This is sometimes hard to talk about but I remember getting lots of acne all over my forehead, my chin- it was painful. Even as an adult I have my rough days. I had it on my back, my chest and it seemed no matter what I washed it with it still came back. Turns out it was all about what I was putting into my body that made all the difference. I’m going to talk about eliminating five foods that helped me get started on my journey to clearer skin.
"I lived through that in the public eye. But when I first got pregnant I started to eliminate dairy from my diet and drank a lot more water, which made a huge difference to my skin."
Alicia Keys, Singer
If there’s one beauty goal we all aspire to, it’s clearer skin. Whether you suffer from full-blown acne or just the occasional breakout, it’s good to know that clearer skin is something you can achieve by starting with the inside – what you eat.
1. DAIRY PRODUCTS
Dairy products like cow’s milk, cheese, and yogurt are known to be triggers for breakouts, thanks to their high hormone content, which can lead to inflammation and skin conditions such as acne.
The high sugar level in cow’s milk doesn’t help either, as it can stimulate oil production – meaning you end up with greasy, spotty skin.
And the whey protein in cow’s milk is high in the amino acids leucine and glutamine that can cause your cells to grow rapidly, also leading to inflammation.
Luckily, there are many alternatives to cow’s milk out there. Try goat’s, almond, coconut, or cashew milk, vegan cheese, and vegan protein shakes to eliminate this skin enemy from your diet.
2. PEANUT BUTTER
Peanut butter can trigger breakouts, thanks to its high levels of omega-6 fats that cause inflammation. As we already know that inflammation leads to acne, peanut butter is definitely something to avoid.
As an alternative, go for sunflower butter or almond butter. You can use them on toast, smoothies, or energy bites, and you could see a big difference within a really short space of time if you eliminate these fats.
3. WHITE BREAD
The carbs in refined grains like white bread, rice, and crackers raise your blood sugar levels, which in turn cause the hormone insulin to be released. You can suffer a hormone imbalance as a result, which is bad news for your skin.
Make the switch to wholegrain bread, crackers, rice, and pasta. Experiment and see what works best for you. Some people have a sensitivity to gluten, so it could be that trying gluten-free varieties of these products is the best option for you.
You don’t necessarily have to cut out white bread entirely. Try cutting down and see if that has a beneficial effect on your skin.
4. REFINED SUGARS
You’ve got it, anything refined is most definitely not skin-friendly, and this includes our next food group: refined sugars.
Avoid any processed sugars, including white sugar and corn syrup. Just like refined grains, once they’re in your bloodstream, your blood sugar levels will rocket, triggering overproduction of insulin and all the inflammation and breakouts that come with that.
There are so many alternatives to refined sugars out there that you can experiment with. Try natural products like maple syrup or honey for your natural sweetness fix and see the difference they make to your skin.
5. YOUR PERSONAL TRIGGERS
Our list isn’t exhaustive. You might eliminate every item and still suffer from breakouts, so it’s worth figuring out what works for you personally, as we’re all unique individuals.
In this case, it’s worth taking a few more actions. You could consult a doctor to see whether your skin issues are linked to a hormonal imbalance.
Or it might be that you are sensitive to one type of food that is totally unexpected. You can find this out by following an elimination diet. It’s pretty simple – stop eating foods that you suspect might be causing you issues and then reintroduce them one at a time, looking for symptoms that point to the culprit.
A PATH TO BRIGHTER, CLEARER SKIN
Without a doubt, there’s a link between what you put into your bodies and what you get out. So it stands to reason that food is going to have a major influence on the state of your skin. By taking our tips as a starting point, you are already on a path to getting brighter, clearer skin that’s a reflection of a healthy and harmonious inner and outer you!
