Diet & Acne - Eat Your Way to Clearer Skin
It has long been felt that acne and diet had no connection.
Recent findings now suggest otherwise.
Researchers have now discovered what's being regarded as a definite connection between the onset of acne and diet.
The focus of this research was the effect on the skin of changes in the levels of insulin and glucose in the body.
It's now felt that the severity of acne and its development are influenced by carbohydrates with a high "Glycemic Index", a scale which refers to the affect carbohydrates have on the body's insulin levels.
In contrast, carbohydrates with a low "GI", combined with a diet high in protein, appear to reduce acne.
One revealing study was carried out at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia, where a group of 43 men aged from 15 to 25 were broken into two groups.
The first was fed a "normal" diet of junk food, with bread and potatoes.
(the latter contain a lot of high GI carbohydrates).
The other group ate comparatively healthy foods with a low GI level, like pasta, whole grain bread, beans and legumes, along with other high protein foods.
The outcome was apparently astonishing with a 50% decrease in acne for the group eating a healthy, high protein, low GI diet.
This suggests a link between acne formation and diet.
The head researcher, Dr Mann, has since published a booklet "The Teenage Anti-Acne Diet" in conjunction with the Australian College of Dermatologists.
So What Does This Mean For Acne Sufferers? This research is interesting since it goes against the common opinion on acne and diet.
While these findings are a good news story, it's clear that more research needs to be carried out.
The reality is that a healthy diet alone is unlikely to cure acne, though it's surely a contributing factor.
The wider benefits are to one's health in general.
We all know we should attempt to eat a healthy diet, though now, for youth and young men who stereotypically care less about diet, there is a more immediate and cosmetic benefit of doing so.
What to Eat
At the very least you will be on track to a happier, healthier lifestyle, while you may well reduce the severity and incidence of acne outbreaks.
Recent findings now suggest otherwise.
Researchers have now discovered what's being regarded as a definite connection between the onset of acne and diet.
The focus of this research was the effect on the skin of changes in the levels of insulin and glucose in the body.
It's now felt that the severity of acne and its development are influenced by carbohydrates with a high "Glycemic Index", a scale which refers to the affect carbohydrates have on the body's insulin levels.
In contrast, carbohydrates with a low "GI", combined with a diet high in protein, appear to reduce acne.
One revealing study was carried out at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia, where a group of 43 men aged from 15 to 25 were broken into two groups.
The first was fed a "normal" diet of junk food, with bread and potatoes.
(the latter contain a lot of high GI carbohydrates).
The other group ate comparatively healthy foods with a low GI level, like pasta, whole grain bread, beans and legumes, along with other high protein foods.
The outcome was apparently astonishing with a 50% decrease in acne for the group eating a healthy, high protein, low GI diet.
This suggests a link between acne formation and diet.
The head researcher, Dr Mann, has since published a booklet "The Teenage Anti-Acne Diet" in conjunction with the Australian College of Dermatologists.
So What Does This Mean For Acne Sufferers? This research is interesting since it goes against the common opinion on acne and diet.
While these findings are a good news story, it's clear that more research needs to be carried out.
The reality is that a healthy diet alone is unlikely to cure acne, though it's surely a contributing factor.
The wider benefits are to one's health in general.
We all know we should attempt to eat a healthy diet, though now, for youth and young men who stereotypically care less about diet, there is a more immediate and cosmetic benefit of doing so.
What to Eat
- Whole grains
- Whole wheat bread
- Whole wheat pastas
- Oatmeal
- Brown rice
- Fresh vegetables
- Fruit
- Lean protein
- Junk foods
- High sugar snacks
- High GI Carbohydrates, like potatoes and white bread
At the very least you will be on track to a happier, healthier lifestyle, while you may well reduce the severity and incidence of acne outbreaks.
Source...