Do you find yourself breaking out more than a hormonal teenager? The culprit could be what you are eating.
Even if you are eating a healthy diet, there might be some unknown trigger foods that are causing your breakouts. After all, the skin is your largest organ, and what you eat will reflect on the outside of your body, as much as the inside.
Here are some of the top foods that bring on breakouts:
7 Acne-Causing Foods to Avoid:
1. Dairy Products
Milk is staple in the standard American diet. But, should it be?
Dairy undoubtedly has some issues. But when it comes to acne, there are 2 key issues which come up.
Dairy is highly insulinogenic, which means that your body is producing quite a bit of insulin when you drink milk. This is not good for your skin.
The 2nd issue, is somewhat unique to milk, and that is a hormone-dense delivery system. Hormonal issues have been associated with acne problems for many years. If acne is a problem for you, then avoid dairy.
2. Fried Food
Greasy fast foods can worsen acne to a good extent. Fat and grease present in the processed fried foods can make your skin look unhealthy and can even lead to accumulation of excess oil.
3. Juices and Sodas
It is a well-known fact that sodas and juices are nothing more than sugar-delivery drinks. But, did you know that it is the absence of fiber, which makes them the worst contenders among foods that cause acne?
Fiber is an importnat nutrient in preventing blood sugar spikes. Without fiber, you may experience premature aging with your skin. When you drink your sugar, wrinkles will soon follow, along with those extra pounds.
4. Potato Chips
According to studies by Mayo Clinic, certain hormones, as well as foods that cause a hormonal response, can trigger breakouts. For instance, androgen hormones that spike in both female and male teens in puberty, can produce excess oils, cause sebaceous glands to enlarge, which in turn clog your pores and turn into pimples.
But, other hormonal factors–including pregnancy, diet and the use of oral contraceptives, can also worsen the frequency and severity of acne.
Diet affects acne, when the foods you eat, which are foods that are high in carbohydrates and dairy cause a change in hormone levels. Which is why high glycemic foods or carbohydrates such as crackers, bread and chips, can spur a face full of acne.
5. Saturated Fat
Burgers, fried chicken and fast food meals are to be avoided if you want clear skin. This is because they have high saturated fat.
A research in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics studied a range of diet habits and acne, and found that individuals who had moderate to severe acne consumed more saturated fat, as compared to those with mild acne or clear skin.
It is not well understood, but saturated fat may increase certain growth factors, which may contribute to breakouts.
6. Too Much Meat Consumption
According to Susan Tucker, Founder of Green Beat Life Beauty and holistic nutritionist, beauty may only be skin deep, but it also reflects how happy our digestive situation is.
She said that plant eaters have a certain glow. “Many people find that their rosacea, acne, or eczema clears up when they give up meat.” This is because the fiber, antioxidants and minerals present in a plant-based diet help your system to detoxify daily, therefore contributing to healthier skin.
7. White Bread
Foods such as oatmeal, bagels, pasta, pretzels and cereal, have been proven to accelerate the skin’s aging process and wreak havoc on your skin, therefore causing rosacea and acne “, according to Tasneem Bhatia, MD, a weight-loss expert. Also, those self-proclaimed “healthy” cereals that have whole grains, and which are lower in glycemic index, can be filled with wrinkle-inducing glucose.
Swapping white bread for the whole-grain variety, can help clear up your skin.
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