I have combination skin like many others, and because my skin can get dry and oily in different parts of my face and at different timings, acne is something that comes and goes too. While I still have the occasional pimples, I’d have to say my skin now is a great improvement from just half a year ago and when I do get acne and pimples, they recover and heal faster than before. So what exactly did I do to make the positive change? Well, I just made two changes: switching to a less acidic diet and opting for organic skincare.
Why an acidic diet can cause acne
Cheek acne (and sometimes jawline and chin acne too) are usually indicators of your intestines being clogged and unclean but acne in general is usually a sign of the body being too acidic. Acidity is not determined by how the food taste, but rather by the pH of the food you eat during and after digestion. What happens when you eat foods that are acidic is your body tries to purge out the waste and toxins which are by-products of digesting those food, and acne is one of those ways
Why dairy can cause acne
I avoid dairy as much as I can as dairy have very little benefits for the body and causes chronic acne . The reason for this is because the bodies of adult humans have lesser enzymes of lactase and rennin that are used to break down the lactose in milk, thus making dairy food really hard to digest and leaving acidic residue in our body that eventually leads to acne as one of the side effects. There is a reason why babies wean after a certain amount of time. If you are worried about not getting your calcium fix, green vegetables do contain calcium and it is not true that you have to take heaps of greens to get the sufficient amount of calcium for your body needs.
Why you should avoid meat
Meat as we know it nowadays, are pumped with antibiotic and growth hormones. And their bodies work just like ours – when toxins are consumed, it is stored in their fats to protect their organs because the body’s priority is internally before externally. So in this sense, animals pumped with antibiotics and growth hormones grow bigger faster and have more to sell. We in turn consume these antibiotics and hormones when we eat these meat in excess. Not to mention that meat is also another acidic food. If you have to get meat, its best to get grass fed animals, in other words, organic meat. But I understand that organic meat can be out of budget for some of us. The best is to avoid meat, or if you have to eat it, be sure to remove the skin and fats as much as you can.
What foods to take if you are acne-prone
Include foods that are high in fiber. Take lots and lots of water and vegetables and fruits, especially vegetables with Vitamin A such as arugula, broccoli, and cantaloupe. Also include foods rich in zinc as having a zinc deficiency can cause acne. Foods high in zinc includes pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and coconut. Watercress is also good for warding off acne as it contains Vitamins A, B1, B2, C and E. Thyme is another vegetable to include on the list of foods that help fights acne. Apart from having foods high in fiber, make sure you eat a balanced meal and visit the toilet regularly to remove all the toxins.
Why overloading on skin care products aggravate acne
Finally, do watch what you use on your skin. Back in the days when I wasn’t aware about the ingredients in my products, I had no idea that the moisturizers I used had either ingredients that were skin irritants (I also have eczema), or ingredients that coat your skin with a layer of moisture while suffocating your skin. This is why any petroleum based products should be highly frowned upon. Your skin is clogged, not just from oil and dirt, but also probably from moisturizers with the ‘dirty dozen’ ingredients! If organic products are not something you would invest in, my advice is to pile lesser products on your face and body. That way, you let your skin have a chance to breathe and possibly regenerate on its own.
Watch what you eat!
My experience tells me that our skin can’t regenerate on its own without the help of improving our diet. So if you’re acne-prone, then you really have to watch what you’re putting in your mouth.
