Is there any acne and diet connection? What kind of diet should be taken to prevent acne? Read on to find the answers…
Pimples, pustules, blackheads, whiteheads – these are the different ways in which acne shows up on the skin of a person. Many people have this wrong notion that acne affects only teens and youngsters in their early twenties. This is a myth as acne is known to affect people in their thirties, forties and fifties as well. Likewise, there are many other myths associated with acne.
For instance, some people say that the diet that a person takes has a direct bearing on the condition of the skin. And that there are certain foods that can aggravate acne. Doctors and medical experts have long been saying that this is a myth. According to them, diet has no connection with acne. So, is the acne and diet connection really a myth? Or is there something more than what meets the eye. Let’s try to find out…
Are Acne and Diet Connected?
A few decades back, there were some studies done which concluded that diet and acne are not related at all. However, now, researches in the field proclaim that there is a very strong link between the two and that the studies that were done before, were flawed.
According to the theories doing the rounds these days, acne results from two main factors i.e. inflammation as well as any increase or decrease in the blood sugar levels of the body. Since diet greatly affects the blood sugar levels in the body, this establishes a link between diet and acne. As for inflammation, it weakens the immunity, causing the bacteria such as those that cause acne to take over. Thus, both these conditions can amount to acne breakouts. Next, let us have a look at how diet changes the blood sugar levels in the body as well as causes inflammation.
When a person overeats, his body is not able to burn the extra calories. These calories, overtime, get deposited as fats. A person gains weight in such circumstances and due to this, he develops insulin resistance. When this condition occurs, it plays havoc with the blood sugar levels in the body, resulting in acne breakouts.
Another situation is when a person takes a diet which is rich in fats. This too develops insulin resistance in the body, altering the blood sugar levels and thus, causing acne. Then, there are high glycemic index (GI) foods. Processed foods and refined foods fall in this category. These foods increase the blood sugar levels considerably. In order to stabilize, the body releases huge quantity of insulin, which crashes down the blood sugar levels, resulting in acne.
As for inflammation, there are certain foods which are known to cause this condition in the body. Preservatives, food colors, additives and many other chemicals in foods can lead to inflammation. Refined sugar, grains, all dairy products, vegetable oils, processed food – these are known to cause inflammation too. Also, if a person has some sort of allergy from certain foods (for example, lactose intolerance is an allergy from milk products), it is very likely that if he takes such foods, he will develop an inflammation.
A medical condition known as leaky gut syndrome, which develops from taking a poor diet, damages the bowel lining and causes inflammation. And as mentioned above, inflammations can lead to acne, this shows that there is a strong acne diet connection.
Diet to Prevent Acne
In order to prevent acne breakouts, taking a healthy, balanced diet and avoiding the foods that cause acne, such as the ones mentioned in the last segment, is very important. The first thing that a person suffering from acne has to do is to avoid overeating. Intake of fatty foods should be kept in check too. However, foods which are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, such as fish, olive oil and flaxseed should be included in the diet.
Foods rich in fiber are a must have as they eliminate wastes and fats from the body, at the same time, keep the blood sugar levels in check. One of the important acne diet tips is to eat foods in their natural form. Processed and refined foods should be avoided. The diet to avoid acne should mainly consist of fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats.
Though, there is no concrete proof behind acne and diet connection, nevertheless, if you take a balanced diet, it will help your skin to become clear and glowing. Besides, changes in diet, drinking a gallon of water everyday, exercising regularly and maintaining cleanliness is the key to prevent acne.
