “low metabolism” and “difficult digestion”. Logically, therefore, the ideal diet for acne patients is one rich in fruits and vegetables (abundant sources of vitamins and nutrients), whole grain and wheat germ (for fibers and EFA), lentils, beans, and root vegetables. They should also drink lots of water to flush out toxins, and avoid alcohol and caffeine as far as possible.
Even if you don’t have acne, a diet such as the one I have just described can do you no harm. Healthy food is, well, healthy, regardless of the state of your body!













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