Foods that Cause Acne Breakouts

Acne is a skin condition which affects a lot of people today, not just teens going through puberty and hormonal changes, but also adults. Although it is true that hormonal fluctuation in the body is the primary reason for acne, eating habits also performs a component. Eating the wrong types of food not only leads to conditions such as obesity and diabetes, but also generates an imbalance in the body.

It would however, be a mistake to think that you can cure acne by simply cutting out acne causing foods; you need to take a holistic approach to resolve the condition. It’s, however, the first step in the right way.

Foods that Cause Acne #1 : Junk Foods

Fatty foods create blood sugar instability by making the levels rush up and then plummet just as fast, leading to severe hormonal reactions and consequently, acne. Fatty foods also slow down the circulation of vitamins and minerals and o2 to your body cells which in turn worsens acne.

Refined carbohydrates and sugar are also culprits. Generally, food that’s “white” has had all its nutrients stripped away and the body needs those vitamins and minerals to function and to give you a clear complexion. These types of foods also raise blood sugar as fatty foods do. Sugar aggravates acne as harmful bacteria present in the stomach live off of it and produce toxic elements. Artificial sweeteners are even worse as they also contain harmful chemicals.

Processed foods are refined making digestion problematic, causing allergic reactions, inflammation and exasperating acne. Their ingredients, flavors, colours, and preservatives also cause them to contributors to acne.

Coffee, tea, chocolate, and also energy drinks provide you with which usually needed energy boost but play havoc with your skin. Caffeine has been proven to be an acne trigger by making the adrenalin glands secretes hormones that give you the buzz. These hormones, essentially stress your body badly, affecting not only your skin but also your health. Caffeine also interferes with normal sleep patterns and prevents the attainting of “deep sleep” during which the body engages in repair and detoxification.

Foods that Cause Acne #2 : Natural Baddies

Not many people are aware that the human body is not designed to digest cow’s (or any other animals’) milk. Everyone is allergic to milk, but the difference lies as to whether the reaction is visible. The digestive system lacks the necessary enzymes to digest milk, and the immune system produces a reaction that can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation, thus acne.

Further, homogenized, and pasteurized milk cover the lining of the small intestine with a mucous coat that inhibits assimilation of much needed nutrients. Milk producing cows are also fed antibiotics and hormones to increase production and these harmful chemicals enter your system when you drink milk, or eat other dairy products like cheese, ice-cream which are also fatty.

Be wary of animal proteins that are highly acidic and provide conditions that allow growth of acne causing bacteria. In addition, processed meat has sodium nitrite and sulfur which are all bad for the body and eventually impair your skin’s health.

Gradually cutting out or moderating these acne causing food is the first substantial step towards taking control of your health and helping your skin.

Click the links for a Big List of Foods that Cause Acne or General Information About Acne and It’s Treatments