You’re not a teenager anymore, but your skin is breaking out as if you just celebrated your sweet sixteen. There could be a couple of reasons why you are dealing with acne in adulthood.
You may be surprised to find that your breakouts could be the result of something so simple – your diet! The right eating habits can really make or break how good your skin looks, so if you want to rock a glowing, radiant complexion, read on.
What Causes Acne?
Acne is an inflammation of the skin glands and hair follicles that can eventually cause pimples and blemishes.
Over the last 50 years studies have found that eating foods with a high glycaemic index (GI) and drinking milk can not only aggravate acne, but sometimes trigger it too.
The bad news is that acne doesn’t just affect teenagers, adults can also suffer from it too. Breakouts can come in the forms of blackheads, whiteheads, blemishes that can affect the face, neck and back.
What Can You Do About It?
Remember, earlier I said that studies have found that foods with a high GI have been found to sometimes aggravate or even trigger acne?
Well, then it makes sense that by reducing, or eliminating high GI foods, you should be able to reduce or perhaps even eliminate bad skin (although this isn’t medical advice, so you should check with your doctor first).
Wouldn’t it be awesome if you had a handy-dandy list of some high GI foods?
Well it just so happens you’re in luck!
Foods With High / Medium / Low GIs
Below are examples of foods based on their GI.
High GI – Avoid These Bad Boys
- White bread or bagel
- Corn flakes, puffed rice, bran flakes, instant oatmeal
- Short grain white rice, rice pasta, macaroni and cheese from mix
- Russet potato, pumpkin
- Pretzels, rice cakes, popcorn, saltine crackers
- Melons and pineapple
Medium GI – Okay, But Could Do Better
- Whole wheat, rye and pita bread
- Quick oats
- Brown, wild or basmati rice, couscous
Low GI Foods – Yes, Please!
- 100% stone-ground whole wheat or pumpernickel bread
- Oatmeal (rolled or steel-cut), oat bran, muesli
- Pasta, converted rice, barley, bulgar
- Sweet potato, corn, yam, lima/butter beans, peas, legumes and lentils
- Most fruits, non-starchy vegetables and carrots
Poor Eating Habits
Poor eating habits and lifestyle choices have a huge effect on how good, or not, your skin looks. If you are malnourished, and not getting enough nutrients in your body, your organs will show up in your face.
Everyone knows that if you spent the weekend partying and got a total of 2 hours sleep, and some fast-food… naturally, you won’t look your most radiant.
Duh, right? But skimping on your sleep to binge watch T.V. or working crazy hours and swapping a proper, healthy diet for gallons of coffee is also going to leave your skin begging for some serious r&r.
Did you know your face can also act as a map for other areas of your body?
For example, common areas of face breakouts could indicate that there are issues with other areas of your body.
For example:
Underneath eyes – Kidneys
Forehead – Small intestine
Between your eyes – Liver
Cheeks – Stomach
Chin – Hormonal / Gynecological
How weird is that?
Above and beyond cutting down on dairy and high-GI foods, is there anything else you can do to improve the condition of your skin?
Absolutely! In fact here are 6 simple tips to scintillate your skin to glowing radiance…
6 Tips to Improve Your Skin
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Eat Less Processed Foods
Eating processed foods that are packed with artificial flavors, saturated fats and salts are not only unhealthy for you, but is a great culprit for breakouts.
Not only will it improve your complexion, but you’ll be healthier and you’ll probably lose weight too.
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Drink More Water
Our body is composed of about 75% water, so it’s kind of essential to drink enough of it. Unless you’re going for that dehydrated look (wouldn’t advise it).
Drinking enough water helps to flush out bad toxins and makes your skin look radiant. Not only that, it helps prevent wrinkles because it makes your skin more elastic.
Glowing skin and fewer wrinkles, what’s not to love?
Aim to drink the recommended amount of eight 8-ounce glasses, 2 liters, or half gallon of water. It’s easy to drink more water, and it’s also one of the most profound things you can do to improve your health.
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Exercise Every Day
Working out can lessen breakouts, help you sleep better and relieve stress (which is good whichever way you look at it). Plus, since stress can cause breakouts, less stress = fewer breakouts and also a happier you. Win, win, win!
Just make sure to wipe your face post workout with an astringent to clear your pores of dirt and oils until you can wash your face.
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Eliminate Stress
Reducing your stress is just good for you all round. You’ll be a happier, healthier and you’ll look better all over.
The good news: you don’t have to become a Buddhist monk to meditate, do yoga, find a stress free hobby, or simply relax and make sleep a priority (improving your sleep is HUGE when it comes to reducing stress, since most of us Westerners are running around sleep-deprived).
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Don’t Touch Your Face
Surfaces are loaded with germs and bacteria. (You watch T.V. so you’ve seen those ads.)
Anyway, this is one of the ways colds are spread so easily and fast, so don’t touch your face, not only to help prevent yourself from getting sick, but also to keep the dirt, germs and who-knows-what-else from getting into your precious pores.
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Cleanse Like a Boss
Cleanse your face before bed and never ever go to bed wearing makeup – it’s one of the worst things you can do to your complexion.
Here’s an awesome little guide on how to cleanse your face properly, if you’re interested – make it an essential part of your skincare routine.
Remember, wipe your face with an astringent right after workouts to kill bacteria and clean up any dirt and oils until you’re able to wash your face.
To sum it all up…
When the body doesn’t get the nutrients it needs things just don’t work properly. The warning signs will come about in your mood, bodily functions and the quality of your skin.
Eat clean, eat healthy and your body will get all the nutrients it needs. You may even be surprised at how MUCH difference it makes to the quality of your skin.
(P.S. If you have chronic breakouts, don’t pick or touch your face you could make it worse! See a dermatologist.)
Teena Cathey is a certified personal trainer who focuses on endurance and energy training. She runs two group fitness boot camp classes called Go Harder in Detroit, MI. Teena is author of the free ebook, How to Find The Right Personal Trainer. When not with clients Teena enjoys painting, playing basketball or with her dog Mister. She’s very social, follow her on... Read More
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