Food is vital to human health. It is also obvious that a permanent acne cure would mean avoiding foods that cause acne. This can be challenging for individuals as it requires diligence and perseverance. The acne condition can be triggered by acne hormones in the body and foods that already consists of hormones such as dairy products. Hormones stimulate oil production, thus dairy is the number one thing you want to avoid consuming too much of or consider eliminating altogether.
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Foods that cause acne inflammation
Foods that cause acne inflammation, internal as well as external inflammation are also another thing to watch out for. Two major culprits are wheat (wheat flour, wheat gluten) and vegetable oils. These foods are also the types of foods that trigger acne. Wheat and other hybrid wheat variety grains contain a protein which is difficult for the body to digest.
Vegetable oils and margarine has an inappropriate amount of Omega 6 to 3. Olive Oil (cold-pressed and virgin), Hemp and Flax are safe alternatives to get rid of acne fast as they contain a good dose of anti-inflammatory Omega 3 oil. These oils have a low smoke point so it is best to eat them raw or try light cooking styles like stir-frying and sautéing in low heat.
Another category of foods that aggravate acne are foods that cause oily skin. Oily skin can worsen your acne condition with excess oil; these oils get trapped and harden into nodules, whiteheads and blackheads. These include deep fried foods, pastry, baked goods and nuts.
Sticking to a diet that is free from deep-fried or greasily coated foods is ideal to treating acne. Soft-boiling, steaming, blanching, baking, stir-frying and grilling are healthier ways to cook your food. Try to avoid processed foods that cause acne as much as you can as they are the main foods that cause acne breakouts.
Foods that cause acne
Here is a list of foods that cause acne if you consume them in excess:
- Dairy Products: Milk, butter, ice cream, cream, cheese, chocolate
- Processed Foods and Desserts: Cakes, cookies, pies, cereals, candies, potato chips, crackers, biscuits
- Drinks: Coffee, soft drinks, spirits, hard liquor, wine/beer
- Oil: Vegetable Oil, canola oil, animal lard, sunflower oil, safflower oil, soybean oil
- Sweeteners: Corn Syrup, sugar, artificial sweeteners, aspartame, sucrose
- Nuts & Butters: Peanuts, pecans, walnuts, cashews, peanut butter
Other foods that cause pimples are an excess of carbohydrates. While it is hard to go without carbohydrates as it is a staple, choose the best type: Unprocessed, whole grains, or solid starches such as sweet potatoes, potatoes and yams (taro variety). These starches are higher in vitamins and minerals.
It is recommended for acne sufferers to consume sweet potatoes of the orange flesh variety as they are an excellent source of vitamin A which helps regenerate skin cells and control oil production. They are a great alternative to oral acne medications such as Accutane.
Foods to avoid that cause acne
Acne Sufferers should avoid snacking on too much nuts. If you like nuts, try almonds (which are alkaline-forming by nature) and have them with some dried fruits in moderation. This combination will slow down the amount of sugar released into the blood stream.
A sudden flood of sugar will cause your insulin levels to rise abruptly, increasing hormone production and thus indirectly leading to an acne breakout. This is another reason why you need to stay away from refined, processed foods like white bread, pastry and rice and stick to whole grains, leafy vegetables and fresh fruits.