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Friday 27 January 2012

Acne And Diet - It Does Matter

Prior to the 60s, everyone thought that there was a link between your diet and the acne you developed. But several studies in the late 60s showed that diet and acne were not related. But because of the way the studies were conducted, these studies were found not to be quite true, there is a connection between acne and diet.

Though there is no concrete evidence, researchers are looking closely at the link between diet and acne. Here is what they know so far.

Dairy Products

Several studies conducted on preteens and teens found that those who consumed several glasses of milk were more likely to develop acne than those who consumed less.

When you cut back on your consumption of milk, ensure you get your vitamins provided by milk from other sources, particularly calcium. Calcium can be obtained from other sources such as supplements, yogurt and tofu.

Weight

Studies have shown that a higher weight, particularly in young women, leads to a higher instance of acne. It is recommended that you keep your Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 to 25.

I do not really buy into the BMI concept bought into by our government, for instance if you are healthy and work out, your BMI will probably be higher than 25.

BMI only takes into account your height and weight, and not your muscle mass. Having a large muscle mass can place your BMI above 25 indicating you are unhealthy, but you could just be extremely fit.

Omega - 3

Omega -3 or fish oil is full of essential fatty acids that are vital for good health. These fats reduce the amount of inflammation you have allowing your immune system to respond normally reducing the inflammation in your hair follicles.

The inflammation in your hair follicles helps promote acne.

Processed Foods

Also referred to as high glycemic index (GI) foods, these foods are foods that are not in their natural state. Foods that fall into this category are white rice, foods made with white flour, lunchmeat, cakes, and cereals to name a few.

These foods cause a spike in your insulin that upset your hormones leading to the development of acne.

They should be replaced with natural foods such as whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, unsaturated fats and other such foods.

Conclusion

Though initial studies in the late 60s determined that your diet does not cause acne, this is being rethought as more evidence comes in showing that your diet can cause acne.

Processed foods are believed to be the biggest contributor to the development of acne in young men and women and should be replaced with natural foods.