Foods to avoid if you have Acne

There are many dermatologists who believe that food and acne have no connection but there are many other dermatologists who know the truth, that there is an undeniable link between what you eat and your acne outbreaks.

It is best to begin by looking at how well your digestive system is functioning. Do you suffer from gas, indigestion, constipation, loose stools or bloating? If the answer is yes then you need to address and treat these digestive issues first. Clear, healthy skin is dependant upon a strong, well functioning digestive system. Supplements, acupuncture and nutrition are very successful in the treatment of digestive conditions.

If your digestive system is working well but you still have these acne outbreaks it is time to look at diet and lifestyle. It is very important to keep your blood sugar balanced and how you do this is by avoiding refined carbohydrates (white bread, sugar). When you eat these blood sugar spiking foods your pancreas responds by releasing large quanitites of INSULIN. Remember insulin is a hormone and we need to keep our hormones balanced if we want good skin. So now we have ingested these unhealthy foods which cause hormonal fluctuations but they also cause internal inflammation in the body.

Tips on how to keep your internal system balanced:

1. Drink water to carry away waste products the body needs water to carry away waste products.

2. Regulate the immune system and digestive system with acidophilus and calm down inflammation.

3. Increase your intake of essential fatty acids (omega 3 oils). I would highly recommend supplementing with NutraSea fish oil. Try to consume fish five times a week (Wild Salmon)

4. Eat hormone- and antibiotic-free meats, poultry. What an animal is fed during rearing is very important. A corn/grain based diet is standard livestock fare and it results in a very high omega 6 content and higher overall fat compared to a grass fed animal. Grass fed animals have a much higher content of omega 3.

5. Eat a whole foods diet high in vegetables, fish and whole grains to detox. Vegetables are necessary to decrease inflammation. Eat vegetables that are bright in color they have the highest nutritional value.

6. Avoid inflammatory foods. These foods include coffee, chocolate, dairy, sugar, potatoes, corn, peanuts, and wheat. All these foods are difficult for the body to digest and create inflammation.

7. I would recommend following the alkaline food chart. Your diet should be 75% alkaline. If you would like a copy of an alkaline food chart just email me at info@sknclinic.ca and I will send you one.

**There are many other factors to consider on your journey to clear and healthy skin. Stay tuned to learn how chinese medicine can treat your acne.**