Today, nearly eighty percent of adults face some form of acne, whether from stress, hormone imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, or eating food that triggers adult acne. A healthy diet for acne, rich in cleansing food remedies for acne can help nourish the body, leading to clear, unblemished skin.
What to Avoid: Food that Triggers Adult Acne
There is no one single food that triggers adult acne for everyone, but rather a combination of unhealthy eating habits, and poor digestion. Some people may be more affected by a specific acne trigger food, such as butter and cheese, while others are able to handle richer foods without a problem. Eliminating one food that triggers adult acne at a time for one to two weeks, can help decipher a specific culprit, although difficult to digest, processed, and fatty foods will always have a negative impact on the digestive tract to some degree, put strain on the liver and kidneys, and force the body to eliminate toxins through the skin, leading to imbalance, blemishes, and inflammation.
Foods to avoid in a diet for acne include:
- soda
- alcohol
- coffee
- red meat and pork
- cheese, butter, and cream
- fried foods
- processed white flour and white sugar products
- cocoa and chocolate
- an excess of iodine rich foods — seafood and fish
- eggs
- citrus
What to Eat: Natural Food Remedies for Acne
Foods that are rich in nutrients, water, and fiber are ideal to help the body eliminate waste and regenerate healthy tissue, making raw fruits and vegetables the most important component of a diet for acne. They supply plenty of nutrients specifically necessary for skin problems. Vitamin A, or one of the precursors to vitamin A, such as beta-carotene, is used to strengthen mucous membranes, including the protective layer of skin tissue, as well as for cell regeneration and immune health; the B-complex vitamins help to reduce stress and improve circulation; vitamin C and E help to reduce inflammation and promote tissue regeneration; and, zinc is beneficial for tissue healing, and regulating oil gland activity.
Whole grains are also important food remedies for acne. Excellent sources of minerals and the B-complex vitamins, oats, barley, quinoa, and brown rice are all rich in dietary fiber, which helps the body to get rid of waste and toxins naturally.
A daily cup of yogurt is another necessary eating habit for clear skin. Yogurt provides the body with probiotics, which increase the number of friendly flora in the digestive tract. Probiotics manage bad bacteria and toxins, and improve overall immunity and digestion.
Following a Diet for Acne
Eating a healthy, cleansing diet, along with drinking at least eight glasses of water and fresh fruit juices a day will at least minimize most cases of adult acne. Topical remedies can only fight bacteria on the skin, and possibly even cause dry skin. Eating food remedies for acne addresses this common dilemma at it's root. Without a strong digestive tract, and an abundance of nutrients to constantly regenerate healthy skin tissue, blemishes may always return. With a diet for acne, the whole body is able to reach a state of balance and optimum health.
Sources:
Balch, Phyllis A. "Prescription for Nutritional Healing." Fourth Edition (Penguin Books, 2006).
Page, Linda. "Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone, 11th Edition" (Traditional Wisdom, 2003).
photo credit: Southwestern Media Communications
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