Worst Foods For Your Skin

Tired of persistent breakouts? Before you try another trendy product or prescription medication, consider a holistic approach instead.

Start with your diet. It's a simple, cost-effective way to improve your skin and one you can start today.

Here's a breakdown of foods I'd recommend avoiding and incorporating:

Foods to Avoid

• Refined carbohydrates: White bread, pastries

• Sugary drinks: Energy drinks, soda

• Processed meats: Lunch meat, hot dogs

• Dairy: Milk, cheese, yogurt

• Peanuts: Can trigger allergies or inflammation

• Soy isolate: Often processed and can cause hormonal imbalances

• Canola, sunflower, safflower, vegetable oil: High in omega-6 fatty acids, which can contribute to inflammation

• Coffee: Can exacerbate acne, especially for those sensitive to caffeine

• Gluten: For those with gluten sensitivity, it can trigger inflammation

• Alcohol: Alcohol can burden your liver, an organ crucial for hormonal balance.

Foods to Incorporate

• Organ meats: Liver, kidney, heart

• SMASH fish: Salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, herring

• Bone broth: Rich in collagen and minerals

• Variety of fruits and vegetables: Aim for a rainbow of colors

• Turmeric: A powerful anti-inflammatory spice

• Gluten-free grains: Quinoa, rice, millet

• Fermented foods: Kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut, miso

• Organic, high-quality meat: Consider local sources

• Caffeinated tea: Matcha can be a healthier alternative to coffee

But remember, it's all about balance. If this overwhelms you, start by adding in 2-3 new nutrient-dense foods, see how you feel, and go from there. In school, we learn about the crowding out method. Instead of “dieting”, you focus on adding IN more nutrient-dense options into your diet rather than removing or restricting yourself. So much of knowing what’s right for you is about tuning in and listening to your body and intuition.

Remember: Food doesn’t heal you, but it is HIGHLY involved in the healing process. The body heals itself with the support of the nutrients you eat. So think about what nutrients are present in the foods you’re eating. If your body is overloaded with inflammatory foods, and synthetic hormones from commercial milks and meats, your body can’t focus on healing.

While there isn't a one-size-fits-all "perfect" diet, when it comes to healing acne, the above suggestions will only help! Holistic healing combines dietary changes, lifestyle changes, supplements, and stress management which when done together help improve acne.