Foods That Kill Acne

Remember that old myth that said most teenagers have pimples and zits that will go away as soon as puberty is over? There are millions of adults in the world that can contradict it by showing that they are still fighting acne even though they are well past their teenage years. In fact, there is no age cap on acne – 20 year-olds can suffer from it just like teenagers and 50 year-olds.

A harsher truth about acne is that we still don’t know exactly what causes it. Sure, we know that fatty glands are responsible (obviously!) for fat building up under our skins, but what determines these glands to become hyper-active every once in a while and cause acne bursts? Some say it is connected to stress levels, other insist on proper diets to prevent acne and then there are those who speak of flawless hygiene to stop bacteria from amassing. While they are all right to some degree, there is a single factor that affects all people, irrespective of age, gender and race: genetics. Sadly, this is what plays the biggest part in the way your skin looks now and in the way it will look in your old age.

Still, even though the looks of our skin are genetically encoded within us, it doesn’t mean that we can just wait for disaster to strike. There are a number of things that we can do to fight the “bad genes” we inherit and a good, balanced diet is one of them. If you are fighting acne, you might have already heard that fat foods and chocolate are your worst enemies. This is true (plus, steering clear of such foods has numerous other benefits!), but you should also know what you can eat and should eat in order to keep acne under control. We prepared a small list of super foods to help you clean your complexion and avoid acne bursts.

FOODS THAT KILL ACNE:

NUTS

Don’t be fooled by the fact that nuts are oily, much like your skin and this means that you should stay away from them. Remember that most cosmetic products dedicated to acne patients are zinc-based? Well, there are no other foods richer in zinc than nuts. Besides, they also contain selenium, potassium, copper, magnesium and vitamin E – all substances that are helpful in keeping acne away from your skin. The best news about this is that all types of nuts have some or all of these substances, so you can’t go wrong with them. Even better, they are very filling and recommended in weight loss diets, too and will also help with your “brain power”. So many wins in a single food!

AVOCADO

If you have been preoccupied about the radiance of your skin and health in general, you must have already heard about the infinite benefits of avocado. Telling you that it rich in antioxidants that fight cancer and keep you young is beyond the scope of this article, so I’ll just point out that it has plenty of vitamin E and vitamin C. The first is essential in maintaining and increasing your skin’s vitality, while the second is the best thing to reduce skin inflammation. Oh, it’s also a natural skin moisturizer, one that keeps it smooth-looking without adding fat to it.

Eat it as is, use it as a basis for sauces or turn it into a delicious guacamole – you have countless choices and combinations at your disposal, so you can eat it almost every day without getting sick of it. Just don’t eat it with nachos, ok?

GRAPES

Yes, we know, the dietitian says that you should avoid them because of their high sugar content. That is true, but grapes (especially the red ones) are also rich in antioxidants that reduce skin inflammation. Even more, their seeds contain powerful chemicals that help treat conditions that are considered worse than acne – psoriasis and eczema are just two examples.

If you are worried about your weight, just don’t overdo it. After all, moderation is key in everything. One last thing about this super food: fermented red grapes in liquid form (also known as wine) don’t count, OK? I mean, sure, you can have it, but just don’t expect it to alleviate your acne.

GARLIC

OK, I’ll just go ahead and admit it, you must have noticed it anyway: we’re past the “glam” part of the article. Nuts, grapes and avocado are sexy foods, you can even have them on a date when you want to impress, but garlic? Yes, I know, that’s not so sexy. But you know what it is? A natural antibiotic. That’s right – if you are using topical antibiotics (in creams and lotions) or administer them internally as acne treatment, you should know that you can get the same substances the natural way.

Granted, garlic is not as powerful as medication (forget what naturopaths tell you, don’t try to cure high fever with it), but the allicin that it contains is extremely helpful in fighting bacteria, viruses and inflammation. That’s why it never hurts to have it along with proper medication during flu season. And if you’re worried about its smell (can’t say that I blame you), try having it at dinner. If you really want to commit to this and eat a lot of garlic, remember that its foul smell will persist through the night (if you eat a lot!), so maybe you should postpone your garlic-fest for a weekend evening. Bonus tip: try combining it with avocado for a truly delicious guacamole.

BROCCOLI

You definitely hated it as a child, you might still hate it, but one thing is for sure: there are few foods that are as good for you as broccoli. When it comes to vitamins, it has almost the entire alphabet: A, B, C, E and K. Needless to say, it’s not just an excellent skin-cleanser, but also a super food that can protect your entire immune system and help keep you in excellent shape.

But we can understand if it’s still not appealing to you, so here’s a quick tip on how to cook it: a creamed broccoli soup with garlic and cheese is the ideal way for you to ingest this veggie without having to taste it – cheese and garlic cover it almost entirely. Add a bit of pepper, too and you’ll be able to (actually) enjoy two of the super foods that help your complexion without having to suffer because of it.

WATERMELON

Eating watermelon can help reduce acne breakouts and keep skin healthier. Eating high GI foods (foods that are absorbed into the bloodstream quickly) is thought to have a direct effect on the severity of acne because of the hormonal fluctuations that are triggered.

Watermelon is a fantastic fruit to eat. It is low in sugar, with just 6 grams per 100 grams, and most importantly, it has a particularly unique acne-improving effect. The majority of fruits, like berries, are useful for their antioxidants and skin-defending nutrients like vitamin C, but the watermelon has a powerful ability to aid your body’s wound healing process.

Therefore eating a watermelon can dramatically accelerate the healing of your old acne – leaving your skin with far less acne overall and causing huge improvements in the overall tone.

FIGS

Figs contain magnesium essential for balancing out acne-inducing hormones, according to LaurenConrad.com. By consuming figs and other rich sources of magnesium, like oatmeal and brown rice, you can help control that hormonal acne.

ARTICHOKES

Another great source of those beneficial antioxidants (and vitamin C)? Artichoke. This fibrous green vegetable helps to remove toxins from the body, making it a great addition for a healthy skin diet.

Which of these is your favorite super food that helps you fight acne? If you have any other foods on your list or perhaps some other tips to keep your skin clear, we’d love to learn about them. Drop us a line in a comment section below and you’ll also get to help other people who deal with the same problem.