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The Connection between Food and Acne

You may have heard the saying "you are what you eat." Science has long debated whether or not the foods you eat correlates into the amount of acne that your suffer from. Previously, there appeared to be no connection, but newer studies are starting to show an association between the two.

If you are constantly suffering from acne, and traditional methods are not working to get rid of it, it may be time to take a look at what you are eating. Sometimes, a few simple diet changes can not only make you a healthier person overall, but can have dramatic effects on how your skin looks - even if you have been suffering from acne for years!

Not all dermatologists will tell you that your diet can affect how you look - especially since research done decades ago used to state that there was not a connection. But if what you eat can improve your digestive system, heart, or brain function, does it not make sense that it can improve your acne as well?

Some of the foods that you eat will cause acne, while other types of food that you eat can help you fight it. So obviously, if you are suffering from acne, it would make sense to eat more of the foods that help combat it and avoid the foods that cause it as often as you can.

Of all the foods that you eat, vegetable oil is the worst offender when it comes to acne. This is because it causes a shift in your hormones, upping your skin's oil production, which in turn clogs pores and turns into acne breakouts. Eating a greasy, fatty meal can cause an acne breakout to occur out of nowhere and turn into the painful pimples and cysts that you are trying so hard to avoid. If you start to read labels on the foods that you eat on a daily basis, you may be surprised at the amount of vegetable oil that you are eating. Finding ways to reduce or eliminate it can help you with your acne problems.

Some foods are worse than others when it comes to the amount of vegetable oil that they contain. Cooking oils are mostly pure vegetable oil, so you should avoid them as much as possible. Instead of deep frying foods, try baking, or stir frying with only a minimal amount of oil in the pan. Cooking this way will also cause your meals to be healthier overall and lower in fat content.

Junk foods are primary offenders as well. Avoid chips and greasy snacks if you can, choosing fresh fruits and vegetables instead. If you are having a hard time putting the snack food down entirely, try healthier options like plain popcorn or baked chips, as these often contain lower amounts of vegetable oil.

Watch your sauces and condiments. Here you may have to read labels carefully to decide which one is a better choice. For example, in general a marinara sauce will have less oil in it than an Alfredo sauce. However, different brands will have varying amounts. You can try making your own sauces from home, or choosing ones that are lower in fat and oils.