Next, treatment options for acne include topical creams and oral medications,
but a simpler holistic approach may involve adjusting your diet.
Here's Gina Murray with StrongMindedBody.
What we fill our plates with could significantly affect the health and appearance of our skin.
A comprehensive review was published in Nutrients last month
and explored the link between certain foods and acne.
Foods that play a negative role in the development of the condition,
according to the review, included dairy, fried foods,
alcohol, gluten, eggs, corn, sweets, and soft drinks.
Treatment options for acne may include topical creams and oral medications,
but a simpler and more holistic option is simply adjusting your diet.
So let's look at some foods that may exacerbate acne and other skin issues
a little bit more in depth.
So according to the recent review, here are some of the foods that contribute to acne.
Let's start with number one, chocolate.
Chocolate was found to be an instigator.
That's right, the review noted that in one study of 25 acne-prone men,
99% dark chocolate worsened symptoms of acne.
Number two, fats.
So saturated fatty acids and trans fats are found in all types of fast foods
like chips, pizza, burgers, and so on.
Now these may be potential triggers of acne.
A high intake of saturated fatty acid is primarily found in palm oil,
cottonseed oil, cocoa butter, and lard.
And this can increase sebum production,
and it can also increase the formation of blackheads.
Number three, sugar.
Sweet foods, particularly those with a high glycemic index such as soft drinks,
can increase insulin levels.
Elevated insulin levels may stimulate the production of oils in the skin
and trigger the development of acne.
Of course, number four, let's look at milk and dairy products.
That's right, dairy products like milk and cheese are particularly high in fat,
and they're of course processed.
Now these products have been linked to skin issues such as acne
because of the hormones they contain.
So you may want to consider cutting down or cutting it out.
And of course, number five is alcohol.
Consuming alcohol can increase testosterone levels and weaken the immune system.
This can lead to inflammation and bacterial growth
and potentially cause acne.
So let's look at a diet that can promote skin health.
You want to add antioxidant packed fruits and vegetables.
Get in lots of smoothies.
Consider omega-3 fatty acids from sources like fatty fish and walnuts.
Of course, probiotics from foods like yogurt,
and of course, fermented vegetables is the way to go.
