Treat Acne Naturally With An Appropriate Diet

Statements like "oily foods cause acne" are considered as myth by scientists as they have not been able to establish any connection between certain diet groups and acne. However, they do concede that a healthy acne diet is crucial for healthy skin.

How Are Acne Formed?

Our skin is the largest organ of the body that helps our body in eliminating waste and toxins. Acne is formed when the skin produces natural oil in excess and it gets accumulated in the skin pores. In most cases, acne starts with the onset of puberty and in some cases it increases during pregnancy due to greater hormone production. However, a proper acne prevention diet supplements the body and immune system with effective nutrients to fight acne.

Diet To Avoid

Prevention is better than cure. A combination of simple diet and proper acne treatment can be very effective in preventing acne. Foods containing saturated fat including meat, dairy (full cream milk and related products) and poultry products must to be avoided as they add to the oily skin. Excessive sugar intake in the form of chocolates, sweets, soft drinks can worsen acne. A high calorie diet can also result in an increased hormone level and 'break-outs' but it has not been proven scientifically. It is important to cut down on processed food, fried food, beverages, junk food or completely replace it with a simple and natural diet to reduce mucoid plaque in the body. A large number of bacteria breed in these pockets, utilizes sugar from the food and releases chemicals causing skin problems.

Diet To Try

Some nutrients need to be included in everyday acne diet to maintain a healthy body and skin. A higher intake of protein in believed to check the production of certain enzymes that support excessive oil production and clogging of skin pores. Fish oil contains omega 3 fats which help to cure acne. Vitamins and minerals also play a significant role in maintaining healthy skin. Some essential ones are listed below -

• Vitamin A - Vitamin A or retinol or beta-carotene is found in fish oils, livers, dairy products, yellow/orange fruits, vegetables like carrot, yams, apricots, cantaloupe, parsley, kale, and spinach. However, if retinol is taken in higher amounts it can be toxic.
• Vitamin B-2 - Stress often increases acne formation. Vitamin B-2 is effective in reducing stress. Sources of vitamin B-2 include whole grain, fish, milk, eggs, and green leafy vegetables.
• Vitamin E - Vitamin E functions as anti-oxidant, nullifying effects of free radicals produced as by-products during body metabolism. Rich sources of vitamin E include almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, broccoli and vegetable oils.
• Zinc - Zinc is another anti-oxidant effective in boosting the performance of immune system, improving the overall quality of skin. Sources include eggs, whole grains and mushrooms.

Everyone's skin type is unique therefore it is important to identify the triggers that cause flare-ups in one's skin. Drinking lot of water and maintaining a healthy acne diet can be helpful in curing bad skin.