Acne Control

Diet for Beautiful Skin

What you put into your body is just as important as what you put on your skin.

Thousands of dollars spent on the most expensive creams and lotions will do nothing for your blemished skin, if you do not take care of your insides as well.

Here are ten nutrition tips to acne control and blemish free skin:

1. Some doctors refer to the skin as the “third kidney” for its ability to get rid of toxins. Eating a high fibre diet to keep your colon clean is crucial to get rid of your body’s toxins the correct way, before the toxins finds it way out through your skin.
2. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Start each day by drinking at least two glasses of water in one go to flush out your system and kick start your body’s metabolism. Drink every two hours afterwards.
3. Eat lots of fruit for its water content and nutritional value. Fruits such as pineapples and strawberries have high quantities of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), which can be put on the skin to help exfoliate and remove dead skin cells too.
4. Good natural raw foods will speed up healing and help clear the skin faster. Raw carrots for vitamin A, raw cherry tomatoes for vitamin C and lycopene and nuts such as cashews and almonds are all great raw foods. Make sure the raw food you eat is fresh and of high quality.
5. A diet low in zinc may contribute to acne flare ups. Zinc is an antibacterial agent and is responsible for wound healing, cell division, growth and repair. Eating a zinc rich diet such as shellfish, whole grains, pumpkin seeds, eggs and beans will reduce inflammation and heal lesions.
6. Be sure your diet also include vitamins A, C and E. Vitamin A has long been touted as the “skin’s vitamin”, and synthetic derivatives from it are made into Retin-A and Accutane, products widely used for treating acne. (note: Do not exceed recommended doses of vitamin A as it can be toxic). Vitamin C is vital for the formation of collagen, a substance responsible for growth of new cells and tissues. It also reduces inflammation, healing scar tissues. Vitamin E is a potent anti-oxidant, protecting the body from cellular damage (scar prevention) and an essential component against aging of the skin.
7. Essential fatty acids such as evening primrose oil and flaxseed oil supplies essential gamma-linolenic acid to the skin, maintaining its suppleness and smoothness. It also helps to dissolve fatty deposits that tend to block pores and aids in the healing process. Fatty fish is an excellent source of Omega 3, and can help calm skin inflammation. Read more here….
8. Avoid all forms of sugar. Researchers have found that acne sufferers are more likely to suffer serious imbalances in their skin tissues’ glucose tolerance, and eating a diet high in sugar will only aggravate the breakouts.
9. Cut down on dairy products as much as possible. Fat contents in full fat dairy products could aggravate acne especially in those who are intolerant. If you are not sure whether this applies to you, cut out dairy products for a month and see if your skin’s condition improves. If you are not allergic, make sure you eat low fat organic yogurt to maintain a healthy intestine.
10. Banish all processed foods from your diet. That means fast and convenience foods such as burgers, chips and all things fried. Process foods are also high in iodine (salt), and unhealthy fats which have been shown to trigger skin eruptions. Avoid salty foods and adding extra salt to your meals.

It pays to take a good quality multi vitamin and mineral supplement for women and a good quality multi vitamin and mineral supplement for men, to make sure your body is not deficient in the essential components to fight unsightly eruptions and scars.

Acne control must be tackled from the outside as well as the inside of your body.