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| Like it or not, believe it or not, accept or deny
it, if you will, but research has indeed proven that there is
a concrete link between diet and acne. Official or otherwise,
the fact remains that what goes into your body (whether food or
medication) has an effect on the health and vitality of the skin
and organs, as well as, the hormonal balances that maintain the
various systems.
Diet has been associated with multiple health issues for centuries.
In fact, at present, diet is the leading contributor to deaths
related to heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer in the
United States. So, it becomes a real 'head in the sand' issue
for anyone who chooses to deny any diet/health connection regarding
acne.
To treat or even PREVENT acne, let's look at what some of the
research has revealed:
Control Your Diet!
Research has revealed that in cultures around the world existing
primarily on a plant based diet, there are fewer incidences
of acne. In fact, in many of these populations, there are almost
no incidences of acne.
* A plant-based, low fat diet, can reduce the amount of sebum
(fatty material) present on your skin in as little as 4 to 7
days. This should translate to a reduction in acne incidences
within approximately one month. It's important to understand
that this type of diet must be adhered to faithfully in order
to achieve the maximum results. Even a small binge could result
in a new outbreak of pimples within a very short period time.
And, don't be fooled by foods commonly regarded to contain healthy
fats, such as olives, avocadoes, seeds, nuts and especially
soybeans and vegetable oils. These too should be reduced or
eliminated from your dietary intake.
Avoid foods listed high
on the glycemic index - 71 to 100
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- Avoid -
French Bread 95
Rice Cereal 88
Baked Potato 85
Corn Flakes 84
Mashed Potatoes 73
Bagel 72
Watermelon 72
Carrots 71
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- Use Moderation -
Instant Oatmeal 66
Raisins 64
Ice Cream 61
Granola Bar 61
Blueberry Muffin 69
White Rice 56
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- Include -
Fat Free Milk 32
Peach 28
Plum 24
Cherries 22
Soybeans 18
Tomatoes 15
Broccoli 15
Asparagus 15
Cucumber 15
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| * Suggestions for switching to a lower glycemic
load diet include switching to breakfast cereals that contain
bran, barley and oats, as well as reducing the amount of potatoes
that you consume. Other tips include adding lots of fresh vegetables
and fruit to your diet. And, also worth remembering is that while
nuts are a good source of selenium, there are other foods that
can provide this needed nutrient without the acne related side
effects of walnuts, almonds, filberts and Brazil nuts.
* Limiting or eliminating sodas from your diet. Sodas contain
a significant source of sugar and are ranked at 63 on the glycemic
index. Try switching instead to water, herbal teas and vegetable
juices.
* Study after study has concluded that large amounts of milk
and dairy products lead to the development of acne. You can
get all the calcium you need through other supplements such
as soy milk. And, it's important to remember that it doesn’t
really matter whether you drink whole or skim milk, the result
is generally the same. In fact, some studies concluded that
acne actually grew worse when the participants drank skim milk.
* Avoid certain foods such as alcohol, caffeine (affects liver
detoxification), hydrogenated oils, fried food, and cigarette
smoking. While these do not cause the problem, they may work
to trigger or worsen acne.
Disclaimer: The medical
information provided in this site is for educational purposes
only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice and shall not create a physician
- patient relationship. If you have a specific question or concern
about a skin lesion or disease, please consult a dermatologist.
Any use, re-creation, dissemination, forwarding or copying of
this information is strictly prohibited.
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