Clear Skin Eating: Avoid Acne With These Food Choices
You never miss out on skincare basics like cleansing, toning and moisturizing. You make sure you get enough sleep to let your skin rest. You also know how touching your face can cause breakouts. Despite that, you’re experiencing acne. If you’re wondering why, this can be the answer: your food could be causing it. While it remains to be a topic of debate, there have been studies correlating food to acne triggers, some even stating that certain foods increase the likeability of skin breakouts by 10%. With such information on hand, it helps to know exactly which food groups to avoid so you can start to eat better for skin that’s clearer and healthier.
Fast Food, Not Good
We all know that fast food isn’t really a very good food. It’s a common indulgence that poses serious harm to health, skin included. Usually consisting of burgers, pizza, french fries, and other greasy snacks, fast food is also said to work fast in causing acne. It happens when high saturated fats and processed ingredients cause your hormones to go askew. The same imbalance happens to blood sugar levels. When this happens, skin’s natural balance is disrupted, resulting in acne. Can’t stop the fast food craving? Do your healthier version. Opt for a baked potato instead of french fries, or your own chicken breast burger instead of a jumbo beef burger.
Curb the Carbs
The gastronomic joy that you get from foods with refined carbohydrates, sadly, could be wreaking havoc on your skin. Think pasta, cakes, white rice, noodles, cookies, soda, and sweetened juice. Delicious; but skin-health wise, dangerous. This is largely attributed to the effect of refined carbs on blood sugar and insulin levels. Once absorbed into the bloodstream, sugar levels rise causing the insulin level to also spike up. When this happens, androgen hormones become overly active, resulting in the production of a hormone-like growth factor called IGF-1. This growth factor abnormally speeds up the growth of skin cells, triggering excess sebum production. You know how the story ends: the excess oils give you the pesky acne. If you can’t say goodbye to your pasta and desserts, the better option is to simply cut down on your carbs and sugar intake. One bite should be enough to satisfy your craving taste buds.
Alcohol
Talk about skin health, it’s not always cheers, when it comes to alcohol. Call it a treat, but excessive drinking of alcohol alters your hormones. When there is an imbalance of estrogen and testosterone hormones, the skin produces sebum that clogs the pores and makes the skin prone to inflammation. Drinking too much alcohol also affects your body’s overall immunity. When this happens, you also weaken your body’s natural defenses that help protect your skin from bacteria-causing acne. So when out for a celebration where alcohol is part of the party, it pays to be mindful of what the labels say: drink moderately.
Whey Protein Powder
You may be a health buff who’s constant after-gym drink is a whey protein shake. You’re confidently fine because well, what’s not to love in a healthy protein drink? Well, surprise! Whey protein powder can be a silent trigger for acne. Whey protein powder does help you create lean muscles but know too that this health drink’s amino acid content (leucine and glutamine) that makes the skin cells grow and divide quickly can also be a culprit for acne. Keep in mind that making the cells grow quickly boosts oil production which could lead to skin inflammation. Secondly, the amino acid also causes insulin levels to spike, likewise leading to sebum production. Backing this up are case studies linking acne severity to the number of days of whey protein supplements are consumed. Your best bet for this: keep your intake in moderation.
Milk
Milk contains hormones that can make the skin go wild. In fact, there’s a study that says those who regularly consume milk are more susceptible to acne than those who didn’t. It stems from the idea that milk proteins, whey, and casein are thought to bind to the digestive tract receptors.
When this happens, they signal certain molecules to cause skin breakouts. Skim milk in particular, is said to trigger acne. This is because when fat is removed from the milk, more proteins are added to make the milk taste creamier. The additional proteins trigger the skin cells to grow rapidly and produce more sebum. Cow’s milk, on the other hand, contains amino acids that signal the liver to produce an acne-causing hormone-like growth factor (IGF1). As an alternative to milk, you can opt for non-dairy substitutes like almond and coconut.
Foods High in Trans Fats
Just as trans fats clog arteries in the heart, they also clog those tiny blood vessels in the skin. Once blockages happen, inflammation occurs next, resulting in acne flares. Trans fats which come from partially hydrogenated oil are usually high in processed food indulgences like cookies, chips, and cakes. Your best bet is to mindfully check for any trans fat content in your food labels. Opt for the healthier fats like skin-clearing omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseed oil.
It’s true what they say that “you are what you eat.” For skin that’s clearer, you need to eat healthier. Know what to take, what not to take, and what to take in moderation.
To prevent acne, make Lactezin a part of our daily skincare diet. Lactezin has Lactoferrin + d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate + Zinc that work to keep your skin healthy and acne-free.
Lactoferrin has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that protect the skin from irritation. d -Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate is an antioxidant that effectively wards off skin-damaging free radicals. Zinc maintains the skin’s natural moisture balance to keep its healthy glow. For best results, take Lactezin 2x/day.
Lactoferrin + d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate + Zinc is the generic name of Lactezin.
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
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SOURCES:
https://www.thedermspecs.com/blog/5-foods-that-cause-acne/
https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/beauty-style/10-foods-will-make-you-break-out
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-that-cause-acne#section4
