So many people struggle with acne in their teenage years. I wasn’t one of them. Don’t hate me just yet. I first started having trouble with acne after my 21st birthday. It was all downhill from there. It took me years of trial and error (mostly error) before I figured out that the only way I could get rid of my acne was to eat a clean and healthy diet. Any level of acne is kind of debilitating. You don’t need a face full of pimples to be embarrassed, and you don’t have to be a model to care about your appearance. A paralegal can be just as concerned about her skin as the most famous actress. It all comes down to how your appearance makes you feel.
I’m a firm believer that what you put inside your body will show through on the outside. When I cleaned up my diet, my skin naturally followed suit. I barely ever get blemishes anymore. The trick is really just to eat real foods. It’s not a hard concept, but sometimes it can be hard to implement. Think of real foods as those that come directly from Mother Nature, and plant-based foods are always best. Even still, according to clinical research, there are some foods that come from Mother Nature that are better than others.
Studies have shown that eating a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can ward off those pesky pimples. Such foods include sardines, mackerel, flaxseeds and walnuts. Most other foods have a higher proportion of omega-6 fatty acids, which are necessary to our health, but can cause inflammation if you aren’t balancing them with omega-3’s.
Many studies have also linked dairy consumption to acne. Sorry to be the one to tell you this, but you’re going to have to put down that ice cream if you want your skin to clear up. But don’t fret too much; there are some great alternatives out there. Some brands make ice cream with coconut or almond milk, which are really great substitutes that won’t inflame your skin. And then, there are always dairy-free fruit smoothies and sorbets. Trust me, there’s no need to sacrifice flavor to help clear up your skin.