Acne And Your Diet

Take a look at yourself in the mirror. You see eye, nose, lips, ears, eyebrows, hair, but most importantly, you see the biggest organ in our bodies: skin. Skin is a huge indicator of our health. Before we begin discussing acne, it is important to know what acne is and how it comes to be. Elizabeth Shimer Bowers writes in an article for WebMD that "acne is a disorder of the turnover of skin cells, called keratinization. Improper skin turnover leads to retained cells, which block the oil glands and pores and trap protein and sebum (your skin's natural oil) under the skin."

What you eat really affects your skin. It tends to be a reflection of your health. If your skin is showing lots of acne, it is probably telling you something. What can it possibly be saying? Well, maybe you are having too much dairy. "According to a review done at The George Washington University Medical Center, cow's milk can spark or worsen breakouts in some people. The culprit is hormones used to encourage growth in cows." I can say from personal experience that my acne has subsided drastically since I went vegan five years ago. It definitely cleared up a lot and the oiliness has been reduced significantly.

Okay, so let us say that milk and dairy are not your problem. Sugar affects your skin as well. "Foods with a high glycemic index appear to cause acne breakouts in some people. High glycemic index foods break down quickly during digestion. They include white bread, potatoes, and sugary drinks and snacks." Since we got to know what you eat to be unhealthy, let us talk about vitamins that are good for your skin.

First, vitamin A: "Vitamin A helps regulate the skin cycle, so no acne-causing protein and oil get trapped," Marmur says. It's the main ingredient in Accutane, an effective prescription medicine for acne. Good food sources of vitamin A include fish oil, salmon, carrots, spinach, and broccoli."

Next, this is a family secret so listen up: vitamin C. I literally use vitamin C every night to scrub my face and get rid of impurities. It gives your face a dewy glow and a sense of freshness. Plus, it smells divine. Vitamin C should also be consumed through your diet. For instance, vitamin C comes in oranges, lemons, tomatoes (did not see that one coming, huh? Me neither! But tomatoes are rich in vitamin C), papaya, and grapefruit.

Another vitamin you should have in your intake daily is vitamin E, which is rich in antioxidants. You can get vitamin E in every day foods like olive oil, sunflower seeds, avocados, broccoli, and nuts.

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